Flourish Software's  Cannabis Cultivation Equipment Guide

Equipment You Need to Tag Your Plants Like a Pro

Whether you're just getting started or scaling up a large grow, the right printing setup is key to staying compliant and efficient.

This guide walks you through exactly what to buy—printers, labels, ribbons, accessories—and how to match your equipment to your budget and grow size.

Computer Recommended Requirements

Before you plug in a Zebra printer, make sure you install the driver and go through the setup screen.

Operating System:

• Windows 10 or higher (Highly Recommended)
• macOS 11.0+ (Mac users beware: Zebra drivers for macOS are hit or miss)

Processor:

• Intel i5/i7 (10th Gen or newer)
• AMD Ryzen 5/7 equivalent

RAM

• Minimum: 8 GB
• Recommended: 16 GB+ (if you manage large datasets or multiple software tools)

Storage:

• SSD with at least 256 GB
• 512 GB or higher (if you do heavy admin or reporting work)

Optional Peripherals for Better Workflow:

• Touchscreen All-in-One PC (this can be a huge timesaver with the right setup)

• External Monitor (dual screens = faster task switching)

• Ergonomic Keyboard + Mouse setup

Flourish Pro Tip: We recommend a PC over a Mac because Zebra printers connect more reliably with Windows machines. Skip the Mac for the smoothest setup.

Our Recommended Printing & Labeling Setups

From plant tags to packaging labels, printing touches nearly every workflow, and it needs to be reliable, compliant, and easy to manage.  Based on what actually works in the field, we've laid out our top hardware picks for every budget and facility size. 

There is a DIY Tagging Method (Not Recommended)

If you’re working with a minimal budget, here’s what your process will look like:

1. Buy a printer
2. Buy labels
3. Buy hang tags – pre-wired or not
4. Print the labels
5. Stick each label onto a hang tag
6. If tags aren’t pre-wired, manually attach wires
7. Hang the tags on each plant

The challenge here is the manual labor and ensuring the tag will last for the duration of the plant's lifecycle. 

Bottom Line: It works—but it's tedious, error-prone, and not built for efficiency or scale.

Lean Hardware That Can Work: Here's Your Gear

Getting your operation off the ground with minimal spend, this setup "works". 'Nuff Said?

• ZD421 Thermal Transfer Printer: Choose the thermal transfer model, not direct thermal. The 300 DPI version is ideal if you’re printing small barcodes or detailed text.

• Zebra 69531 Labels: 3” core, 8” outer diameter, 4-up layout—built for nursery use and rugged conditions.

• Zebra 5095 Resin Ribbon

• Uline Tyvek Tags

Serious Tools for Smaller Grow Operations: Under 10,000 Sq. Ft. or Less Than 800 Tags Per Day

This is the sweet spot setup for operators growing on up: reliable, efficient, and built for growers who need to tag plants daily without slowing down.

• ZD421 Thermal Transfer Printer: Choose the thermal transfer model, not direct thermal. The 300 DPI version is ideal if you’re printing small barcodes or detailed text.

• Zebra 69531 Tag Rolls: 3” core, 8” outer diameter, 4-up layout—built for nursery use and rugged conditions.

• External Media Roll Holder: Required to support the large tag rolls and maintain a stable feeding path.

• 5095 Resin Ribbon (or wax-resin equivalent): Designed for long-lasting prints on polyolefin tags; resists water, sunlight, and abrasion.

• Cleaning Pen or Cleaning Swabs (optional): Helps extend your printhead’s life and avoid downtime from buildup.

• Zebra Setup Utilities (free software): Simplifies installation and configuration; compatible with Windows and macOS (though we recommend using a PC).

Heavy-Duty Hardware for High-Volume Operations: For Facilities Tagging 800+ Plants Per Day or Managing Multiple Rooms

It’s the industry-grade gear we recommend for serious operators who can’t afford downtime and need consistent results, day in, day out.

• Zebra ZT411 Series Printers: Purpose-built for high-volume environments and large-format tags. Choose the right model based on your print quality needs:

• • Zebra ZT411 Thermal Transfer Industrial Label Printer – 203 DPI: A dependable essential for basic barcode and batch printing

  • Zebra ZT411 Thermal Transfer Industrial Label Printer – 300 DPI: Ideal for sharper resolution and smaller barcode or QR code printing

    

• Zebra 5095 Resin Ribbon: (or wax-resin equivalent): Designed for long-lasting prints on polyolefin tags; resists water, sunlight, and abrasion.
• Zebra 69531 Tag Rolls: 3” core, 8” outer diameter, 4-up layout—built for nursery use and rugged conditions.

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Things to Consider: 

• Working from the field? Check out our Mobile Equipment Guide!
  

• Regularly update your operating system and drivers for compatibility with Flourish software.

• Keep at least 20% of storage free on devices.
• Use surge protectors to prevent hardware damage.
• Zebra One Care: Distributors offer maintenance and support plans.

Need Equipment Financing? If you have 3 months of operating history, click here to explore options with our partner FundCanna.