e m o c l e W to the
Finished Plant OCTOBER 11-13, 2021 | GRAND RAPIDS, MI
Perform Better Grow Faster Prepare for the Future AmericanHort.org 614. 487.1117
Finished Plant
We are so glad you’re here. AmericanHort welcomes you to the 2021 Finished Plant Conference! This is the event to attend for growers of bedding and potted flowering plants, indoor and outdoor perennials, and fast-turn flowering shrubs. With a grower-focused trade show and education for all expertise levels, you are in the right place to improve your skills and grow your knowledge. Be sure to take advantage of the numerous networking opportunities and be on the lookout for new products, suppliers, and growing techniques.
Registration
Finished Plant Conference registration is located on the second floor in the center concourse. Have a question? Come ask an AmericanHort staff member at the registration desk. Registration Hours: Monday, October 11 Tuesday, October 12 Wednesday, October 13
8 AM-5 PM 7 AM-5:30 PM 7 AM-1:00 PM
The Finshed Plant Conference Trade Show is located on the second floor in the Ambassador Ballroom.
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Monday, October 11 8 AM – 5 PM 8 AM – 5 PM 8 AM – 12 PM
Attendee & Exhibitor Registration Open Industry Production Tour Perennial Workshop
Tuesday, October 12 8 – 5:30 PM 8 – 9 AM 9 – 10 AM 10 – 10:45 AM 10:45 – 11:30 AM 11:30 – 1 PM 12:30 – 1:30 PM 1:30 – 2:15 PM 2:15 – 4:30 PM 4:30 – 5:30 PM
Trade Show Open Continental Breakfast with Exhibitors Educational Programming Peak Networking on Trade Show Floor Educational Programming Lunch and Networking with Exhibitors Educational Programming Peak Networking on Trade Show Floor Educational Programming Networking Reception on Trade Show Floor
Wednesday, October 13
Trade Show
Trade Show Hours: Tuesday, October 12 Wednesday, October 13
Daily Schedule
8 AM-5:30 PM 8 AM-1:00 PM
Perform Better | Grow Faster | Prepare for the Future
7 – 8 AM 8 AM – 1 PM 8 – 9 AM 9 – 9:45 AM 9:30 AM – 12 PM 11:45 AM – 1 PM 12:45 – 3:15 PM
Continental Breakfast with Exhibitors Trade Show Open Educational Programming Peak Networking on Trade Show Floor Educational Programming Lunch and Networking with Exhibitors Educational Programming
Perform Better | Grow Faster | Prepare for the Future
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2021 FINISHED PLANT CONFERENCE SCHEDULE MON, OCT 11 TUES, OCT 12
Bus Boards at 7:45 AM Industry Production Tour Walters Gardens, Spring Meadow Nursery, Mast Greenhouses, Garden Crossings
Bus Boards at 7:15 AM Perennial Workshop at Walters Gardens Bedding Plants Track
Perennial Plants Track
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM Continental Breakfast with Exhibitors - Ambassador Ballroom 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Myth Busting: Herbicides in Perennial Production Governor’s Room
WED, OCT 13
Bedding Plants Track
Perennial Plants Track
Fast-Turn Woodies Track
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM Continental Breakfast with Exhibitors - Ambassador Ballroom
Potted Flowering Plants Track
8:00 AM - 5:30 PM Trade Show Open - Ambassador Ballroom
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Right Size, Right Quantity, Best ROI Pantlind Ballroom
2021 FINISHED PLANT CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
8:00 AM - 5:30 PM Trade Show Open - Ambassador Ballroom 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM Bedding Plants - Crowded House! Pantlind Ballroom
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Outlook and Opportunities in the Potted Flowering Market Emerald Room
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM Get Your Grass Toolbox in Order Governor’s Room
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM Color in a Hurry: Success with Fastturn Flowering Shrubs Emerald Room
9:00 AM - 9:45 AM Peak Networking - Ambassador Ballroom Bedding Plants Track
Perennial Plants Track
10:00 AM - 10:45 AM Peak Networking - Ambassador Ballroom 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Sure-fire Strategies to Increase Branching Pantlind Ballroom
