Whether it's Women's Day, Mother's Day, graduation or even Valentine's Day, you're sure to give or receive cut flowers as gifts.
Cut flowers look very pretty, but they quickly bloom and end up in the trash.
Luckily, there is another option that will decorate our surroundings for much longer: potted plants!
The benefits of potted plants
Durability
Cut flowers will live in the vase for a week or two at most before they wither and end up in the bins. Potted plants, on the other hand, will live much longer, several years, if properly cared for. So they will bring joy to the recipient for many years to come!
Waste reduction
While flower bouquets are often decorated with cellophane or other disposable elements, the non-organic waste from potted flowers is usually just the pots, which can be reused after proper cleaning.
Health
Did you know that houseplants can also be good for your health? Potted plants can also produce oxygen, thereby purifying the air. But they can also improve our well-being. Research shows that we can reduce anxiety by surrounding ourselves with houseplants.
Caring for your plants also reduces stress.
Next time you water your plants, stop for a minute, take a few deep breaths and enjoy the moment.
If you're giving a potted plant as a gift, add this message!
Buy native plants!
Indeed, imported fibrous or even potted plants of different colours are beautiful, but do we know what prices they have fetched in domestic shops?
Not only do they have a large environmental footprint due to the thousands of kilometres of transport, but they also raise social issues. Imported crops are often grown in Kenya or Ethiopia because of the climate conditions that allow year-round production and cheaper costs.
But perhaps even more seriously, because they are not edible, they are not subject to the same regulatory requirements as edible crops, meaning that pesticides are used much more frequently than is allowed for food. These used to include compounds such as bromomethane, which is highly toxic to humans and can cause long-term damage to the nervous system, for example, if inhaled. Although this was banned in the US in 2005, it was not banned in other countries until 2015.
Just as workers in the fashion industry are often exposed to harmful substances in the course of their work, so too do people working in floriculture.
Another important issue related to growing conditions is water use. It is estimated that the "water footprint" of a rose flower is between 7 and 13 litres, and the market for cut flowers can consume the water available for other industries, such as food production. This creates an additional challenge for water scarce areas.
The next time you buy flowers or houseplants, look for a local florist and ask where they come from.
The potted lilies, daffodils and hyacinths are mostly home-grown.
But you can also support smaller, environmentally friendly initiatives such as Risoplantwho sell possums and plant floraria, and you can visit the Greeners where you can buy new houseplants in a friendly atmosphere, in a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way.
You can also check out Botanic Garden back greenhouse and ask if there is a plant fair going on.
There are more sustainable options!
Ask around your friends to see if they have any houseplants to give away? Maybe one of their plants has proliferated so much that they'd be happy to give you one, which you can feel free to pass on as a gift.
But it's also possible that some of your houseplants are waiting for a new owner.
A home-grown houseplant will be appreciated by any plant lover!
Don't forget aftercare!
Whether it is your own houseplant or a gift, fresh soil loses its nutritional value in about 3-4 months.
If the plant hasn't grown out of the pot in this time, use a plant care product instead of unnecessary transplanting!
CYCLE reNEW Nutrient Solution Concentrate is an environmentally friendly and effective fortifying panacea for house and balcony plants!
The humic acid it contains is a highly effective soil conditioner, and adequate amounts of potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus are essential for plant growth.
Another component is potassium, which helps with water absorption, sugar formation and nutrient storage.
And phosphorus is responsible for helping root development and resistance to disease.
In other words, it not only balances the soil, but also vitalises the plants!
Plus, it's made with recycled ingredients, so it has less of an environmental impact than regular nutrient solutions.
Can we give you one?
If you buy CYCLE cleaning products worth HUF 15.000 now, you will receive a free nutrient solution in your shopping cart!
For further reading on the subject, we recommend these blog articles:
3 houseplant varieties that are easy to care for
3 houseplant varieties that thrive in dark places
3 common mistakes and how to avoid them when caring for houseplants
Sources used:
https://www.theforwardlab.com/the-true-impact-of-cut-flowers/
https://houseplantresourcecenter.com/2020/02/why-houseplants-are-a-better-gift-than-flowers/
https://www.mydomaine.com/why-you-should-gift-plants-over-flowers-5217678
https://greenguide.hu/fenntarthato-novenyneveles/
