I’m a grower in the commercial nursery industry and we use plastic labels with a wax pencil. The texts last for a couple of years. You can do the same thing with any plastic label (even home-made from jugs, containers, etc) and a black crayon. Simple and cheap!
Do you grow them inside a greenhouse or high tunnel? Greenhouse plastic, even with 80-90% light transmission, blocks much of the UV spectrum, so that will prevent fading.
@@2MinuteGardenTips Inside high tunnels with clear plastic and outside in full weather conditions on black fabric. No problems in either place for a couple years.
A regular black crayon, as Crayola? I need something for the outside garden and am tired of markers drying up. Do you know if it is easy to remove from plastic also?
Thank you for addressing subscriber's concerns and going the extra mile to test the markers. I'm really enjoying watching your videos. Learning a lot! God bless.
I don’t think this experiment compares to real life conditions. Soaking in a glass of water for an hour isn’t the same as a season of sun, rain, and wind. Every time I’ve used wood markers with sharpie they’ve faded pretty fast. They certainly don’t last a whole growing season.
An old gardener tip is to cut old window blind slats and write on those. The problem? Fading. Just like you said with the sharpie markers and I've purchased every type they have. This year I laid out the slats, sprayed them with chalk paint and used a dressmakers chalk pencil to write on. It's already very hot and very sunny here in the West Central Coast of Florida and I've got about 500 seedlings going so I need LOTS of labels. The paint stir sticks sound like a great idea but I'd go broke. And we still don't know how they'll hold up once they're out in the sun for a few months so I hope you'll post an update.
My granddaughter loves to make slime. Worried grandma that I am, I bought wooden stir sticks in the craft section of Wal-Mart. So, when I saw your paint stick idea thats where I went to buy my sticks for labeling my plants. 150 sticks for $3.97; I bought the last two that they had out. And, I am grateful that you tested the markers on your paint sticks! Give Dale a big hug for me. 🥰
The metal tags are the ultimate solution, but they’re expensive. I would like to get some large metal tags for my fruit trees eventually, but for annuals, I change varieties too much to make it economical.
Neither like or dislike but I would offer a tip. Put your label so it’s facing north Tilted slightly away from midday sun and it will be shaded from the UV.
@2MinuteGardenTip - how did they hold up for the second season? Figured I’d ask before I go buy various colors of oil pens lol. I will end up color coding mine bc I’m a nerd 😂
I use lollipop sticks. And regular marker. It doesn’t bleed. But it will soak water from bottom up when in dirt and over time just rot and fade away. Still prefer this to plastic.
Garden markers are fantastic. that's the brand i get from greenhouse megastore. I have been reusing ones from 4 seasons ago and still haven't faded. Another time-consuming idea using a cricket and glue on vinyl. I just find the garden marker name brand to be less effort and doesn't fade in my long day direct sun gardens
I haven’t had much luck with the markers sold with tags as UV resistant. The best water-based markers I’ve found are the Sharpie Extreme’s, but the oil-based markers are definitely better.
I use lollipop sticks, write in pencil but then burn it in, using a soldering iron as a pyrograph pen. I drill a hole to hang them from a small post (currently looking at butyl green pipe) so that the wood is not in soil.
Fading writing is a vexing issue! I've tried many types too. Haven't tried the paint stirrers and will be interested to hear how they hold up over time! So far, my best solution on a plastic tag has been black uv resistant Sharpie with packing tape over it. The writing fades some but doesn't get too bad over one or two seasons. Even with packing tape, red Sharpie faded in a couple weeks (couldn't find my black one, 😂). Also, when you remove the packing tape to change the label, it takes most of the old ink with it! Craft sticks were good for IDing starts indoors but were rotted by the time of transplanting. I've tried metal tags too. The tags lasted but not the writing.
My only concern was them rotting by the end of the season. I got a lot from estate sales, often free. Even when used and partly painted, I can easily write on them. I actually liked the painted bits!! I just used a regular sharpie
Like you my special pens failed on many plastic labels. I did have great luck using Bleach bottle plastic labels I cut out myself. So good I tested some at mid fall after seeing some failed and some had done great. I tested a few and some are great shape after being marked in late August I'm going to have to check out and see what pen I used on the good labels. Thanks
I tried the permanent sharpie on wooden Popsicle sticks and it bled to the point that I could not read it. I have heard that regular pencil works great on plastic markers for in the garden. You can erase it, but it is rain and sun proof.
