Durable Plant Markers

[Carey]

hey, I DID mention the mosaic markers....but that would be something more for a large plant (like the ones at the Zoo...)

there is these:
Engraved like the ones in most botanical gardens (order label & stake to hold label)
http://gardenmarkers.com/products/plant-labels
http://www.plantsigns.com/descriptions.html

multiple stake options, including engraved markers...
http://www.idealgardenmarkers.com/

Amazon has Bosmere, Vktech, Esschert and other plant marker stakes...

[Kelena]

Ah, Carey --- I really like those ideal garden markers....if they will last here. They are not expensive and those might be worth a try. The others are little too formal and big. I got the aluminum ones fisbnchamp1 mentioned -- you write on them with any pen and it makes clear, visible writing on a shiny aluminum tag that you can hang in a tree or on a bush. They would still disappear on something like a hibiscus but they look cool on my Waimanolo Low Bearing Papaya -- those papayas rock by the way! You can just reach up and grab them and they taste great!

Thanks again to all.

[peteadams]

Two approaches we have used in the nursery that are not too expensive. For a somewhat durable, but relatively temporary marker, good old #2 pencil on a typical plastic stick tag (the plain 4-6" stick tag smaller nurseries use that can't afford fancy printing) will last for at least several months. We have found that pencil is far more lasting than any other writing material except perhaps the relatively expensive paint pens. The plastic tag could be anything, but the stick tags have a roughish surface texture that works well with pencil. In the sun the plastic tag will likely break up before the pencil fades. This is a good approach for identifying a plant until you can put something more permanent in place. We sometimes use a paper punch to make a hole in the pointy end and hang the tag on the plant with a twist tie.

For more durable signage we use 9" plastic plant stake/markers that have a 3"x2.5" medallion area on top. We buy them by the box (maybe 50?) at Nursery Things, but I suppose they are available in smaller quantities from Garden Exchange or elsewhere. For the plant name we use a P-Touch strip printer (from Office Max in Hilo) that has a little keyboard on it. As far as we can tell the P-Touch materials are good for a very long time. We have many signs that are over five years old that are still very legible. Two problems are that a sign in the shade can get covered in green algae and moss which seems to have some deteriorating power and breaking them with my foot as we work around the plants. We have the 3/4" width P-Touch but a big rhododendron nursery we visited in Oregon used the 1" strips which I liked better.

[Keala]

You can use old miniblinds and cut to whatever size you need. For the label, I use a label maker--they now have UV resistant tapes made just for gardeners. Mine have been in use for 2 years now with no fading whatsoever. Label maker allows you to use different fonts/sizes too.