The Peat-Free Diet: Buying plants and growing mushrooms
21.08.2023 - 12:02
/ theunconventionalgardener.com
/ Emma Doughty
Buying plants
Once you’ve stopped buying peat products then the next step is to stop buying plants that have been grown in peat. It’s a bit trickier – plenty of commercial nurseries still use peat-based growing mediums, and plants don’t often show that information on the label. You’ll have to ask your local nurseries and garden centres what they use, and be prepared to explain why you would prefer to buy peat-free plants.
Here in the UK there are nurseries that have moved to become peat-free, and it’s likely to be increasingly common. Check out the list of suppliers at the back of the book for some ideas.
Whenever you’re buying plants it’s handy to be able to spot the healthy ones, so that you don’t waste your money. Check the foliage to make sure there are no signs of pests or disease. The plant’s roots should fill the pot nicely so that the rootball holds together; if the compost is very loose the plant could have been recently repotted (which is not a problem) or neglected. A pot-bound plant, with roots curling round and round the pot, may have suffered a check to growth and not be a good choice.
Weeds and moss growing on the soil surface indicate that the plant has been on the shelf for a while. Again, it may not be a problem for long-lived plants, but it’s not ideal for anything short-lived. And consider whether you want to buy a plant which is currently flowering or fruiting, or one that looks healthy and has plenty of buds and will flower and fruit for you once you get it home.
Think twice about rescuing a plant that is sad-looking. Neglect can sometimes be overcome, but you don’t want to import pest and disease problems.
Once you bring your new plant home, make sure it has enough food and water, and is repotted if
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