Ep. 125 - Thinking About Sustainability
with Westerlay Orchids
We sit down with Toine Overgaag of Westerlay Orchids, a major grower of Phalaenopsis on the West Coast of the US, to hear about their sustainability efforts, and the state of large-scale houseplant production more broadly.
Are grocery store orchids considered “disposable?” Are there ways to tell if you're buying sustainably-produced plants? And what’s the best thing we can do once a plant comes home with us? Stay tuned for our tips (and our impassioned appeal) for plant lovers of all experience levels to give Phals another look!
Mentioned in this episode:
how the Moth Orchid became so much more affordable and common since we were children, and the potential environmental impact of mass-produced houseplants
how one grower is making efforts to produce millions of flowering Phalaenopsis each year with a goal to become carbon neutral by 2026, and reduce environmental impact as much as possible
how keeping plants alive at home is one of the best ways to practice sustainability yourself, as well as how successfully grow your beautiful Phalaenopsis after its flowers fade so you can enjoy them periodically for years to come
checking grower websites to see what efforts they are making to sustainably produced plants, and letting your garden centers and plant shops know this matters to you when buying your houseplants
