How to label lilies

[-Greg-]

All of my new lilies just arrived from Texaswaterlilies, I would like to somehow label the pots. Are their any proven methods out there?

Thanks!

Greg

[Joyce]

Paint Pens, the kind that has the nibs that plunge down to pump out the paint.
Write directly onto the side of the pots, or cut up plastic venetian blinds to make labels to stick into the soil.

[bunny56lbc]

I like the sharpie perm. marker's & I cut up old blind's .
I make 2 tag's with the name of the plant on them , put
one in the side or bottom of the pot ( under the dirt ) & the other
I stick down in the top so I can see what plant it is .

I don't know what kind of pot's u use , but if u use a light colored pot then
u can write the name of the plant on the outside too.

bonnie

[Desertponder]

I use pieces of mini blinds and a sharpie pen. Write on both ends of the piece and stick one half down in the soil. The part in the soil won't fade away. I also twist tie a piece to the pot through a hole for backup in case the other piece would get pulled out of the pot.
I tried the paint pen method one year but found that algae soon coated the pot and you couldn't read it.

[karen J]

I don't think anything really works in the long term. I've tried blinds, cut up plastic drink cups, aluminum cans, plastic ties, etching tools, etc.
The only time I ever came close was when I mapped out the pond. That was surprisingly effective, but you can't move things around without changing your map.
 
This year I'm going to try a hole punch and plastic strips. The number of punches on the strip will correspond to a code.
I don't even know if I should bother... I grow the same lilies year after year. 

[landey1230]

I thought I could use the memorization thing.     That didn't work. 

[miguynmkoi]

I give up on labels.  The pink ones are purty; the blue ones are my favorites; they purple ones fall in with my blue theme; the yellow one is a hardy;  the ones that bloom at night are special........

Besides when the raccoons tip the lily pots they aren't nice enough to put the plant back into their pots. 

[-Greg-]

Thanks everyone for the great advice! I am going to try the sharpie and paint pen/venetian blind method, as well as the punching holes that correspond to the type of plant, and keeping a record on my computer.

Greg

[matherfish]

Write the name on a piece of venetian blind with a permanent marker, and then put it in a zip lock bag and bury it in the middle of the pot below the soil. It works in my lotus tubs also. I also put the names on venetian blind pieces and stick them along the sides so that I can read the name without digging into the plant. The name will be there when you divide the plant or repot it.

[bunny56lbc]

I like Frank's idea with the zip lock sandwich bag's .
I'll have to give it a try .....if I can remember it late one....

bonnie

[Ky Kim]

 I used colored zip ties, plus mini blinds.  I punch a hole big enough for the zip tie to go through, and then write down the color tie I used and the name of the lily in a note book.  The mini blinds I do just like the others have said.  The zip ties are just in case the tags fade out, the zip ties are a back up for me.  Also, you can see them from above the water and don't have to get down in there to see the name of a lily.

Kim

[casey]

My labels have lasted the whole year easily and will probably last another summer.  Here is what I use.  Go to Michael's with your weekly 40% coupon and buy a sheet of that craft foam.  It is real dense and some of it comes with a sticky back.  I just use the plain cut to whatever size i want and the black Sharpie.  I use an ice pick to make a hole in the foam and the pot (I use plastic from the 99 cent store).  I use metal garden tie stuff to hook the label to the pot.  The label floats as high as you let it.  It is easy to find.  If it gets covered with algae you can scrub that off and the writing is still clear.  I tend to use the color foam that matches the lily color. 

[-Greg-]

Thanks everyone for the great ideas, Kim, I added the colorkeyed zip ties to each pot (great tip!), as well as drilling holes and labeling them with a sharpie, I think I am covered! Casey, great idea as well, however I had already sank all of the pots last night. Again, thanks everyone!


Greg

[Jerry]

Mini blinds and Sharpie here too.  The paint pens that Joyce suggested are great on outdoor signs, so they should hold up well.
If one has the time a dip in  clear varathane will help

[tranquility]

mini blinds cut in long strips so you can write the name on both ends and  bend the bottom half so that its under the soil on the very bottom of the pot---makes it alot harder to be pulled up....I have had some lilies potted for going on 3 years now and can easily read the names that are under the soil...can't say the same for those above the soil line....also have tried writting the name of the lily on the outside of the pot with paintpens--that seems to last fairly well too..
Lawanna

[SueSTx]

I use Marks a Lot directly on the dishpans.

[happyoutsidegirl]

I'm right there with Anette My CRS is really bad and my Koi pulled out my venetion blind lables. 

[tinkster]

happy.. same here. I just try as best as I can to remember..

tinkster