But whether you’re a plant parent to many or just have one or two that brighten your day, we have some bad news. There’s a chance your houseplant obsession may be causing some environmental issues, according to experts. The reason it’s unsustainable is that peat moss is formed when organic material (mostly comprised of moss and plants), “is broken down over thousands of years [and] have decomposed, forming a brown type of mud called peat,” said Nathan. This peat moss grows in peat bogs, “which cover three percent of the planet and are incredibly rich in wildlife." If you’re thinking we should just grow more peat bogs, Nathan explained that that’s not a viable solution. “Peat bogs grow at a slow rate of 1mm a year. Some peat bogs are up to 12m deep, which [means they date] back to the last ice age.” All this narrows down to the fact that peat “isn’t sustainable because we are using it at a faster rate than it can grow,” said Nathan. Nathan explained that the reason peat is such a go-to within the houseplant world is because peat is “cheap, accessible, and very good at holding moisture and acting as a growing medium.” Unfortunately, the horticulture industry, Nathan explained, “is massive and moves slowly. Sometimes things that have always been used are still being used because the infrastructure and know-how are already in place.” If you can’t find coco coir, then Nathan says, “any other material that holds moisture, such as woody materials like bark that can be found in the garden” can work, too. Or, if you’re not sure where to begin sourcing a peat-free alternative, Nathan recommends going to your local garden center. This likely means that you should also “avoid buying cheap plants from supermarkets. We need to get out of this ‘Throw Away’, ‘Fast Fashion’ approach. When you buy a houseplant it should last for life, be passed through generations, gifted/swapped with friends. Often supermarket plants are mass-produced. They’re susceptible to pests and diseases and they have younger root systems, so they’re more likely to die during transport or once taken home.”
