How To Make Cheap, Permanent Plant Tags

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Posted by @duane456 on
Tired of trying to remember the name of that plant? Or -- trying to read your faded plant tag that is falling apart? Here's an inexpensive, interchangeable, and permanent plant tag that is easy to make with a few tools and materials.

Tools needed---box cutter, old pair of scissors, pliers, pen, and tape measure.
Materials---old style "wire" coat hanger (not plastic) and soda pop can.

First----straighten coat hanger into one long wire with your pliers. (I make mine approx. 17 inches long)
Thumb of 2016-05-22/duane456/ce44ba

Second---bend wire with pliers into shape like in the pic. (longest two sides should be approx. 6 3/4-6 7/8 inches if using 17 inches initially)
Thumb of 2016-05-22/duane456/078aad

Next---bend again with pliers into shape like the pic.
Thumb of 2016-05-22/duane456/73b3f5

Next---Take a pop can and cut the top and bottom parts off like in the pic. I use a box cutter to start a slit in the pop can so that I can cut the rest with an old pair of scissors. Be very careful with the box cutter! It takes quite a bit of pressure to get the slit started. Also, be very careful of the sharp edges of the pop can tin. They can cut you very easily.
Thumb of 2016-05-22/duane456/98b18a

Next---Cut the tin of the middle part of the can with scissors so that you have a flat piece of tin.
Thumb of 2016-05-22/duane456/b11712

Next---Cut the flat tin into pieces as shown.
Thumb of 2016-05-22/duane456/02c65d

Next---Using a pen, and pressing hard into the tin, write the name of the plant. The ink will not stay for long on the tin, but the indentation will stay permanently. It will be a little hard to read, but it is there to stay.
Thumb of 2016-05-22/duane456/4065fe

Next---Attach the plant name to your wire by folding the ends of the tin around the wire so that it is not easily removed. I just use my fingers to do this step. Note that the way the wire is bent helps keeps the tin in place.
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Stick into the ground. There you go---
Thumb of 2016-05-22/duane456/183239

These are fairly short, which is the way I personally like them. You can adjust the length to your own liking by using a longer wire. If your plant dies, just remove the tin from the wire and put on a new tin and reuse the wire.
These things will last forever!

 
Comments and Discussion
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
Very nice . . but by dyzzypyxxy Jan 29, 2020 7:47 PM 22
Untitled by Tammygordon Jul 30, 2016 5:53 PM 0
My system for permanent markers. by gasrocks Jul 25, 2016 11:21 AM 6
10" metal spikes with 2½" wide copper labels - 20 of them for $10 by MsMax Jul 25, 2016 9:36 AM 1
Untitled by mkcoolidge Jul 23, 2016 8:22 AM 0
Untitled by japadios Jul 23, 2016 8:12 AM 0

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