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Get Into Perennials: Easy-to-Finish First-Year Flowering Plants Governor’s Room
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Secrets to Successful Begonia Production Emerald Room
BallSeed Co. PMS #185 (red) and #355 (green) and black
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM Lunch - Ambassador Ballroom 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Which Crops to Grow Low and Slow Pantlind Ballroom
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM Surviving the Winter: The Keys to Successfully Overwintering Perennials Emerald Room
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Succulents 101: Putting out a Great Program Pantlind Ballroom
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Get Blooming with Hydrangeas Emerald Room
9:45 AM - 10:45 AM Echinacea Done Right Governor’s Room
10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Successful Strategies for Building High-Impact Combos Pantlind Ballroom
10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Know and Grow What Sells Emerald Room
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM All About Hellebores Governor’s Room
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM Grow a Quality Poinsettia - and Charge for It! Governor’s Room
11:45 AM - 1:00 PM Lunch - Ambassador Ballroom 12:45 PM - 1:45 PM Avoiding Caladium Conundrums Pantlind Ballroom
12:45 PM - 1:45 PM Fast Finish, High Impact: Hibiscus and Roses Emerald Room
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Grower-to-Grower Panel: Focus on Efficiency Pantlind Ballroom
2:15 PM - 3:15 PM Grower-to-Grower Panel: Focus on Perennials Governor’s Room
1:30 PM - 2:15 PM Peak Networking - Ambassador Ballroom 2:15 PM - 3:15 PM Phytotoxicity: Causes, Symptoms, and Solutions for Bedding Plant Production Pantlind Ballroom
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Growing Strategies to Finish High Quality Perennials Governor’s Room
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Orchid Production: A Systems Approach Emerald Room
BallSeed Co. PMS #185 (red) and #355 (green) and black
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Natives: Help Meet the Demand Governor’s Room
Visit the
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM Utilize your Outdoor Space for Late Spring and Summer Crops Pantlind Ballroom
3:15 PM - 4:30 PM Top Performing Perennials: InGround and in Production Governor’s Room
3:15 PM - 4:15 PM Energy-Efficient Bedding Plant Production Emerald Room
4:30 PM Reception with Exhbitors - Ambassador Ballroom
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Perform Better | Grow Faster | Prepare for the Future
Finished Plant Conference Education Session Evaluation Portal It’s a quick and easy way to provide your evaluation of the education sessions at the Finished Plant Conference.
There are 3 easy steps:
1
Visit fpc.cnf.io
2
Choose the education session.
3
Click “Evaluate This Session” and provide your feedback.
Perform Better | Grow Faster | Prepare for the Future
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EXHIBITOR LISTING Ball Seed Company - Booth 6
BallSeed Co. PMS #185 (red) and #355 (green) and black
Bayer Ornamentals - Booth 5
Biobee USA - Booth 8
Justin Leavitt 100 Clemwood St. Suite B, Salisbury, MD 410-572-4159 justin.leavitt@biobee.us biobee.com/global-activities/biobee-us
Botany Lane Greenhouse - Booth 9 Sharie Towndrow 1661 E 77TH AVE Denver, CO 303-289-5631 sharie@botanylane.com botanylane.com
Corteva Agriscience - Booth 10 Chester VandenBerg 5333 Woodmont Dr Portage, MI 269-290-6622 chester.vandenberg@corteva.com corteva.com
HydraFiber - Booth 3
Jeff Langner 750 W Lake Cook Rd Suite 440 Buffalo Grove, IL 847-215-1144 hydrafiber@profileproducts.com hydrafiber.com
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Perform Better | Grow Faster | Prepare for the Future
Mark Thomas 350 S. Miami Ave Unit 3706 Miami, FL 407-340-8099 mark.thomas@klasmann-deilmann.com klasmann-deilmann.com
Nufarm - Booth 7
