Horticulture

Track & Trace Printing Solutions for Garden Centers, Greenhouses, Nurseries & Florists

Variable information printing and marking are essential for inventory control, consumer education, and marketing efforts in the horticulture industry. Garden centers, greenhouses, nurseries, and florists often print on styrene, vinyl, or high-density polyethylene (HDPE) substrates on-demand to label plant inventory.

The size and shape of the substrate can vary widely depending on the type of plant being labeled, with hangtags being used for hanging baskets, pot labels/stakes being used for potted plants and wrap-around tags for trees and bushes. These labels, stakes, and tags provide plant-specific variable information to the consumer including:

• Plant variety
• Care instructions
• Prices
• Company information
• Barcodes
• And more

The tags and labels also provide an essential marketing function. Studies show that consumers purchase plant labels with detailed information about the plant and its care requirements more often than plants without such a label.

The labels are subject to various environmental/weather conditions, including ultraviolet ray and heat exposure from sunlight, water exposure from plant irrigation, and occasional chemical exposure from fertilizer and pesticide applications. The labels are also handled repeatedly as plants are moved through the inventory process to eventual sale. Despite these harsh environments, the labels need to remain highly legible throughout the supply chain.