Anybody know where to get....

[Keger]

Those little plastic plant labels that are in the pots when you get them at the nursery? The preprinted ones with the picture and variety on them? Instructions and all that?

I have all these plants that will be ready to sell, and then I noticed,,, woops!

[Redbaron]

Originally Posted by Keger

Those little plastic plant labels that are in the pots when you get them at the nursery? The preprinted ones with the picture and variety on them? Instructions and all that?

I have all these plants that will be ready to sell, and then I noticed,,, woops!

I don't know where to get those. BUT I know a great alternative you can easily make yourself.

Blinds!

Simply take some scissors and cut up some old plastic blinds into the shape and size for stake labels. Mark them with a Sharpie permanent magic marker with whatever info you need. Or if your handwriting is poor, you can buy blank self adhesive labels at Office Depot that fit in your computer printer and print up labels to stick to the stakes you made from the blinds.

With a little care and practice you can actually make something pretty professional looking for nearly no cost.

Assuming you have an old set of blinds hanging around.

[habitat_gardener]

Originally Posted by Redbaron

Assuming you have an old set of blinds hanging around.

and assuming your printer ink is not water soluble -- be sure to test a few samples before doing a print run.

[Wi-sunflower]

several of the catalogs offer plant tags (pre printed) in the backs of the catalogs. HPS and Harris are 2 that come to mind quickly.

BUT they aren't all that cheap AND except for rather common varieties, you probably won't find them for varieties we people in the know grow. TVers.

Here is 1 of the companies that actually makes the tags. http://www.mastertag.com/
But their selection and minimums will most likely make you want to think of something else. At least they do for me.

Carol

[mecktom]

I use the same idea as Redbaron....even if you have to buy a mini-blind from a dollar store. One will make a lot of plant tags.

[SEAMSFASTER]

I go through several thousand labels a year and cannot afford the time for homemade anymore. And pre-printed labels would be cost-prohibitive.

In 2011 I spent a bit of time researching to find the cheapest tags which would suit my needs. I settled on Greenhouse Megastore, under the section of Plant Labels. I use primarily 4-1/2" X 1" because they fit in the pots I use.

They are not pre-printed, but I have so many varieties that it's more efficient for me to print on Avery (or similar) labels (#8160 fits the tags I use) and print the information myself. These are not water resistant, so I need to bottom water - and rain becomes a problem. Now I usually just write by hand with a "Garden Marker" or Sharpie (but NOT the ultrafine, as they fade quickly in the sun).

Many days I get writer's cramp. Maybe by next year I can afford my own thermal printing (or whatever it's called) system? I haven't researched this much - maybe someone has a suggestion for a do-it-yourself setup for creating customized professional looking plastic plant labels?

[habitat_gardener]

In the graphic arts, you can get spray-on fixatives that will set pigments. I wonder if there are any cost-effective and food-safe fixatives you can use on the labels.

Or maybe you can hire a kid to write the labels.

[NisiNJ]

Originally Posted by SEAMSFASTER

I settled on Greenhouse Megastore, under the section of Plant Labels. I use primarily 4-1/2" X 1" because they fit in the pots I use.

I use these too, and stocked up on several rolls to last a few years. I use the black Sharpie marker (color marker fades even more quickly) or a paint pen as stated above (which doesn't fade at all)

But there is one other method that worked for me last year, especially since a lot of my plants are heirlooms that do not have preprinted tags available for them:

I typed up a colorful info sheet, including a picture of the final fruit that could be cut into about 3" x 5" sections--each section describing one variety. Then I ran them through a heat laminator. (Laminator pouches come in 3x5 sizes). The resulting little 3 x 5 waterproof "signs" were displayed in front of each row of pots. The signs would be reusable each year, and I had to make only one of each. I also think it helped get the attention of customers because the print and picture were bigger than what would be on the tags. The only downside was that the buyer couldn't take it home with them.

I have a picture; wish I knew how to post it here. If someone is interested and would kindly tell me how, I will post it.

[NisiNJ]

102_0539.jpg

Okay, here are the little laminated signs I described.

[Redbaron]

Originally Posted by NisiNJ

Attachment 30983

Okay, here are the little laminated signs I described.

I like it!

[Greenthumbroy]

Grew up in Lincoln Park, NJ.

[FarmerShawn]

Originally Posted by NisiNJ

I use these too, and stocked up on several rolls to last a few years. I use the black Sharpie marker (color marker fades even more quickly) or a paint pen as stated above (which doesn't fade at all)

But there is one other method that worked for me last year, especially since a lot of my plants are heirlooms that do not have preprinted tags available for them:

I typed up a colorful info sheet, including a picture of the final fruit that could be cut into about 3" x 5" sections--each section describing one variety. Then I ran them through a heat laminator. (Laminator pouches come in 3x5 sizes). The resulting little 3 x 5 waterproof "signs" were displayed in front of each row of pots. The signs would be reusable each year, and I had to make only one of each. I also think it helped get the attention of customers because the print and picture were bigger than what would be on the tags. The only downside was that the buyer couldn't take it home with them.

I used a similar system, but mine are 2X3", and I made three copies of each label. I hung one right out in the garden to mark the variety, which really helped me to learn the new-to-me varieties I was growing, and was fun to show off to visitors. I also printed up a few unlaminated sheets to hand out to customers who bought plants at the farmer's market.

[LBchilehead]

Originally Posted by habitat_gardener

In the graphic arts, you can get spray-on fixatives that will set pigments. I wonder if there are any cost-effective and food-safe fixatives you can use on the labels.

Or maybe you can hire a kid to write the labels.

HG, what part of Cali r u from?

[habitat_gardener]

sf bay area.

I found this "nontoxic" fixative that sounds like it doesn't have the horrible odor of most products in this category.
http://www.dickblick.com/products/sp...pray-fixative/
If I wanted to try it out, I'd print something on the paper I was going to use for the labels, wait half an hour to make sure the ink was dry, and then get some rubbing alcohol and swab the label with it. Or soak it overnight. If the alcohol does not make the ink run, there's a chance this fixative might work. Then I'd try printing a fresh label and swab it with alcohol immediately to see if I'd have to wait before using the fixative. (Some inks are soluble in alcohol.)

Anyway, that's one idea.

[Granite26]

I use these from a seller on Ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tchlink:top:en

$12.75 / 500 pcs