The article highlights the environmental impact of the horticulture industry’s reliance on plastic pots, noting that 68% of plants sold in the U.S. come in such containers. The author reflects on their personal struggle with discarded plastic pots and discusses historical alternatives like clay and bare-root plants. The ongoing initiative "Healthy Pots, Healthy Planet" seeks to promote awareness and provide sustainable alternatives. As gardeners, the community is encouraged to seek out solutions to reduce plastic waste and employ more earth-friendly gardening practices.
My thoughts then turned to an uncomfortable truth about the horticulture industry: We still rely heavily on nonrecyclable plastic pots to deliver our beautifully grown annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees.
Historically, more plants were sold as bare-root, ball and burlap, or in terra-cotta pots. Clay pots are reusable, but they are fragile, heavy, and ill-suited for large-scale nursery production.
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