Have you ever brought home one of our plants and later noticed a tiny surprise sprouting at the base?
Maybe a mysterious seedling, maybe a grass, but definately something you didn’t plan to purchase or plant. That little sprout is what we call a “volunteer plant.” And if you purchased a plant grown in our homemade compost-based soil blend, there’s a reason that can happen.
Let me explain.
Our soil is different. At Acadiana Botanicals, we don’t use sterile, lifeless potting media. We build soil. Our compost is created from natural plant materials such as leaves, stems, prunings, garden debris, and other organic matter. Through time, moisture, oxygen, and microbial activity, those materials break down into rich humus. During this process bacteria begin the decomposition process. Fungi, including beneficial mycorrhizal species, form complex underground networks. Protozoa and other microscopic organisms cycle nutrients. Earthy organic matter transforms into living soil. This is not dead filler dirt. This is biologically active, microbially diverse, nutrient-cycling soil, and living soil sometimes contains life.
Volunteer plants are simply seeds that sprout on their own without being intentionally planted.
Seeds can enter compost in many natural ways like from plants that went to seed before composting, from wind-blown native species, from birds visiting the nursery, from pollinator activity, and even from soil that has been previously used and returned to compost. Because we never discard soil, any extra soil from repotting or up-potting goes right back into our compost system. Our soil remains part of a continuous living cycle. Nothing is wasted and nothing is chemically sterilized. That ecological loop means the soil stays biologically rich. It also means an occasional surprise sprout.
Many commercial growers use sterilized potting mixes to eliminate seeds and microbes. But sterilization eliminates everything, including the good fungi, the nutrient-fixing bacteria, the soil-building organisms, and the complex living web that supports resilient plants. We intentionally choose biodiversity over sterility. Mycorrhizal fungi, in particular, form symbiotic relationships with plant roots. They expand the root system’s effective reach, improving nutrient and water absorption while increasing stress resistance. Healthy soil microbiology leads to stronger, more resilient plants, especially in Louisiana’s climate. The tradeoff is occasionally, a seed sprouts.
Not all volunteers are "weeds". Sometimes a volunteer is undesirable and should be removed. But sometimes… it’s a native (obviously, our favorite volunteers). We have seen beneficial native plants sprout as volunteers. These are plants that support pollinators, birds, and the local ecosystem. In those cases, customers often end up with an unexpected gift. A living soil system reflects the ecosystem it comes from.
That is something we are proud of.
We operate on a regenerative principle. Plant material becomes compost which becomes soil. Soil grows plants, the plants and extra soil are returned to compost so nothing is wasted. This closed-loop cycle mirrors nature itself. Forest soil is never sterile. It is alive, layered, and dynamic. We believe healthy soil should function more like a forest floor than a factory product.
If you notice a sprout in your pot you may gently remove it or you may transplant it to another container to let it grow and see what it becomes. There is no harm to your purchased plant, it simply means your soil is alive. Living soil is honest soil. Volunteer plants are not a flaw, they are evidence of biodiversity. They are a reminder that compost is made from real plant material, not synthetic fillers. They are proof that we prioritize ecological integrity over artificial perfection. When you buy from us, you are not just buying a plant, you are bringing home a small ecosystem. And ecosystems sometimes surprise you.
Add comment
Comments