We use the metal markers & Brothers Tapes. Some last about 5 years & some longer than that.

Tom - Yes, that is Dazzle in my avatar and I lost it during this year's spring monsoon. I plan to get to get a replacement next year. It was a gorgeous iris that I can't live without. I'll remember to use some of that Grass B Gone like you suggested in the springtime.

Today I found some small rhizomes in paper bags in my barn that I forgot all about! They've only been sitting there for a couple of weeks, so they 'll be alright. They are soaking in some water right now.

Stacey, I just planted Dazzle a few weeks ago. If it does well by next season, I'll send you a piece.

I use cut up pots with paint pens as plant tags.

This reminds of another dumb head thing I did this year. I wrote numbers on the fans of the NoIDs that bloomed that matched up with the photos I took (example: 12 for NoID 12). I had meant to go back and make some tags, but ....you guessed it...I forgot. I did write the number on the rhizomes on some of them, but others I did not. I didn't want to pull a Tom and break off bloom stalks. Well, I tossed out several of the numbered leaves when I was cleaning up the dead leaves. I didn't even think about the numbers on them. Long story short, that bed got dug up this year and I have no idea what happened to my pink and red NoIDs. I did keep a rhizome, or two, out of each clump, so I know I have them somewhere, but the question is where.

I got Dazzle this year too. It's going into winter looking good, We'll see what it looks like in the spring.

Good going Rob! Good thing you went into the barn and found them, ha?

I use white grease pencils (china markers) on my black pots. The only ones I've had a problem with was writing the name on a pot that was really old and getting the "oxidation look". If I have not made a tag for a planted iris I just put some dirt in the marked pot and place the pot just behind the iris until I get the tag made. Not the nicest look for the yard but doable until the tag is made. I will have to post a picture of my tags I make (I think they will be around long after I' m gone).
Barbara

Rob, this year I got smarter... I took a far away picture of where the iris is planted and then a picture of the no id iris. That way I can remember where they were planted in the yard (won't help if you moved them though).

Here is a picture of the tags I make. They are fired ceramic tags. I pour the molds, hand-write the names on the tags with a liner paint brush, then fired them, then I apply a glaze and fire them again. Takes a while, but its permanent. I'm sure Jan could make really beautiful tags but these work for me. The wires are clothsline wire.




on the Coal Seams tag I also wrote where I got the iris from and the year I bought it.

I have question, when you soak the iris (dried roots) are you only soaking the root area and not the rhizome?

I still have not made maps which is certainly in the 'stupid' thing list.

Years ago when I worked for Smith and Hawken, I did an informal test in my garden with different types of markers on the lead plate labels. A soft pencil lasted the longest... but I find that the minerals in our water here will cling to the lead and make them hard to read unless you're up close.
I started using the Brother's tape labelers this year.. I'm also writing on the back with pencil to cover my derriere if the labels fall off the front..

I think my biggest mistake was thinking I'd remember the names of some of the plants I received back when I still had a memory.

Now, I've got maps, spreadsheets, photo records, files and 2 labels on every Iris (plastic and metal).

Barbara, when I soak some that are dry, I put only the bottom half of the rhizome into the water. If they are really hard and dry, I soak them until I see a small root starting to grow at the base of the rhizome, then I plant it. If they are nice and fresh when I get them, I don't soak them at all.

For those who are employing printers; what Brother label maker are you using and what tapes?

Don't know--my husband does the labels, but I think he uses inch tape.

I use the Brother p-touch with 1/2" tape, TZe-2312PK [the two pack]. Labels are placed onto metal markers and seem to stick well and so far are readable through the season. Time will tell how many seasons they will last. I was at a garden of a 93 year old 2 weeks ago and the labels were fading and peeling but had been in place over 10 years. I use a setting allowing two lines so name, hybridizer and year can all be included.
The dumb thing was to start with those thin plastic Burpee plant labels with indelible marker. They cracked in the solar UV in about a season.

Well, the latest one I killed is/was a P-touch III. It didn't exactly die, but it now bunches all the letters up.. at it's whim. But I'm printing the label 2 or 3 times to get a usable one. The older one still works fine, but the tape has been discontinued. I'm about to research new ones. They're not expensive. It's the tape that costs money.

What healthy looking irises you have Dave!

Good job on the ceramic markers, PhillipB ! Maybe I'll try that next year.

Thanks Rob. Some have great foliage, but no blooms or reblooms this year. Frustrating. Those in picture did bloom for me though.

Sherry, I think if you know the tape size you might find it again, but the cartridge may be the problem and not sure if you can hand feed it to refill an existing cartridge.

Dave, I agree with Rob, some very healthy looking irises you have there.

I have found the tape on Amazon for the old one Dave.. Trying to decide if I should buy more tape, or a newer P-touch with more features.

Tom, Thank you for answering my question!
Jan, since you are a true artist I would love to see some pictures of your future tags!
Dave, I also agree about your healthy looking iris!

I may have to investigate those label makers.