I have been using vinyl labels since 1990 and they are in good condition after all these years. In fact, the main problem has been the writing fading and not the label.They are of the type shown by Mark McDonough in his Allium photos. Many years later I found a supplier in Texas but the labels were not the same quality and so thin that they looked like paper. Of course, not unexpectedly, they deteriorarted rapidly. Interesting tips by Tim out of experience no doubt. Nowadays I use them almost completely buried in the container and this preserves well not only the label but the writing. Enviado desde Correo<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> para Windows De: Tim Eck via pbs<mailto:pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> Enviado: lunes, 9 de enero de 2023 13:27 Para: Pacific Bulb Society<mailto:pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> CC: Tim Eck<mailto:timeck17582@gmail.com> Asunto: Re: [pbs] Vinyl Plant Labels I am speaking from limited knowledge, but I think the suggestion of using vinyl siding in response to a query on cheap durable plant labels that I started may have triggered the present question. The answer (vinyl siding) was not seen as the answer for the reason that we knew the inherent properties of vinyl, but because we knew the inherent properties of siding - a twenty year warranty in direct sunlight. The assumption is that siding will always have enough durability to avoid major lawsuits, so they must add any necessary UV inhibitors. Also, since it is sold as a high volume commodity, It should have great pricing - close to manufacturing cost. I don't have reason to believe this extends to other vinyl products. On Mon, Jan 9, 2023 at 9:44 AM Robert Lauf via pbs < pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote: > If they mean PVC, burning it will yield the acrid smell of hydrochloric > acid. Note that in general, burning plastics give off any number of > noxious compounds, e.g., cyanide in nitrogen-containing polymers. A great > reason not be inside a burning car or aircraft. > The main issue with plastic labels is they inevitably deteriorate in > sunlight. The UV rays slowly create more points where the long molecules > become cross-linked so it gradually becomes stiffer and more brittle. > Unless you want to rub your labels with sunscreen every day, you have to > live with this tragic reality. One thing to try is write the name on both > ends of the label, so if the top breaks off, you can pull up the label and > read the bottom. Also, unless this is a show garden, if the labels are > mainly for your own use you can push them down so only 1/2" is sticking out > of the dirt, then just pull up when you want to refresh your memory. > Getting back to your specific question, with the caveat that I'm a > materials scientist and not a polymer chemist per se, my gut feeling is > that pure white labels are more likely to be "virgin" as opposed to > recycled plastic for a number of reasons, including the difficulty of > avoiding bits of colored material in the recycle stream. At the same time, > I would be surprised if recycled material would be any more or less > resistant to UV damage. If there's a real polymer person in our midst I > will of course defer to their insights on this problem, which has plagued > gardeners since I was in grad school 50 years ago! > Bob a gloomy Zone 7 but at least it's not 4 degrees as it was at Christmas > On Monday, January 9, 2023 at 09:18:08 AM EST, Shoal Creek Succulents > via pbs <pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote: > > Happy New Year All- > > Time and again the subject of labels has been discussed. Most recently, > the longevity of vinyl labels caught my attention. > > There appears to be people with a chemical background on this list. > Is there a test to confirm vinyl? I found a website that says burning > various plastics will show which material by crumble, smell, flame color, > etc. > The labels I am purchasing are supposed to be .020” virgin vinyl. > Is there a simple test to verify I am receiving material as purchased? > > Thanks much! > > Best regards, Lisa > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > PBS Forum latest: > https://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbsforum/index.php/… > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > PBS Forum latest: > https://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbsforum/index.php/… > _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> PBS Forum https://… _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> PBS Forum https://…