WEBVTT 00:00.800 --> 00:02.733 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% - This is a stapelia gigantea. 00:02.733 --> 00:04.233 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% This is called a voodoo lily. 00:04.233 --> 00:05.766 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% Philodendron silver stripe. 00:05.766 --> 00:08.300 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% - So house plants, they're having a moment right now. 00:08.300 --> 00:10.166 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% Social media feeds are full of them 00:10.166 --> 00:12.000 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% and there are online communities 00:12.000 --> 00:13.766 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% dedicated to their care and feeding, 00:13.766 --> 00:15.300 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% and let's be honest to showing 'em off. 00:15.300 --> 00:17.133 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% Now, seven out of every 10 millennials 00:17.133 --> 00:19.433 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% considers themselves to be plant parents. 00:19.433 --> 00:21.733 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% Unfortunately, this has also meant an increase 00:21.733 --> 00:24.733 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% in plant poaching. Many rare and endangered plants 00:24.733 --> 00:26.633 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% are being taken from their natural habitats 00:26.633 --> 00:29.633 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% and sold for profit and this can be super lucrative. 00:29.633 --> 00:30.900 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% So does this mean that we need 00:30.900 --> 00:32.800 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% to stop our obsession with house plants? 00:32.800 --> 00:35.300 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% How can we keep loving our leafy friends 00:35.300 --> 00:36.933 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% without also endangering them? 00:36.933 --> 00:39.933 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5% (light music fades) 00:41.333 --> 00:43.133 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% I'm not actually a millennial, 00:43.133 --> 00:45.666 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% but plants have always been a part of my home. 00:45.666 --> 00:47.333 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% I like having something to care for 00:47.333 --> 00:50.133 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% and bringing a little bit of the outdoors, indoors. 00:50.133 --> 00:52.966 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% That's the same reason that this guy got into house plants. 00:52.966 --> 00:55.100 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% Meet Stephen Camp. He's a plant parent, 00:55.100 --> 00:56.966 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% and he even owns his own greenhouse 00:56.966 --> 01:00.000 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% and has a TikTok channel dedicated to plants. 01:00.000 --> 01:02.033 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% - Is today the day? Is today the day? 01:02.033 --> 01:03.500 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% Today's the day! 01:03.500 --> 01:05.133 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% These flowers are very ephemeral 01:05.133 --> 01:08.466 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% meaning they don't last for very long, a day or two max. 01:08.466 --> 01:11.400 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% - I feel like we all kind of have a desire 01:11.400 --> 01:12.900 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65% to be around nature. 01:12.900 --> 01:14.700 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% Most people especially in their twenties and thirties, 01:14.700 --> 01:16.900 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% don't have large yards, either live in the city 01:16.900 --> 01:18.366 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5% or live in apartments. 01:18.366 --> 01:20.566 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% Having house plants is a really easy way to do that. 01:20.566 --> 01:24.133 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% - So, how many plants do you have in your home? 01:24.133 --> 01:26.900 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% - I'm getting up there in the towards the triple digits. 01:26.900 --> 01:28.366 align:left position:40% line:83% size:50% - What? - Yeah. 01:28.366 --> 01:30.566 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% Like many other people, I got into house plants 01:30.566 --> 01:33.533 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% during the pandemic and it just spiraled from there. 01:33.533 --> 01:36.366 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% - Now people have kept plants in and around their homes 01:36.366 --> 01:39.033 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% for thousands of years, but for much of that time, 01:39.033 --> 01:41.366 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% it was a pursuit of the wealthy. 01:41.366 --> 01:44.133 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% Flowers and fragrant plants were brought inside 01:44.133 --> 01:45.366 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% both because they were pretty, 01:45.366 --> 01:47.666 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% but also because their good smells helped cover 01:47.666 --> 01:50.366 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% up some bad ones. During the Victorian Era, 01:50.366 --> 01:53.366 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% the care and keeping of plants began to be more widespread. 01:53.366 --> 01:55.666 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% Global shipping became easier and more frequent 01:55.666 --> 01:58.733 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% and buildings began to be designed to accommodate plants. 01:58.733 --> 02:01.433 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% But it was nothing like what we're seeing now. 02:01.433 --> 02:03.133 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% - I definitely consider myself a plant parent, 02:03.133 --> 02:05.266 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% I think that's a great term. You have to do 02:05.266 --> 02:08.400 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% what the plant needs, kind of like taking care of a kid. 02:08.400 --> 02:10.266 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% I'm not the most patient person, 02:10.266 --> 02:12.100 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% but that doesn't work with plants. 02:12.100 --> 02:14.600 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% They need high humidity, constant moisture, 02:14.600 --> 02:18.133 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% enclosed environment, and a lot of my plants throw tantrums. 02:18.133 --> 02:20.600 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% So it forces you to do things on their terms 02:20.600 --> 02:23.033 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% and not your own, but it's one of those things 02:23.033 --> 02:26.200 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% where it's extremely rewarding to watch things grow. 02:26.200 --> 02:28.966 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% I really enjoy having plants in the home. 02:28.966 --> 02:30.400 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5% (bright music ends) 02:30.400 --> 02:32.700 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% - Do you think that the role they play our lives 02:32.700 --> 02:35.300 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% is different now versus in earlier decades? 