The Controversial Thing Plant Shop Owners Say You Should Never Do

"If you've got a green thumb, you may be looking for ways to grow your plant collection quickly and cheaply, and that's totally possible with resources like no-buy groups, seed catalogs at local libraries, and more. You've probably heard of plant propagating - something that you can do yourself by snipping off part of a favorite plant to grow into its own little plant."

"But one version of propagating, called "proplifting," is one that plant shop owners urge you to skip. Here's what to know about proplifting and why you should avoid it. "Proplifting refers to the act of taking plant leaves, plant cuttings, or any part of a plant [from a store] that is then later used at home to grow a new plant or 'propagation,'" says Sarah Hardy, owner of Found Things Plant Shop."

""At a recent market, I had three beautiful strings of pearl plants hanging in our booth," Perry says. "It had taken months of care and patience to grow them to look that way. As people walked by admiring them, one person reached out, grabbed a handful of pearls, and slipped them straight into her purse. When I noticed, my heart sank.""

Proplifting is the act of taking leaves, cuttings, or parts of plants from retail stores to use at home for propagation. Many people propagate plants themselves or share cuttings at propagation parties. Proplifting is theft and can significantly harm small, locally owned plant shops. One shop owner described three strings of pearls that required months of care; a market visitor grabbed a handful of pearls and slipped them into her purse, leaving a bald spot that rendered the plant unsellable. The removed pieces can reduce inventory value and deprive sellers of expected income. Shop owners urge customers to avoid taking plant parts.

Read at Apartment Therapy