Unlike many other goods that are packaged and sold, plants are living things requiring special containment to maintain their integrity and value.
Before the 1960’s, the vast majority of plants were purchased either as seeds, or mud encrusted bare-root plants in the dormant, autumn and winter season. Once they hit the market, plastic pots provided a mega boost to industry production and became the default container used in the growing and selling of plant material. Plastic plant pots not only allowed for the safe, transport of plants, efficient production and facilitated extended sales, they also allowed consumers to physically view and admire the plants, in their full grown glory before purchase – pretty much all year round.
Extending the opportunity for sales beyond the limits of bare-root season, plants were more readily available to consumers and landscapers. To meet growing demand for plants to furnish gardens post World War II, growers were able to produce an unprecedented variety and volume of plants and the industry bloomed.
Although it enabled a flourishing industry, the dominance of the plastic pot has become a chronic environmental problem. Most are single-use, petroleum-based plastic pots, which can’t be recycled and hence, end(ed) up in landfills. Studies suggest that a plastic plant pots can take around 450 years to biodegrade in landfill.
According to the Horticultural Trades Association (2023), only 11% of all UK local authorities collect plant pots in kerbside recycling, leaving a vast majority of plastic plant pots destined for landfills. The actual production of the plastic pots, also requires substantial energy and capacity to produce. The manufacture of virgin plastic uses 4% of the annual oil production is used to produce plastics and a further 3% to manufacture them (2018, BBC).
There is good news, as starting in 2026, all non-black, recyclable PET or PP plastic plant pots will be accepted in household kerbside recycling in England. As gardeners, we do what we can to reuse, but until all pots can be recycled, we will continue to have a never-ending supply of pots around the garden.
To address the problem and changing consumer attitudes to plastics, the industry has introduced recycled (taupe) plant pots, that can be included in curb side recycling. Other innovations include pots from more sustainable materials such as wool or coir, and many nurseries and garden centres have introduced pot exchange/recycling schemes. Others, like the bulb specialist, Peter Nyssen have opted to go back to the tested method of selling field grown, bare root plants.
Peter Nyssen announced recently that they have decided to move away from selling (P9) potted plants, focusing exclusively on bare-root perennial plants. That means, the sale of a smaller range, limited to sales during January – April. They also sell a small range of perennials for autumn planting (peonies, iris germanicum, corydalis). We asked the company as to their reasoning and the impact on their production process.
Bare-root production
Potted plants are delicate beasts. For a supplier they require extra care and consideration in terms of warehouse storage, shipping and packaging to support plant health and new growth.
“Unlike bulbs, which have a built-in storage system that allows them to remain dormant until planting, potted plants are far more delicate. They require a careful balance of moisture, temperature, and airflow to stay healthy before they reach the garden,” explains Stephen Teeuw, Marketing Manager at Peter Nyssen. Representing the 3rd generation of his family to work in the flower bulb industry, Teeuw grows and trades in hundreds of varieties of new bulbs every year.
In temperate zones where the temperature drops to below freezing, bare-root beds work well for a variety of species, from trees, to shrubs and perennials. When they become dormant, the plants lose their leaves making them less fragile. Once lifted, the plants are stored in specialised refrigerated warehouses ready for distribution to the trade or consumers.
Requiring less soil/compost, no pot, or added packaging, nor additional care (watering, fertiliser, storage) and being easy to transport, the production costs are lower than for their containerised counterparts. Being so portable, one person can handle several hundred plants and they can relatively easily, be stored in crates containing large numbers.
The lower production costs are reflected in price, which Peter Nyssen said could be as much as 68%. Teeuw explained that there are a few exceptions, where due to the grower’s prices and required plant size, bare-root plants can be more expensive, as is that case (currently) for Peter Nyssen on Agapanthus and Asters. Though, generally speaking, bare-root plants are a more economic option for consumers.
The environmentally friendly option
Transporting container-grown plants is expensive, heavier and requires more space in transport – adding to air pollution. Being easier to handle, transport and less fragile, they require no plastic pot and less packaging and/or padding.
“P9 (9 cm) pots especially, I personally have an endless supply of these little pots floating around my garden. They occasionally get reused but are generally too small to do anything meaningful with,” said Teeuw.
He added, “We know that plastic is a major issue in gardening. While we still use recycled plastic for packaging, we are committed to using recycled materials wherever possible. In fact, by switching to bare-root plants, we have significantly reduced our total plastic output – not only by removing pots but also by minimising packaging size.”
On packaging, Teeuw adds that many assume that paper is always the best alternative. “The truth is more complex,” he said. “Paper production often has a higher carbon footprint than using recycled plastics, and it can only be recycled 4-5 times before losing its strength. By using recyclable plastic bags, we ensure moisture retention during shipping and the durability to support compost (small amount included in transport) and the roots in transit. Of course, we don’t see plastic as a perfect solution, and we are constantly researching better alternatives.”
In production, field-grown plants require less irrigation and relatively less care during the growing season. Furthermore, without the need for potting media, they present a real opportunity to reducing the need for peat. Though, as Teeuw confirmed, on it is important to note along the distribution chain, some commercial growers (supplying seedlings) may still use peat (blends) in the production process.
Being smaller, nursery-grown plants in 9cm plastic pots need even more intensive care, said Teeuw. They require a longer growing period and additional nurturing before they are garden ready.
Resilient plants
Being field grown, bare-root plants tend to chunkier than their potted cousins, as their root systems are limited to running around inside the pot. As result, bare-root plants tend to be more resilient and establish quicker than those grown in pots because a larger surface area of the root system is in direct contact with garden soil. As bare root plants are planted during the dormancy period between November and March, the roots quickly establish during the winter, ready for spring.
“We have chosen to sell field-grown perennials that have developed strong, resilient root systems. We believe that bare-root plants are the best option for our customers, especially for online orders. While our range may be smaller than before, every plant we offer is selected because it provides stronger, healthier growth, less plastic waste for gardeners to dispose of and requires less space, leading to reducing the amount of filler needed in the box and consequently lower transport impact due to lighter shipments,” said Teeuw.
He adds “We’re not afraid to break with tradition if it means we can provide a more sustainable product. Gardener’s habits will have to change as the weather becomes more unpredictable, and as suppliers, we have some responsibility for this. Changing weather has a far greater impact on summer plants than spring bulbs. Customers will have to plant a broad range of tough plants to build up their garden’s resilience for either droughts or mild summers. This might mean that our range is slightly smaller and the season is shorter, but we would rather supply reliable plants and reduce our packaging usage. It is a bonus that bare-root plants happen to be cheaper, although we still think they are worth every penny.”