Late to the party but a comment and a question: I would use the oil based because the water based inks (in my experience) fade in UV light. Now the question; I love the idea of the paint mixer sticks, which are wood and not plastic (I am on a "no plastic" bent right now). So, I used wood stakes this past year; the problem was the wood with watering and UV turned dark gray almost black just like an untreated old cedar fence and I couldn't read the black ink without getting right up close to the labels. So...how do you keep the wood from turning black (photo-oxidation from UV damage to wood's lignin) without using some toxic stain or paint in the garden or greenhouse?
I cut plastic corrugated board and print it out labels for mine and the labels faded. So I am looking for a way to keep the fading from happening so now I'm Looking for those markers. I wonder if a feed store would have them? If not I'll order them from Amazon.
I remember my first labels, I made them out of thick cardboard strips and a Marks-a-Lot 😂. Just glad that I didn't waste more time by propping them up straight with sticks!🙂
Wood is great when you don’t need to reuse labels. I grow plants for sale and need to churn out hundreds of labels and don’t want to put that much plastic into the world.
If you enjoyed this video, please "Like" and share to help increase its reach! Thanks for watching 😊
I’m a grower in the commercial nursery industry and we use plastic labels with a wax pencil. The texts last for a couple of years. You can do the same thing with any plastic label (even home-made from jugs, containers, etc) and a black crayon. Simple and cheap!
Good tip
Do you grow them inside a greenhouse or high tunnel? Greenhouse plastic, even with 80-90% light transmission, blocks much of the UV spectrum, so that will prevent fading.
@@2MinuteGardenTips Inside high tunnels with clear plastic and outside in full weather conditions on black fabric. No problems in either place for a couple years.
A regular black crayon, as Crayola? I need something for the outside garden and am tired of markers drying up. Do you know if it is easy to remove from plastic also?
@@sn232 yes that will work
Thank you for addressing subscriber's concerns and going the extra mile to test the markers.
I'm really enjoying watching your videos. Learning a lot! God bless.
You're welcome! I like trialing things. It's always fun to see the results of a good experiment.
I don’t think this experiment compares to real life conditions. Soaking in a glass of water for an hour isn’t the same as a season of sun, rain, and wind. Every time I’ve used wood markers with sharpie they’ve faded pretty fast. They certainly don’t last a whole growing season.
An old gardener tip is to cut old window blind slats and write on those. The problem? Fading. Just like you said with the sharpie markers and I've purchased every type they have. This year I laid out the slats, sprayed them with chalk paint and used a dressmakers chalk pencil to write on. It's already very hot and very sunny here in the West Central Coast of Florida and I've got about 500 seedlings going so I need LOTS of labels. The paint stir sticks sound like a great idea but I'd go broke. And we still don't know how they'll hold up once they're out in the sun for a few months so I hope you'll post an update.
My granddaughter loves to make slime. Worried grandma that I am, I bought wooden stir sticks in the craft section of Wal-Mart. So, when I saw your paint stick idea thats where I went to buy my sticks for labeling my plants. 150 sticks for $3.97; I bought the last two that they had out. And, I am grateful that you tested the markers on your paint sticks! Give Dale a big hug for me. 🥰
I wish I was fade resistant! I ain’t getting any younger. Love your informative videos!
I feel a little more of that every day 😂
Woohoo! Another great vid. Wish I had seen it before I dished out for metal tags.
The metal tags are the ultimate solution, but they’re expensive. I would like to get some large metal tags for my fruit trees eventually, but for annuals, I change varieties too much to make it economical.
Neither like or dislike but I would offer a tip. Put your label so it’s facing north Tilted slightly away from midday sun and it will be shaded from the UV.
@2MinuteGardenTip - how did they hold up for the second season? Figured I’d ask before I go buy various colors of oil pens lol. I will end up color coding mine bc I’m a nerd 😂
I’ve used tongue depressors and a UV resistant pen for 3 seasons now. The ink has never been a problem.
I used wooden craft popsicle sticks last year here in Georgia. They rotten from the bottom up. I won't be bothering with them again.
It is not lasting one season that is the concern for me… too many Sharpies have failed me long term. A pencil last longer than a regular Sharpie.
I use lollipop sticks. And regular marker. It doesn’t bleed. But it will soak water from bottom up when in dirt and over time just rot and fade away. Still prefer this to plastic.
