Hi Folks,
I am going to change my plastic plant labels over to the GardenMate 11.5" tall Metal Plant Label made of galvanized steel and zinc name plate. What is the preferred method of putting the varietal name on the label? If I write the name directly onto the plate with permanent marker how would I get it off if I choose to reuse the tag again? Thanks is advance for any advice you can provide.

I like the Brother P-touch printer with the UV resistant labels. Costco normally has them for a very reasonable price

Permanent marker isn't so very permanent. It will fade in a year or so and you won't be able to read it. Paint markers last a while longer, but do fade as well over time. The label maker with UV resistant labels work best as suggested by RJ.

Jerry-
You might want to look over this thread from 2016: The thread "What Permanent Labeling Is Best For Irises?" in Irises forum
There are several ideas in it & I vote for the P-touch system with UV protection. Here are a couple of photos of the ones I chose. So far they have held up well from 2016.

I find it very strange but many say plain old pencil holds up well so I write it in pencil and then go over it with a paint marker. To reuse, I cover what is there with the label maker thing but do not know if it is UV resistant. There is some other kind of pencil or crayon used by artists that is said to be quite good.

Jane, I've used grease pencil (China marker) with good results on the black pots.

I use a a regular #2 pencil just like the kids do in grade school. I have used the grease pencil but the greasy stuff will come off eventually and all that will be left is the carbon or pencil lead that is in the grease pencil. So far it has never failed me. I write on metal markers. I do not know if i can remove the printing as i have not needed to so far. The printed ones do look much nicer.

Bonnie, that's Interesting, I've had pots that are 6 or 7 years old (or older) and I have had to scrub off the old markings if I'm reusing the pot. I wonder if it's weather related, or ?

I can tell you that writing from garden markers (not paint markers, which I am hopeless with) does fade on the stainless steel Wren garden labels, BUT the marking does not fade completely, NOR have I been able to wash or wipe the rest of it off (including using bleach soaks, isopropanol, and nail polish remover). So any previously-written-on Wren labels that I have, if I want to reuse them (and I do), can only be used if I cover the old writing with labels made using the Brothers tape. (I don't know if it is UV resistant or not, but so far it is holding up well.)

So while stainless steel is not the same as galvanized steel, that might give you a clue as to what to expect, if you write using garden markers (or Sharpies, which are even less durable).

iciris said:Bonnie, that's Interesting, I've had pots that are 6 or 7 years old (or older) and I have had to scrub off the old markings if I'm reusing the pot. I wonder if it's weather related, or ?

Barbara, i may be using a different grease pencil. I got mine from Paw Paw label co.

The ones I have are from a stationary store.
Will edit with a picture of the box.

OK, everyone! Show pictures of your labels, signs, label makers, pens, pencils and what kind of each. I am still on the cheap plastic labels, and I have been re-writing on them as they fade, even with a "permanent" fine point Sharpie.

I need to decide how to have attractive, but not necessarily the most expensive way. This, I can see, will be an investment, but it is important to have proper labels. (Mine aren't very pretty either!)

evelyninthegarden said:OK, everyone! Show pictures of your labels, signs, label makers, pens, pencils and what kind of each. I am still on the cheap plastic labels, and I have been re-writing on them as they fade, even with a "permanent" fine point Sharpie.

I need to decide how to have attractive, but not necessarily the most expensive way. This, I can see, will be an investment, but it is important to have proper labels. (Mine aren't very pretty either!)

Hi Evelyn,
After following the suggestions in this thread I decided to purchase the Brother P-touch Easy Portable Label Maker (PTH110). It costs $19.99 on Amazon. It makes labels with 1/2" tape. I opted for the portable since I too did not want to spend a lot of money. Also, the portable is very convenient. It can be taken to my garden in my garden box ( I am an avid woodworker and will build a box with a dedicated compartment for the portable unit) with the rest of the things I need when working. I do not see the 1/2" labels as a downside since all I need on the metal plate is a good looking long lived label with the varietal name. All the other information that I require regarding each Iris variety is contained on an Excel spreadsheet that I created. This spreadsheet is extensive, right down to whether the variety is known to be pollen and or pod fertile. I hope this info is helpful for you.

Jerry ~

What kind of signs and holders are you using?

evelyninthegarden said:What kind of signs and holders are you using?

Evelyn,
They are pretty much the same ones that Leon has pictured in his post above. They are the GardenMate 11.5" tall Metal Plant Label made of galvanized steel with zinc name plate.

Guess what! A product called "Bar Keeper's Friend", for cleaning stainless steel, works beautifully on my Wren SS labels. I have trouble finding the finer point paint pens

welcome to the iris forum! and thanks for the tip, frosty.

I have a Brother tape labeler, and last fall I used it for labeling my irises. Thankfully I also used a nice dark pencil on the metal before applying the labels. I say that because the Brother labels are now faded out to total blankness. Now when I see an iris budded and want to know which one it is, I have to use my fingernails to carefully peel off the Brother label. I am so glad that the pencil labeling is still clear underneath!

Did you get the UV resistance ptouch tape? Mine are going on 4 years, full sun for some plants, heavy duty winters and they still look brand new