Jim Crockett 1310 Huntington Court Auburn, AL 334-744-0682 jim.crockett@nufarm.com nufarm.com/us
women M en
N EDUCATIO
Bob Froelich 5565 Hardwell Dr Hilliard, OH 614-969-9040 bob.froelich@bayer.com environmentalscience.bayer.us
Klasmann-Deilmann Americas - Booth 1 ’S ROOM GOVERNOR
Therese LaTelle 622 Town Road West Chicago, IL 60185 630-588-3232 tlatelle@ballhort.com www.ballseed.com
CONFERENCE MAP
REGISTRATION DESK
Optimara Group - Booth 4 Alex Fuller 1501 Lischey Ave Nashville, TN 1-800-443-2290 sales@optimara.com optimara.info
Twixwood Nursery - Booth 2 Homer Trecartin � i "=======--� 2759 E Shawnee Rd Berrien Springs, MI 269-471-7408 info@twixwood.com twixwood.com
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Unmovable Furniture
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TRADE SHOW
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Walters Gardens Inc - Booth 11 Barbara Balgoyen PO Box 137 1992 96th Ave Zeeland, MI 1-800-925-8377 x1202 blb@waltersgardens.com waltersgardens.com
West Concourse
Restrooms
Women
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Ambassador Ballroom
PANTLIND BALLROOM - EDUCATION
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Crown Foyer - EDUCATION EMERALD ROOM Men
The Finished Plant Conference is located on the second floor of the Hotel Amway Grand Plaza. Have a question? Come ask an AmericanHort staff member at the registration desk.
Perform Better | Grow Faster | Prepare for the Future
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EDUCATION SESSIONS & DESCRIPTIONS
EDUCATION SESSIONS & DESCRIPTIONS Time
Title Speaker(s)
Session Description Skill Level, Education Type
Sponsor(s)
Right Size, Right Quantity, Best ROI
Pantlind Ballroom
Bob Dickman
12:30 PM 1:30 PM
This session will review strategies in determining the right-sized input to finish a container. Focus will be on efficiency and increasing return on investment regarding space, time, and labor.
Governor’s Room
Bedding Plants, Production Practices 9:00 AM 10:00 AM Emerald Room
9:00 AM 10:00 AM Governor’s Room
Outlook and Opportunities in the Potted Flowering Market
This session will focus on opportunities in the potted flowering market. Get more details online at AmericanHort.org/FinishedPlant.
12:30 PM 1:30 PM
Potted Flowering Plants, Crop Talk
Emerald Room
Myth Busting: Herbicides in Perennial Production
Have you ever heard “herbicides can hurt my plants” or “they are just too difficult to use or hazardous to work with”? Get ready for those common myths for utilizing this important tool in your production program to be busted. This session will take you on a myth busting adventure leaving you with the knowledge and tools you will need to increase efficiency, efficacy, quality, and your confidence with utilizing herbicides in your production plan.
Broch Martindale
Perennial Plants, Production Practices 10:30 AM 11:30 AM Governor’s Room
Get Into Perennials: Easy-to-Finish FirstYear Flowering Plants Darren Barshaw
Darren Barshaw from Darwin Perennials will show attendees how easy, simple and straightforward perennial production can be with first year flowering perennials. Get ready to build your first perennial program or build upon an existing program with these easy to finish suggestions. This session will provide attendees with an interactive scheduling tool that will help them plan out their production.
Secrets to Successful Begonia Production
Emerald Room
Mike Gooder
Grow a Quality Poinsettia - and Charge for It!
Sure-fire Strategies to Increase Branching
Pantlind Ballroom
Todd Cavins, PhD
Sponsor(s)
BallSeed Co. PMS #185 (red) and #355 (green) and black
Begonias are in high consumer demand, but as growers, we often stumble in producing great crops. As one of the most diverse plant genus, there are more options available than ever before. As the national leader in vegetative Begonias, Plantpeddler is on the forefront of new breeding and advancing production methods. Mike will discuss the background, current and future genetics, and cultural guidelines to help you grow beautiful crops of profitable Begonias.
