Keep plant tags– you’ll be glad you did!
Plant tags, or plant labels, are those little plastic stakes tucked into nursery pots. When kept outside by their coordinating plant, these tags can fade and crack in the sun or get lost in the soil. I was stashing mine in a ziplock bag until I had the idea to move them into a photo album for longevity and easier access.
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Why Keep Plant Tags?
My instinct as a minimalist is to remove and throw away all tags of any kind as soon as possible; but, as a new gardener, I need all the help and reference I can get.
Plant tags contain information that can be helpful both for initial planting and for care down the road.
Label information often includes:
- The common name and the scientific name of the species.
The common name is great to have in general, but the scientific name can be extra helpful in case you want to purchase the same *exact* plant again later on. - A picture
This can help with garden planning, if the plant is not in bloom or is cut back over winter. It’s nice to have a reference for what the plant looks like. - Growing requirements and habits
The amount of sun necessary for the plant to thrive, whether the plant is an annual or perennial, how big it grows, and bloom times.
Plant Label Photo Album
Keeping plant labels in a photo album keeps the tags spread out and easy to see.
It’s as easy as sliding them into the pages where a photo would go. If you like the one I used in this photo, you can find it here!
I store my tags by type— all the roses together, all the alliums together, etc. You can even alphabetize your album if you want to. But, even if the album isn’t organized at all, the pictures on the tags will be easy to flip through to find the one you’re looking for.
If the photo album has space for notes, you can use this space for notes about where the plants are or things you want to remember about their care.
One of the most helpful things I’ve been able to note as a new gardener is which ones need to be pinched in the spring.
Tips:
- Rinse off and dry the tags before storing them. Plant labels are made from waterproof materials (for storing outside) so rinsing won’t ruin them.
- In the unfortunate even that a plant bites the dust, (been there), throw out the plant’s tag too. Unless of course you want try again and to get another one.
I hope this becomes a helpful tool for you in keeping information about your plants close at hand. So far I’m loving this system!
I totally agree on saving and storing the tags. May I make a suggestion? I always cut off the pointed bottoms from the main body of the plant. This helps make storage easier – and besides, this bottom area holds zero info anyways. It’s great that you’ve shown everyone just how effective storing your tags can be. Thanks for sharing!
That’s a great idea Heather, thanks for sharing!