02:35.300 --> 02:36.700 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% - Yeah, I think in a way it is. 02:36.700 --> 02:38.700 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% The demand and excitement for house plants 02:38.700 --> 02:40.766 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% is definitely way crazier than it's been 02:40.766 --> 02:42.100 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% in the last few decades. 02:42.100 --> 02:43.433 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% There's places where people talk 02:43.433 --> 02:44.966 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% about what plants might be popular, 02:44.966 --> 02:47.033 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% what plants might be falling outta popularity. 02:47.033 --> 02:48.533 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% It's kind of like the stock market. 02:48.533 --> 02:51.400 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% - Well it seems like, when you create a financial market, 02:51.400 --> 02:54.100 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% you can risk undermining the more intrinsic value 02:54.100 --> 02:55.300 align:left position:32.5% line:83% size:57.5% of the thing. - Exactly. 02:55.300 --> 02:56.866 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% It's a real issue right now. 02:56.866 --> 02:58.300 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5% (gentle music begins) 02:58.300 --> 03:00.733 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% All right, let's see if we can find 03:00.733 --> 03:02.633 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% the most poached plant in California. 03:04.000 --> 03:06.333 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% So what's crazy about this plant is it only grows 03:06.333 --> 03:09.700 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% on these cliffs here. It's got a very limited range. 03:09.700 --> 03:11.000 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% It's gonna be a challenge to try 03:11.000 --> 03:12.633 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% to find it, but we're gonna try to find it. 03:12.633 --> 03:15.800 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5% (gentle upbeat music) 03:21.200 --> 03:23.366 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% So this is the plant we came all this way to see, 03:23.366 --> 03:26.700 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% dudleya farinosa. This plant has been poached 03:26.700 --> 03:29.933 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% almost to extinction because it's such an infamous 03:29.933 --> 03:32.933 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% and rare plant in the collector market. 03:32.933 --> 03:35.533 align:left position:25% line:77% size:65% - When we hear the word poaching, most of us probably think 03:35.533 --> 03:38.200 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% about animals, like poaching elephants for their ivory, 03:38.200 --> 03:39.666 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% but if you're just thinking about animals, 03:39.666 --> 03:42.333 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% you're missing a huge part of the issue. 03:42.333 --> 03:44.700 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% People have been poaching ginseng, orchids, 03:44.700 --> 03:46.166 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65% and ferns for years. 03:46.166 --> 03:48.500 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% In fact, a third of all cactus species are endangered 03:48.500 --> 03:50.300 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% and poaching is their biggest threat. 03:50.300 --> 03:52.800 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% What's going on, Steven, like, who's behind this? 03:52.800 --> 03:54.333 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% - There's organized groups behind it, 03:54.333 --> 03:56.333 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% but there's also just private collectors. 03:56.333 --> 03:59.666 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% But unlike animals, plants don't have a great PR system. 03:59.666 --> 04:03.066 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% - Yes, there are laws against plant poaching. 04:03.066 --> 04:05.533 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% California just passed the law forbidding people 04:05.533 --> 04:07.266 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% from taking dudleyas outta the wild. 04:07.266 --> 04:08.933 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% - Recently, someone was caught with 04:08.933 --> 04:11.333 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% a little more than a quarter million worth of plants. 04:11.333 --> 04:12.566 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% First time someone's actually been sent 04:12.566 --> 04:15.566 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% to jail in California for that as well. 04:15.566 --> 04:17.166 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% - Also, North Carolina passed a law 04:17.166 --> 04:19.233 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% back in 2015, making it a felony 04:19.233 --> 04:22.733 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% to poach wild Venus fly traps. But these laws on their own, 04:22.733 --> 04:24.366 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% they can be pretty hard to enforce. 04:24.366 --> 04:26.200 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% - Most of these house plants, it tends to be more 04:26.200 --> 04:30.233 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% like an art heist where it's a very precise, very organized 04:30.233 --> 04:33.500 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% thing that happens right under our noses quite often. 04:33.500 --> 04:36.033 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% - Now add online shopping and everything just gets worse. 04:36.033 --> 04:39.233 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% Plants aren't just being sold in shady backroom locations 04:39.233 --> 04:41.566 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% and alleys anymore. Endangered, ill-gotten plants 04:41.566 --> 04:44.433 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% are being sold on sites like eBay and Amazon. 04:44.433 --> 04:45.933 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% - A lot of times if you're shopping 04:45.933 --> 04:48.566 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% for plants online especially, and you notice a plant 04:48.566 --> 04:51.100 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% that looks pretty weathered, it's probably poached, 04:51.100 --> 04:53.666 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% greenhouse-grown plants don't look like that. 04:53.666 --> 04:56.500 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% - Stricter laws. More resources from officials. 04:56.500 --> 05:00.033 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% Supply chain transparency. These are needed to ensure 05:00.033 --> 05:01.633 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% that our plants are being protected. 