Hi everyone,

I kept the mini-blind that Fred/Spunky included with "Lillian's Fringe Benefits" and it has withstood 3+ years of the California sun and whichever marker he used is not in the least faded. That's saying a lot, since *everything* out here tends to fade because of the sun! Michele, do you have any idea whether he was using Elmers paint markers?

All the best - Elizabete

Hi, Elizabete
I would like to know also because I haven't had very good results with paint pens I got mine at some craft store but don't remember the brand.

I have used paint pens on two different kinds of media: plastic knives and on the metal eon markers. The writting on the plastic knives has stood up to Alabama weather since 2008. The writing on the eon marker using the same kind of pen did not even last a year. I wrote on a few of the eon markers with the paint pen in early April and it has worn off. I used a china pen on the rest of those markers and that still looks great.

Laura, thanks so much for pointing out that a specific paint pen may not work well on different surfaces! Just as a summary for those using mini blinds – Paula has had good luck with Sharpie’s and Shirlee finds using a black paint pen from Walmart lasts for several years. Teresa, I think that's a good starting point. : )

Elizabete, that was an Elmer's black and white paint pens. The white may have stayed longer because of the
oil-based green paint covering the aluminum, but the black lasts just as well on mini-blinds. I haven't tried
other brands so don't know about those.

I also use pain pens and have had no fading unless I use a color other than black. The brand I use is called Deco Color ultra fine. I believe I purchased it at a craft store.

I use Elmers Painters Pens which Kathleen gets at Wal-Mart. Another thing I use a lot to write seedling crosses on mini blinds is a #2 lead pencil, its another thing that seems to last for years. About the only thing I use mini blinds for now are the seedlings, but may have to go back to them for everything because trying to find something to stick in a pot is getting harder and harder unless you use a computer to print them, even then you have to punch a hole in them to tie them to the daylily if you ship it. No one cares about us common folk anymore, if it can't be done by computer you should not be doing it.

Fred, as I mentioned above, your mini blind for "Lillian's Fringe Benefits", marked with an Elmer's Painters pen, is still going strong with no visible fading 3+ years later under the strong California sun, which seems to turn virtually all my daylilies into pastels, and in no time at all obliterates the names on tags provided by other hybridizers.

In case you didn't see my other comment about "Lillian's Fringe Benefits" - LFB also is *immune* to rust, at least in my garden. I say this after coming home last year after work men were here, who had moved potted daylilies every which way while working on a fencing project behind the patio. This left two rust-bucket, potted daylilies draped all over "Lillian's Fringe Benefits." It initially broke my heart, since I was afraid of the worst - but it didn't bother LFB a bit! I've monitored this very carefully and LFB has never developed a single symptom of rust!

Many thanks for a great daylily! : )

All the best - Elizabete (who is enchanted by a non-computerized, long-lasting daylily marker, to say nothing of a rust-free daylily!)

I have not seen Elmers paint pens before. Where do you purchase yours Fred???

Is this it, Fred?

http://www.walmart.com/ip/1681...
http://www.elmers.com/products...

Thanks for the nice comments Elizabeth.

This looks like them, Katkleen gets them at Wal-Mart
http://www.elmers.com/product/...

I use the same ones Fred uses. I usually find them in the craft section where the craft paints are. At the Walmart I get them at now they are not in packages, just the marker sealed at the top with plastic sitting in an acrylic case. At another Walmart I used to go to they would be hanging up in the packages.
You have to make sure you read the package or marker to make sure you get the right tip; they come in fine, medium, and calligraphy tips.


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I've used the mini blind and pencil method for over 10 years in seedlings. then in 2007, I bought a Brother Label P-Touch kind that uses the TZ label. I put those on all of my hybrids I bought in 2007 onto the metal label stands by Eon. I did about 250 in 2007 and they all stilll look new.

