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I'm in a dilemma. I refuse to go out buying bits of plastic, so I didn't label my plants- OK in the ground as I kept a record, but the ones in pots I moved around and now I'm not really sure whats what!

I have cut up bits of waste packaging but I'm trying not to get things in plastic- so what do you guys use?

Milk bottles - since there's no other way to buy milk here, I've got them anyway. I use the bottom half as plant pots, and cut the top into strips, which I then write on with a permanent marker (I once used a non- [permanent one, and it's not recommended! ).

yogart pots cut in to strips,or pot noddle pots that works aswell.

cheers

Well this is the sort of thing I'm using- but I am trying to cut out the plastic I buy in as much as poss, hence I'm searching for other ideas jsut in case I am ever successful

What did they use in 'the good old days'? I guess there wasn't much container gardening them

Wooden pegs?
Wooden stakes - kebab/chopsticks
Pieces of slate
pieces of paving slab/tile
Pebbles

A piece of tin or copper. Write on it with a biro and push hard so that you emboss the name. It can be quite sharp though so not really recommended. You could try stiff tin-foil perhaps. Like takeaway trays or those trays you get quiches in.

I have some old labels that I inherited from my gran. They have an oval shaped piece of plastic with a galvanised strip of metal through it that you push into the ground. It looks a lot nicer than just a plain piece of plastic.

What about a metal jam jar lid? Pierce a hole and hang from larger plants or trees. Use permanent marker or paint with enamel paint. You could make it quite artistic.

Maybe bits of broken terracotta pot. I haven't tried it but perhaps you could file off the rough edges.

Zoe

some great suggestions there, I had just being going to ask the same question.
For small plant pos I like the milk bottle idea - years ago I used to do the same with washing up bottles, but now we buy the refil pouches so don't have any
and the tin can lid is a good idea to hand from trees, I am gradually learning what all these strange trees are around but keep fogetting, I think the name punched into them with a nail would be good permanent label

I use wooden ice lolly sticks and write on them with pencil. It works very well for me. Sometimes i put celotape over the writing just in case it fades.

I cut plastic strips out of stuff (bottles cartons that sort of thing) I also Have plans of the garden and in the shed at the lottie that I can write in pencil whats where and when so if the lable goes walkies I've got a chance of knowing whats what as long as I've remembered to fill it in of course!

kind thoughts
Deb

Old venetian blinds make great plant labels. Especially the aluminium kind; if you use a pencil you can use them over and over again.

Regards, Jandra

blathanna wrote:I use wooden ice lolly sticks and write on them with pencil.

Snap. We pick them up when ever we go out walking.

Some interesting ideas guys! Just had a tiny brainwave- since it's the pots I lose the plot with I should just wrtie on the pot!

Wooden doctors tounge depressors. Got given a box from a pharmacy, they were going to chuck them away. Write on them with a biro or marker. Eventually the ends rot, but hey, you can just chuck them in the compost bin.

Do you guys realise how abstract you are?! I was expecting something really obvious that had been used for centuries, but I got venisian blinds and doctors tongue depressors.... it has made great reading!

well, abstract is good!

Its all about using what you can get, rather than buying in what you can't. If you can get stuff donated to help you, then its all good.

I work for a courier company, and we have lots of that plastic cling filmy stuff so a bloke downstairs takes the ends of rolls to make his own polytunnels and cloches on his allotment!

You can get lolly sticks on Ebay for a small amount (i think i bought 500 for £5) - they're sold under crafts.