Like most industries, horticulture is also subject to labeling recommendations and regulations. When you sell containerized plants, you must inform consumers in three key areas: what the product is, how much there is and who is responsible for the accuracy of these declarations.
Quadrel’s horticultural labeling solutions help suppliers and producers meet industry labeling standards. Read on to learn more about which information to include on your plant and nursery products.
What kind of labels should be used?
Label type typically hinges on what kind of plant or packaging you’re supplying. For instance, stickers on pots, signs, stake tags and hang tags are all acceptable ways to provide information. You might use tags on bare root roses, while stickers are better suited to plant pots and flats. Once you’ve determined what kind of label(s) to use, you’ll have a better idea of how to include the required information.
Declaration of identity
First, your label should include a declaration of identity. This may include either the botanical name, the common name or both. For example, Achillea doesn’t have a common name, but Bleeding Heart is also known as Dicenta Spectabilis. If you’re selling different plants in the same container, such as hanging baskets, you may use a term like “mixed herbs.”
Declaration of net contents
Next, you must include an accurate description of the net contents, whether by dimension, weight or volume. A container of mixed annuals could be sold by the size of the plant, the volume of the soil or pot, or the dimensions of the pot—as long as the measurement is applied consistently across similar products. All measurements must be provided in both imperial and metric units.
Because plants change size over time, and soil volume is variable, most horticultural suppliers measure by the pot’s volume capacity. If the pot is irregularly shaped, include the pot’s top diameter, bottom diameter and height.
Declaration of responsibility
Finally, your label must include a declaration of responsibility: the grower, retailer or distributor who takes responsibility for accuracy, quality and identity. This part of the label should include your company’s name, city, state and ZIP code.
Additional factors
In addition to the basic facts above, consider including additional helpful information. For instance, you may wish to include a care guide for your plants, such as which zones they thrive in, how often to water and fertilize, sunlight requirements and whether the plants should be brought inside during freezing weather. While this information isn’t required by law, it helps consumers understand the product. This, in turn, builds trust and brand awareness between growers and customers.
Discover horticultural labeling solutions from Quadrel
Quadrel provides high-quality labeling systems for manufacturers. Our Zero Downtime Nursery and Grower system applies labels directly to round or flat panel pots in flats, with optional inline thermal transfer printing and barcode verification. This complete labeling system can accurately label up to 150 products per minute. For more information, or to design your own custom labeling system, reach out to Quadrel today.