Last year and this year, I'm back to Mini blinds and pencils for lack of taking time to do more by the Brother label maker. Now, for some of my plants that I got in this year, I bought some address labels for my inkjet printer that are weather resistant. I bought these online and paid $60 for 3000 labels(100 sheets of 30). I printed out the labels from my PC and put them onto mini blinds and stuck them into the pots just like I had written on the labels. The first ones were put outside in March. They still look new today. Now, do not try this with just plain address labels because they will turn to mush and fall off. (Ask me how I know? )

I'll put the address of the company I bought them from in case anyone is interested. I think you can get the same labels for laser printers cheaper but I don't have a laser printer, so I had to pay more. At the time I bought these, it was the cheapest place I could find online and I spent many days searching for them.

www.onlinelabels.com

I too, have used the paint pens from Walmart and had good luck with them. I used them to mark on the contractors flags to number my rows years ago. The paint lasted, the flags did not! I also used them to write some of my labels on plastic cups and that too worked real good for baby seedlings.

So, there are many things to use, but I will say this and please think about it, do not use Sharpie's, they will not last on plastic. What doesn't rub off will fade in a short period of time. I cant give up my sharpies, I still use them to write on my seed bags.

Blessings, Mona

Mona, you are funny ( ask me how I know!)

Last weekend, I bought a cheap plastic mini-blind (don't know that I'd go that cheap again), and an assortment of items for marking them. Now i've got some out on the front porch to test how they do. Here's the first photo. I expect the sharpie to fade first, just becuase it's green. I couldn't find my black one. I was really happy with how easily the #2 pencil wrote on the mini-blind. It doesn't write nearly as well on the plastic plant markers I bought from HD. I wrote on both sides of the mini-blind piece, and will track their progress over the winter. I get afternoon sun on the porch, but the side we see in the picture is facing away from the sun, so that might protect them a little.

You're right Mary about the mini blinds. I've used up all of my old ones and the new ones just don't come close to being as good. I've had a bunchof the newer ones given to me, so I've used them, but they break really really easily. They are ok in my pots but I would not recommend these out in the garden because they just break way too easily and could get lost without you being aware it was gone. Atleast when I break one in a pot, I can just stick it down inside the pot.

The next time I'm at the Salvation Army store or others, I'm going to look for some of the older ones. They really work great. I think you will be right on with the your test. I've used plain old #2 pencils but for ease of handling with my stiff fingers, I like a #9 mechanical pencil by Pentel Twist Eraser. I get mine at Staples Office store. Walmart has the #7 like this but since I'm so ruff and break lead so much, I prefer the #9.

I first purchased the EON zinc nameplates several years back and was not happy with how they held up. They tended to get bent out of shape, probably from branches falling, heavy snowfall etc. I came up with this a couple years ago and they have held up quite well. I glue (E6000) a piece of mini blind to the EON nameplate and write the name on with a pencil. I'm low budget so I try to find whatever works. I've found that the EON nameplates hold up much better because the mini blind helps keep them from getting bent so easily. Now I just have to practice my penmanship!

Thanks for the tip Tink on buying labelmaker tape on ebay...never thought of that and its so darn expensive at Office Supply stores.

Labeling is most important if you are hybridizing or if you plan to sell your plants. After many mishaps with labels - squirrels dig up the white plastic ones that stick in the ground, or husband "accidentally" removes when weeding, or they fade with the sun in a short time no matter what kind of permanent marker I've used, I went to the Ptouch label maker with white 1/2 inch weatherproof labels with black print. I tried the clear label with black print but I can never read them very well, especially on short markers that are down near the base of the plant.

I have bought the AAA engraved black markers on the metal stand, and I like these, but if you have very many cultivars (I use them on my hybrid roses as well), then it can get expensive. I like the Kincaid shiny stainless steel markers best. I print my own labels with the label maker and attach it to them - this is the least expensive, best way for me. I like the stainless steel much better than the eon zinc markers...its just more aesthetically pleasing.

As for size on the label makers, I use the middle size type - the large is too big and the small is too small. However, one mistake I made in the beginning was to set the size of the label I wanted - like 2". Put it on Auto and you'll be happy with how it turns out.

If you have seedlings to label at any point, the 1 inch wide tape is great for that. You can print a label with both parents in a large enough font size to still read and not have the label be longer than the plant marker. My labels have gone through 2 summers and 2 Midwest winters with no problems at all.

Seedsower Sandy I agree with you when I first started I also used zinc markers they do not stand up to northern winters. I use heavy metal see-fine markers plus make labels using a brother labeler with ultraviolet resistant label tape. I use the * symbol in front of the name for all of my tets I have seen other gardens use it that way so followed suit. They really stand up for me they cost more but last for many years. Plus I use the flowers programs to keep track of my plants.