Hello gardeners!

I am passionate about creating a sustainable garden for myself and for all the creatures who live in my little ecosystem. But I have a confession to make. As a plant lover, the thought of buying less plants, as part of my sustainable efforts, scares me.

Poinsettias, for example, have always played a significant part of my holiday decorating. This time of the year I usually head to a garden centre and fill my car with a selection of poinsettias to decorate my house. In the past I have even asked for sparkles to be sprayed on the white poinsettias so they sparkle in the evening. Horrors, I know!

Then the dreaded question popped into my mind…

Do I really need to buy poinsettias?

i started to think about the footprint of growing and selling this quintessential symbol of the holiday season. YIKES!

The last couple months I have been taking a hard look at my gardening and consumption habits—and poinsettias are not making the cut this year.

Why? Let's be honest, for most of us in the northern hemisphere poinsettias are treated as disposable decor. This cycle of buying, displaying, and discarding does not align with my efforts to be a more sustainable gardener. The plant itself is compostable but they are sold in plastic pots often with decorative sleeves over the pots. The growers’ greenhouses use significant energy and chemicals for the mass production of these holiday beauties. There is no denying there is a significant footprint to buying poinsettias for holiday decorating.

I am not sure zero waste is realistic however I do believe that if we act collectively efforts to reduce waste, we can make a difference. I do not want to buy less plants, but I am wondering if there is a better way to buy plants that reduces the plastic and chemicals that make their way into my garden. Why do I have to carry the burden of disposing of used plastic pots? When it comes to chemicals, if I am not using pesticides or fertilizers, I am not sure I want the residue of those chemicals making their way into the ecosystem I am protecting in my garden. These are the questions I am starting to ask.

Poinsettias have a significant environmental footprint when mass produced for the holiday season.

Consider the following before buying poinsettias this year:

Plastics: plastic pot, foil sleeve, plastic plant tag
Growing medium:
- if the soil mix contains styrofoam, it is not compostable
- if peat is used, it is a non renewable resource so should be avoided
Greenhouse production requires numerous chemicals:
- cuttings are prone to infestations so biological controls and chemicals are required
- young plants are also susceptible to stem and root rot so chemicals are required
- growth hormones are used to ensure ideal shape and fullness
- fertilizers are required to ensure bright, even colour
Greenhouses have a high energy footprint to maintain exact temperatures and light
Poinsettias are very susceptible to the cold so that also increases potential waste if a large number are discarded due to weather damage
Transportation: both commercial and personal

The truth is, shifting away from our disposable culture is hard, and there’s no such thing as perfect sustainability. For me, skipping poinsettias is one small step toward aligning my choices with my values. It’s about progress, not perfection. About taking intentional steps toward reducing consumption. For a plant lover, the decision to not buy plants, might be harder than saying no to Christmas goodies.

Make intentional choices this holiday season and challenge yourself to take one small step toward reducing waste.