I wouldn't pierce anything (including myself but that's a whole other matter).

My reason is your bulbs have layers upon layers-- each a barrier to rot and disease. Putting anything into any live tissue will cause damage and you may invite a parasite or worse. Could you not just that the wire and tie it about the bulb where the leaves come out?

That was also a thought, but when the bulbs go dormant, there won't be anything to prevent the wrap from coming off the bulb. I did think that maybe I could just write the first couple of letters of the bulb's name (or assign it a number) on the bulb with a Sharpie(R).
K

Since plants are living things, constantly growing and changing, shedding outer layers and leaves, growing new ones... it's not feasible to attach a name tag directly to the plant, itself. Instead, adopt a double tag method, whereby a permanently marked tag is placed inside the pot at the bottom, before the plant is potted... with the second tag, decorative or not, permanently marked and stuck in the soil along the pot's edge... as you normally would. This way, if one tag is lost, the plant can be tipped out of its pot and the name discovered. This idea came from Lora, who stops in occasionally with lovely photos of her blooms, and from whom I've learned quite a bit about hippeastrum culture.

The issue of permanently marking tags for pots is an old one, and one that keeps me thinking about the best way to be sure which bulb is which! Regular Sharpie markers aren't always permanent... the ink or dye can fade with time, and in outdoor weather... it also tends to run when used on certain wooden tags.

Greenhouse supply companies sell markers that have a better ink or dye, and it seems to last longer. Mini blinds cut into tags are a good alternative to wooden or cheap plastic tags. If you prefer to use wood, medical supply companies sell tongue depressors at a very low cost, and they take to marking quite well.

I'm currently thinking about making my own tags from aluminum or copper sheeting, which are fairly soft in thin layers, and can be inscribed with different tools for that purpose. I think I would punch a hole at one end of the tag and hang it from fairly thick, long pieces of wire that would have a pigtail bent or curled into one end.

Another idea I had involves finding old fashioned metal venetian blinds and cutting those into tags to be permanently scribed with the plant name.

But because bulbs shed outer layers, and because rot, fungus and insects are issues, it's never a good idea to pierce them with anything! If you must pierce, choose a part on your own body that you want to decorate... such as your navel! I did mine! I'll bet I'm the only Grandma you all know with an Amethyst in her navel! LOL!

I just can't see paying the high cost for the really nice copper tags available through some catalogs... and so, I'll keep searching and thinking of a way to permanently tag my bulbs at a reasonable cost.

Jodi,
I'm not worried about the tag coming out of the pot, I'm worried about bulbs coming out of pots! I've found a couple of pots tipped over and all I need is to find 3 bulbs on the ground...out of the pots...and without ID!

I got 50 lovely copper tags for less than $10.

Kristi

Kristi, the copper tags did nothing for me, they lost their IDs rather easily. I generally use a number 2 pencil on venetian blind or plastic tags. I got an idea from Some of the bulbs I ordered this year where they used a rubber band (loosly) around the base of the bulb with a plastic tag with the name. I keep most of my bulbs potted in my pool cage, so I don't have the critter prob. Good luch dahlink!

Instead of worrying about tags because pots are knocked over by critters... get rid of the critters!

There are several ways to accomplish this, the easiest of which is marking your territory to keep animals at bay. Although, if you have dogs, and you still have critters, not much but death will keep them away. Go-to-ground terriers would be my dog of choice if squirrels were bothering my gardens... those little dogs will hunt small animals to extinction!

We got rid of a large ground hog that had taken up residence in the barn by urinating near its home. We, or I should say Larry, marked his territory as a human predator about 3 times, and the ground hog left and has not been back. It usually works for the larger critters, such as deer, ground hogs, raccoons, etc... they view humans as threatening predators, and if they smell us, they will go elsewhere. And yes, it really works.

Otherwise, a catch and release trap can be used, and the animals relocated... or, if there are no pets in the area, poison can be used effectively... Larry usually hunts the smaller critters that eyeball my gardens, and shoots to kill. I like animals as much as the next guy, but I refuse to let them eat my named Daylilies for lunch!

I have 2000+ wooded acres behind my house, so I'm afraid the squirrels are at an advantage. Poison is out of the question since the dogs often have run of the yard. Guess I'll just be making a big cage to house newly planted bulbs. I don't think they'll be too problematice once the bulbs are established.

Lots of creative ideas to work around this...
K

My friend uses colored plastic tape that she writes the name on with permanent marker then buries in the pot with the plant and just the tag end with the name hanging out. It works for her.

Kristi... have your husband take a midnight stroll to the edge of the woods... or at least to the edge of your property... and have him mark his territory. It's really that simple. Have him urinate behind your gardens... critters see humans as large predators, and they won't come around if they smell humans... give it a try... it's free, except for the liquid required to fill the bladder! It's not a joke, either... it does work. Larry does this to keep unwanted animals out of the barn and garages.

I also like the metal tags and have used them in orchid baskets and they last forever. I have been wondering, like Kristi, if they could be used in pots. I use a lot of plastic pots and am thinking about punching holes in them and putting the tags through that way.
I do like Jodi's option of putting tags in the bottom. Although that wouldn't help if a number of bulbs were knocked out of their pots. In that case, maybe setting up a numbering system and then marking each bulb with a number using a sharpie might help. If you use this, would you let me know if the marking stays for any length of time.

I have heard that using dog hair/fur in a garden discourages critters as well. Even if it doesn't work the birds will use it for nests :)

Bulbs shed leaves and outer layers, so marking the actual bulb will only last as long as that outer layer lasts... once it fades and dies, the marking will fade and be gone, too.

I like the idea of punching a small hole near the top of plastic pots, and hanging the tags from them. Good one, Jody!

I'm not sure if dog hair is a good deterrent, or not... if the dogs never go past a certain boundary, then the critters know this, and will come in anyway... depending on where we all live, and what we all believe in, and what we all can use safely... well, those will determine how we all deal with unruly critters! We shoot 'em, and sometimes just keeping the boundaries marked keeps them away.