05:01.633 --> 05:04.433 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% - There are companies that is actually flooding the market 05:04.433 --> 05:06.400 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% with these really cheap amazing versions 05:06.400 --> 05:09.233 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% of this poached plant. These things come from seed 05:09.233 --> 05:12.233 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% or through tissue culture, where you take just a few cells 05:12.233 --> 05:15.133 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% of a poached plant. Through different agar, and chemicals, 05:15.133 --> 05:17.100 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% and hormones, you can actually create a bunch 05:17.100 --> 05:19.600 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% of clones of itself. Everyone has access to them. 05:19.600 --> 05:21.066 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% The poachers don't have a reason 05:21.066 --> 05:22.600 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% to go out and poach them anymore. 05:22.600 --> 05:24.733 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% The market for these plants are just going away. 05:24.733 --> 05:26.933 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% - Is there anything that we can do 05:26.933 --> 05:28.766 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% to help limit plant poaching? 05:28.766 --> 05:30.166 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% - Just be aware that it's happening. 05:30.166 --> 05:32.233 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% Most people don't even realize it's going on. 05:32.233 --> 05:35.066 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% - Are you a part of the plant's PR system, Stephen? 05:35.066 --> 05:37.466 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% - I try to be, yeah. I'm collecting these seeds 05:37.466 --> 05:40.300 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% of these endangered plants and also giving them to nurseries 05:40.300 --> 05:42.633 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% or conservation groups to propagate them. 05:42.633 --> 05:44.633 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% I just wanna teach people about plants, 05:44.633 --> 05:47.133 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% why they're so great, and how we can protect them. 05:47.133 --> 05:50.266 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% - Plant poaching isn't new, mostly it's just not 05:50.266 --> 05:52.100 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% on our radar, and one of those reasons 05:52.100 --> 05:54.400 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% is plants aren't on our radar. 05:54.400 --> 05:56.666 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% - You don't realize how important plants are. 05:56.666 --> 06:00.266 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% You don't realize that they are more than just a backdrop, 06:00.266 --> 06:02.733 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% and that's plant blindness, and once you understand 06:02.733 --> 06:05.866 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% those things, the blindness goes away effectively. 06:05.866 --> 06:07.800 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% And I think that having house plants 06:07.800 --> 06:09.533 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% is a really easy way to do that. 06:09.533 --> 06:11.333 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% You almost are forced to connect 06:11.333 --> 06:14.533 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% to the plant to be a good plant parent. But it is a balance. 06:14.533 --> 06:17.166 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% We really have to find ways to still have the world 06:17.166 --> 06:20.166 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% we enjoy, but also protect the natural world as well. 06:20.166 --> 06:22.500 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% - Do you have faith in people's ability 06:22.500 --> 06:24.366 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% to actually be able to find that balance? 06:24.366 --> 06:26.200 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% - So I think everyone has a capacity 06:26.200 --> 06:28.166 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% for good, I do have faith in people. 06:28.166 --> 06:30.066 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% Most people given the right knowledge 06:30.066 --> 06:32.366 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% and given the opportunity to, do good things. 06:33.700 --> 06:35.733 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% - [Baratunde] Stephen, why do you care so much 06:35.733 --> 06:39.466 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% about plant poaching and making sure that we are aware of 06:39.466 --> 06:40.900 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% and start to care about plants? 06:40.900 --> 06:42.966 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% - [Stephen] I think that plants are charismatic. 06:42.966 --> 06:44.700 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% Maybe not everyone shares my opinion. 06:44.700 --> 06:46.533 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% Without plants, nothing gets done. 06:46.533 --> 06:48.233 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% They're key stones in environments. 06:48.233 --> 06:50.866 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% Because of that, I think that we should be paying attention 06:50.866 --> 06:54.200 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% to plants and care a little bit more about plants. 06:54.200 --> 06:56.866 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% - I love the idea of plant parenting. 06:56.866 --> 07:01.100 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% I love the idea of humans seeing ourselves deeply related 07:01.100 --> 07:03.600 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% to nature, and it doesn't matter where 07:03.600 --> 07:05.600 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% we have a relationship with the outdoors. 07:05.600 --> 07:07.800 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% So much so that it can include the indoors, 07:07.800 --> 07:10.100 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% and that's a true embrace. When you bring it 07:10.100 --> 07:12.400 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% inside your home, make it a part of your life, 07:12.400 --> 07:13.900 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% and use language like parenting 07:13.900 --> 07:16.400 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% to describe your relationship to a plant, 07:16.400 --> 07:19.733 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% that's really beautiful. These snake plants behind me, 07:19.733 --> 07:22.433 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% they're actually older than me, so in this case, 07:22.433 --> 07:24.933 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% they are plant parents of me. 07:24.933 --> 07:26.766 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% They basically helped raise me. 07:26.766 --> 07:29.600 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% It's kind of the other way around.