Growers spend countless hours trimming pots and baskets to increase branching. Which PGR strategies can we use to skip the pinch? And if we can’t skip the pinch, what can we pinch at planting to increase productivity? This session will help growers fine-tune this aspect of production to create the best quality, retail-ready product. Bedding Plants, Production Practices
This session will be a grower panel discussion with the focus on growing a quality and profitable poinsettia crop. Potted Flowering Plants, Crop Talk
Amy Morris, Rebecca Siemonsma, Rick Fletcher, John Davies Surviving the Winter: The Keys to Successfully Overwintering Perennials Paul Pilon
The ability to successfully overwinter perennials begins long before winter officially arrives. This session will focus on fall preparation and management strategies that can decrease overwintering problems and losses. We’ll discuss topics like acclimation, cold protection, temperatures, and numerous cultural requirements including moisture, fertility, pest and disease management that will help keep you on the right track. Perennial Plants, Production Practices
1:00 PM 2:00 PM
Which Crops to Grow Low and Slow
Pantlind Ballroom
James Gibson, PhD
2:00 PM 3:00 PM
Orchid Production: A Systems Approach
Emerald Room
Marcel Boonekamp
Slowing your crops down with lower temperatures, less water, and more PGRs will produce a more durable, compact, and attractive plant - one that is ready for any abuse the consumer may put it through. A look into which varieties grow best under these conditions, as well as tips on adjusting your crop scheduling to accommodate, will be discussed during this session.
Green Circle Growers grows over 8 million high-quality orchids using sophisticated production methods. Marcel will share the “Green Circle Way” but also discuss the “how to” for smaller growers thinking of getting into this special crop – sourcing propagules, environmental requirements, scheduling, recommendations for post-harvest handling, along with some necessary reality-checks! Potted Flowering Plants, Crop Talk
2:00 PM 3:00 PM Governor’s Room
Growing Strategies to Finish High Quality Perennials Chris Fifo
Chris Fifo from Darwin Perennials and Kieft seed will help attendees boost their perennial profits by manipulating perennial growth using environment, fertilizer and PGR’s to produce a premium quality finished crop that will create a greater sell-through at retail. Perennial Plants, Production Practices
Potted Flowering Plants, Crop Talk 10:45 AM 11:45 AM
Session Description Skill Level, Education Type
Bedding Plants, Production Practices
Perennial Plants, Production Practices 10:30 AM 11:30 AM
Title Speaker(s)
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12 9:00 AM 10:00 AM
Time
2:15 PM 3:15 PM Pantlind Ballroom
Phytotoxicity: Causes, Symptoms, and Solutions for Bedding Plant Production Carlos Bogran, PhD
The wide array of species grown in bedding plant production can present some baffling issues impacting flowers and foliage. This session will discuss adverse effects of chemicals (natural or synthetic) used for crop protection on aesthetic plant quality, including types of chemicals involved, common symptoms, and injury prevention concepts and tips. Novel technologies to quantify and assess phytotoxicity will also be briefly discussed. Bedding Plants, Production Practices
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Perform Better | Grow Faster | Prepare for the Future
Perform Better | Grow Faster | Prepare for the Future
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EDUCATION SESSIONS & DESCRIPTIONS
EDUCATION SESSIONS & DESCRIPTIONS Time
Title Speaker(s)
Session Description Skill Level, Education Type
Emerald Room
Energy-Efficient Bedding Plant Production Erik Runkle
Time
Title Speaker(s)
With the recent increase in energy prices, the need for energy-efficient greenhouse production is once again a priority. Erik will discuss the two major greenhouse energy costs, heating and lighting, and strategies that can be used to decrease their costs on a per-crop basis. He will also highlight some of the most effective greenhouse energy conservation techniques.
