I've noticed a lot of neglected plants at local stores, often just left outside to die before they're thrown away. Unlike expired food items, these plants can still thrive with a bit of care, which seems like such a waste!
I talked to a manager at Sainsbury's who mentioned they might donate these plants to charities like food banks, but I couldn't find any info on that online. I'd also heard that some folks manage to snag these 'expired' plants for free from store employees. This got me thinking—could we find a better way to save these plants and give them to local gardening enthusiasts or community gardens? Has anyone tried doing something like this? I'd really appreciate any advice on how to get started!
3 Answers
It's really interesting that you mention food banks! I used to run one, and surprisingly, we never received any flowers or plants—only food. But sometimes, stores just slash the prices on these plants instead of tossing them. I saw a kalanchoe plant for just 60p at Tesco the other day!
Honestly, most of these plants just need a little water and care to come back to life. It doesn’t take much, really!
You should definitely check out The Plant Rescuer on Instagram! They've done amazing work with companies to set up rescue boxes. You pay a small fee, like £10, and get back £30-£40 worth of healthy plants. Dobbies and some supermarkets are also using services like TooGoodToGo to help out. I once got two massive monsteras from John Lewis for just £20 because they had thrips, and I just asked if I could have both for £40. They turned out great, and I just passed them on to someone else. Best of luck in your plant-saving mission!
Thanks for the tip! I love the idea of rescue boxes—sounds like a great way to get involved!