PH faces 'plantdemic' as plant selling grows

A new craze was born after COVID restrictions were mandated by the local government which involves a bunch of greenery, a trend now dubbed as “plantdemic”.

As the lockdown went widespread, boredom had become one of the challenges that people faced aside from the insufficiency of resources. This boosted not only its demands but also caused its price range to soar higher than the usual.

Photos of these plants have flooded social media as some Filipinos turn to nature as stress reliever, making gardening a beneficial leisure.

People who are diving in to this trend go by the monikers, ‘Plantito’ or ‘Plantita’.

But as demand remained robust, authorities have warned the public that the plants being sold in the market may not have been obtained legally.

Maria Christina Rodriquez, Zamboanga regional director for the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, said that presence of plant poachers in the forests of Zamboanga were nonexistent prior to the pandemic. However, thieves became popular during the lockdown.

According to her, plant thieves usually steal plants that are popularly posted and sold on social media, such as staghorn ferns and pitcher plants.

Meanwhile, there were five people caught stealing flowers from public parks in Baguio, said Rhenan Diwas, officer in charge of the Baguio City Environment and Park Management Office.

The northern city of Baguio, as of now, are tightening security to prevent more people from stealing.

Photo from CDN Inquirer