8:00 AM 9:00 AM Emerald Room
Color in a Hurry: Success with Fastturn Flowering Shrubs Tim Wood
Bedding Plants, Production Practices 3:15 PM 4:30 PM Governor’s Room
Top Performing Perennials: In-Ground and in Production Richard Hawke
Hundreds of new perennials are introduced every year. Whether gardeners are excited or disappointed by these plants depends in part on a rigorous evaluation to determine their cultural adaptability, disease and pest resistance, and winter hardiness. Richard will share information on perennials that have proven to be beautiful, reliable, and hardy in the Chicago Botanic Garden’s evaluation trials. Perennial Plants, Crop Talk
3:30 PM 4:30 PM Pantlind Ballroom
Utilize your Outdoor Space for Late Spring and Summer Crops Roberto Lopez, Brian Bourdon
Make more room in your greenhouse! Learn how outdoor space is a) not just for mums and b) cheap and easy to expand. With the right techniques and scheduling, there are plenty of suitable crops that are tough enough to handle the outdoors in spring and early summer.
9:30 AM 10:30 AM
Get Blooming with Hydrangeas
Emerald Room
Pantlind Ballroom
Mary Hausbeck, PhD
9:30 AM 10:30 AM Pantlind Ballroom
Succulents 101: Putting out a Great Program Dave Holley
Get Your Grass Toolbox in Order
This program will emphasize the latest information on some of the most troublesome pathogens affecting bedding plants. Botrytis, downy mildew and powdery mildew will be the focus. But these pathogens don’t need to get you down and out, learn how to get the upper hand!
Governor’s Room
David Hoffman
Savvy growers know grasses and sedges are integral to a strong perennial program. But even experienced horticulturists sometimes scratch their heads when it comes to managing them in container production. Treating grasses and sedges like other herbaceous perennials can lead to problems. In this session, go beyond “sedges have edges…” and get the tools to grow them successfully. Get the scoop on cultural practices, IPM, and production scheduling. Dig into the differences in finishing cool-season grasses, warm-season grasses, and sedges. Emerge with a greater understanding of these popular plants and finish your best crops ever.
This session will focus on hydrangea growing practices. Get more details online at AmericanHort.org/FinishedPlant.
So you have been thinking about selling succulents but you are not sure how to go about it? This session will help clear the haze and mystique about having a successful succulent program. If you are a new or an experienced grower there will be something you can take away to make your program even better. With wholesale flats of succulents running in the $50.00 or more range, it is a great way to increase your average order flat price as well as rounding out a complete availability. Succulents sales have continued to grow every year for the last decade and it is a safe bet they are here to stay for many more years. Variety is key to success and all succulents are not created equal! How will you stand out from the crowd and have your customers asking for more? In this session we will cover the following topics to help you become a succulent selling machine:
Bedding Plants, Production Practices 8:00 AM 9:00 AM
From time to time, we’ve seen greenhouse growers dabble in flowering shrubs as a unique, alternative crop – but the results have often been disappointing. The key to success with fast-turn flowering shrubs lies in choosing the right plant varieties that finish quickly and provide lots of color. This session will show off a wide selection of flowering shrubs suitable for greenhouse and perennial producers considering getting into shrubs.
Perennial Plants, Crop Talk
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13 Bedding Plants Crowded House!
Sponsor(s)
Fast-turn Woodies (flowering shrubs), Crop Talk
Bedding Plants, Production Practices
8:00 AM 9:00 AM
Session Description Skill Level, Education Type
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12 3:15 PM 4:15 PM
Sponsor(s)
Soil types and fertilization Scouting for insects Container sizes The ordering process Growing conditions Pros and cons about URC vs Rooted Marketing and branding opportunities Bedding Plants, Crop Talk
9:45 AM 10:45 AM Governor’s Room
Echinacea Done Right Erik Runkle, Sonali Padhye
Echinacea is one of the few crops that is offered during spring, summer, and fall seasons. This session will present information to successfully produce Echinacea in flower, including variety selection, light management, plant culture, and plant growth retardants.
