labeling bonsai

[dirk hoorelbeke]

I've never bothered labeling trees. Since i'm planning to start some pines from seed it would be handy to label the container or the plant at some point in the development. What works best?


I would go for the middle one i guess?

 

[Bonsai Nut]

I use the ones on the left. You just have to make sure you use a permanent marker that doesn't fade in sunlight. The first time I wrote all my labels I used a cheap marker and they had all bleached white again in less the six months!

If you wanted to be pretty, I would use copper tags...



Cheapest copper tags I have found are sold by Lee Valley (one of my favorite companies).

 

[sorce]

Just realized yesterday I can use the tags off iron Joists ...

Mad free !

Sorce

 

[sparklemotion]

I actually just ordered a set of the ones on the right (for the same purposes as you). I went with the colors because I want to use colors as part of my labelling system -- I was just planning on buying colored dots, or maybe just dabbing with paint/marker, but the colored labels let me skip a step.

When I'm down to something closer to a couple dozen pines, I might upgrade to copper tags since I have the tools/material to make them at home easily enough.

 

[dirk hoorelbeke]

The copper tags are pretty, i will check them out. Had some labels fading away a few years ago, must find a better marker.

 

[Paradox]

I uses to use the plastic tags in the pot but having to rewrite the number every 6 months got tiresome.

I use round aluminum tree tags that have number engraved on them. I just keep a log on each tree that records it's number and I can track work done to the tree.

Of course any system needs to be kept updated which I gave been procrastinating on the last year or so

 

[dirk hoorelbeke]

The alu number tags seems a good idea...

 

[Paradox]

The alu number tags seems a good idea...

http://www.forestry-suppliers.com/product_pages/products.php?mi=11861&itemnum=79366&redir=Y

 

[dirk hoorelbeke]

I'll look around to what is cheap and durable and doesn't have to fly in from the other side of the world.

 

[GrimLore]

Standard plastic plant markers. I use the P-Touch labeler which holds up outside for a LONG time - the two larger labels are over two years old and been outside until today. I don't want numbers and a file, just black and white that is not scribbled. Highly UV resistant.



They also make colors with the same durability -



Grimmy

 

[CWTurner]

I'll look around to what is cheap and durable and doesn't have to fly in from the other side of the world.

I saw someone cut up an old soda can and scribe info onto it. No fading and cheap as dirt.
CW

 

[petegreg]

I use these.


...very hard plastic and I use an ordinary graphite pencil for writing. Very durable, hard to erase.

 

[dirk hoorelbeke]

Three other nice options. Having a label maker it might be good to try it for outside use. The soda can might work too. Thanks everybody for the creative and other options i didn't found by myself.

 

[theone420]

found these on ebay. seem to be cheaper than the aluminum tags
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Set-of-100...hash=item41b999658a:m:moaz083l2Moc2QgFQc25ugw

but i think I like these and they are a little cheaper.(looks like they could clip to a pot or push into top soil)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/100pcs-Rou...011836?hash=item2a8cde663c:g:iS0AAOSw3s1aD9c-

these are soft pvc that might clip on the edge of the pots and would be good to keep batches of seeds together.(they are real cheap)
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fr...w=Yellow+Round+Cable+Tags+Management&_sacat=0

 

[Quince]

Standard plastic plant markers. I use the P-Touch labeler which holds up outside for a LONG time - the two larger labels are over two years old and been outside until today. I don't want numbers and a file, just black and white that is not scribbled. Highly UV resistant.

View attachment 169039

They also make colors with the same durability -

View attachment 169040

Grimmy

I use a sharpie on those white markers and half the label is always down in the dirt.
That is SLICK.

 

[GrimLore]

I use a sharpie on those white markers and half the label is always down in the dirt.
That is SLICK.

That labeler is a few years old, cost 19.00USD on sale, and still using the original batteries. From what I see I get the cartridges inexpensive and they last good. All of the P-Touch cartridges are UV resistant from what I see.

Also nice to mark containers of various baking containers like the several types of flour Crystal has and my spices. It has a lot of font options and size too - if I wasn't lazy I could put on the full plant names easily.

I also find my hand printing skills no where near as clear

Grimmy

 

[James W.]

My primary hobby is iris, we print labels with a Brother label printer and it works very well. Very durable and easy to read, but not cheap for a lot of plants.
For cheap labeling we use graphite pencil on cut up venetian blinds. Durable and cheap. They can be slid down inside the edge of a pot for discreet and secure labeling.
Labels tied or wired to a branch have a tendency to get knocked off or tangled up or broken.
Do NOT use Sharpie or other brands permanent markers. They will all fade and be unreadable in 3 months. Paint pens are OK but less durable than pencil.
Our experience with the soft copper and aluminum tags is that they are hard to write on legibly and get difficult to decipher in a couple of seasons.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

For permanent writing outdoors, I did some research that suggested grease pencils are a good solution. They will write on any surface (including glass) and are water resistant and UV resistant. They will also write on surfaces that are wet, and will almost never scratch what they are used on. They can also be removed from most surfaces.

 

[whfarro]

I found the typical plastic marker strips didn't hold up well and cracked or snapped in half. I use these key tags. They are cheap, hold up well and stay with the tree so you don't need to replace when repotting. I use a loop of "recycled" wire scrap to place them on a branch.

 

[cbroad]

I knew a lady that used plastic knives, cheap as hell, just write on the handle with grease pen or paint marker and stab it into the soil