Would wiping the sticks with boiled linseed oil after the sticks are marked preserve them?
Dollar store baby, they have giant popsicle sticks 🎉
These are expensive in the UK lollipop sticks are a fraction of paint paddles!
Garden markers are fantastic. that's the brand i get from greenhouse megastore. I have been reusing ones from 4 seasons ago and still haven't faded. Another time-consuming idea using a cricket and glue on vinyl. I just find the garden marker name brand to be less effort and doesn't fade in my long day direct sun gardens
Try the garden markers
I haven’t had much luck with the markers sold with tags as UV resistant. The best water-based markers I’ve found are the Sharpie Extreme’s, but the oil-based markers are definitely better.
I love love love it. Thanks. Another marker I'm trying out now is a grease pencil sent to me by a seed trader.
Let us know how that works after the season is over.
I used an enamel based pen to write labels on plastic and it faded in a week. Sigh. I'll try your oil based Sharpie next.
The oil pens are amazing. So far, they’re holding up like new.
It’s the sun 😂
I use lollipop sticks, write in pencil but then burn it in, using a soldering iron as a pyrograph pen. I drill a hole to hang them from a small post (currently looking at butyl green pipe) so that the wood is not in soil.
That’s not quite doable when you’re labeling hundreds of plants.
@@samtucker5514 yes of course. I’m only dealing with about thirty dahlias.
I've thougt anot doing the same. Have a wood burning tool I've never used.
🦅Fly Eagles Fly🦅
How long does the wood last? I use popsicle sticks and they don’t last a whole season.
They make it through the year, at least in my area. They won't be reusable for another season.
use pencil.
Why do not use stickers like in nurseries? Simplest and easiest
You need a printer and special materials.
Fading writing is a vexing issue! I've tried many types too. Haven't tried the paint stirrers and will be interested to hear how they hold up over time! So far, my best solution on a plastic tag has been black uv resistant Sharpie with packing tape over it. The writing fades some but doesn't get too bad over one or two seasons. Even with packing tape, red Sharpie faded in a couple weeks (couldn't find my black one, 😂). Also, when you remove the packing tape to change the label, it takes most of the old ink with it! Craft sticks were good for IDing starts indoors but were rotted by the time of transplanting. I've tried metal tags too. The tags lasted but not the writing.
My only concern was them rotting by the end of the season. I got a lot from estate sales, often free. Even when used and partly painted, I can easily write on them. I actually liked the painted bits!! I just used a regular sharpie
Like you my special pens failed on many plastic labels. I did have great luck using Bleach bottle plastic labels I cut out myself. So good I tested some at mid fall after seeing some failed and some had done great. I tested a few and some are great shape after being marked in late August I'm going to have to check out and see what pen I used on the good labels.
Thanks
I tried the permanent sharpie on wooden Popsicle sticks and it bled to the point that I could not read it. I have heard that regular pencil works great on plastic markers for in the garden. You can erase it, but it is rain and sun proof.
Late to the party but a comment and a question: I would use the oil based because the water based inks (in my experience) fade in UV light. Now the question; I love the idea of the paint mixer sticks, which are wood and not plastic (I am on a "no plastic" bent right now). So, I used wood stakes this past year; the problem was the wood with watering and UV turned dark gray almost black just like an untreated old cedar fence and I couldn't read the black ink without getting right up close to the labels. So...how do you keep the wood from turning black (photo-oxidation from UV damage to wood's lignin) without using some toxic stain or paint in the garden or greenhouse?
I wonder if a white wax pencil would be a good idea.
I cut plastic corrugated board and print it out labels for mine and the labels faded. So I am looking for a way to keep the fading from happening so now I'm Looking for those markers. I wonder if a feed store would have them? If not I'll order them from Amazon.
Any place where they sell building supplies should have them. Menards, Home Depot,... Wed user them to touch up scratches where I work.
I remember my first labels, I made them out of thick cardboard strips and a Marks-a-Lot 😂. Just glad that I didn't waste more time by propping them up straight with sticks!🙂
I'm guessing they fell over quickly 😅
What about sun damage?
You have nice printing.
Great 👍 thanks friend
Paint stirrers disintegrate in one season in my garden. Need something that will last longer than that.
Wood is great when you don’t need to reuse labels. I grow plants for sale and need to churn out hundreds of labels and don’t want to put that much plastic into the world.