In recent years, the trend of owning and propagating houseplants has steadily grown. Consumers find this hobby to be relaxing and find it rewarding when their cuttings successfully grow roots and new leaves. Because of the ease that propagation gives us to clone plants, many people are exploring methods to acquire more plants for free. One common method is through proplifting. Proplifting is the habit of stealing plant material for the practice of creating new plants; this is done through collecting discarded material (leaves, nodes, roots, seed), or by stealing parts of a plant that are still attached. While proplifting appears harmless, it is important to consider all factors, such as how it might affect the business, non-profit, or individual that one is taking this plant material from. Additionally, taking protected plant material – such as from plants that are being grown from conservation efforts – could drastically harm the preservation of a species. This national survey looks at how consumers view the ethics around proplifting and the degree to which they would consider a situation to be ethically acceptable or unacceptable.