BallSeed Co. PMS #185 (red) and #355 (green) and black
Perennial Plants, Crop Talk
Perennial Plants, Crop Talk
10 Perform Better | Grow Faster | Prepare for the Future
Perform Better | Grow Faster | Prepare for the Future
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EDUCATION SESSIONS & DESCRIPTIONS
EDUCATION SESSIONS & DESCRIPTIONS Time
Title Speaker(s)
Session Description Skill Level, Education Type
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13 10:45 AM 11:45 AM Pantlind Ballroom
Successful Strategies for Building HighImpact Combos Brian Weesies, Michael DeBerti
Growers can leverage increasing consumer interest in combinations by providing colorful and unique arrangements. Mast Young Plants creates, grows, and displays hundreds of combinations featuring industry favorites, breeder mixes, and new varieties in our summer trial garden. Gain inspiration and tips for creating novel plant combinations from the trial and combo experts at Mast Young Plants. Bedding Plants, Crop Talk
10:45 AM 11:45 AM
Know and Grow What Sells
Emerald Room
Susan Martin
Let’s talk about growing the right assortment that will move at lightning speed next season. Susan will relay what consumers are passionate about today and connect current trends to key plants. Using this knowledge, growers will be able to focus their efforts on providing retailers with high demand plants that are sure to get registers ringing.
Sponsor(s)
Title Speaker(s)
Time
All About Hellebores Hans Hansen
Governor’s Room
This session will focus on hellebores growing practices. Get more details online at AmericanHort.org/FinishedPlant. Perennial Plants, Crop Talk
12:45 PM 1:45 PM
Avoiding Caladium Conundrums
Pantlind Ballroom
Roberto Lopez
Caladiums are becoming a staple bedding plant crop, but many growers find their crop is often uneven and slow. In this session, Roberto will share tips of the trade on producing tropical caladium in even the cold parts of the country from storage to de eyeing tubers to timing based on temperature. Additionally, we will share the results of his teams research that shows how air, root-zone and irrigation water temperature influence shoot emergence, leaf unfolding and finish plant quality. Bedding Plants, Crop Talk
12:45 PM 1:45 PM Emerald Room
Fast Finish, High Impact: Hibiscus and Roses Kristen Pullen, Heidi Mortensen
In this presentation, Star® Roses and Plants will walk through how growers can receive a quick return on investment with specific shrub crops. With a focus on Hibiscus and Roses, Kristen Pullen and Heidi Mortensen will detail how to finish these crops within the same season for exceptional looking finished products that require minimal grower input. Perennial Plants, Crop Talk
1:00 PM 2:00 PM Governor’s Room
Natives: Help Meet the Demand
This session will discuss the rising popularity of natives both at retail and with designers - as well as difficulties with mainstreaming some species into conventional programs. While you’ll never be “native enough” for some people, you’re probably already growing some high-demand species and it shouldn’t prevent you from incorporating more natives into your production systems. Some favorite natives, along with sourcing and scheduling tips, will also be shared.
Sponsor(s)
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13 2:00 PM 3:00 PM Pantlind Ballroom
2:15 PM 3:15 PM Governor’s Room
Grower-to-Grower Panel: Focus on Efficiency Bob Dickman, Todd Cavins, PhD, Dave Holley, Matt Foertmeyer Grower-to-Grower Panel: Focus on Perennials Paul Pilon, David Hoffman, Isaac Brantingham, Eric Peruski
Bedding Plants, Perennial Plants, Crop Talk 11:00 AM 12:00 PM
Session Description Skill Level, Education Type
During this session you will discover what other growers are doing to fine tune their best practices to become more efficient in their practices. Come prepared with your questions for the panel. Bedding Plants, Grower Panel
Don’t miss the Grower-to-Grower panel discussion on perennial production. This will be a lively conversation about the greatest challenges growers have faced the past two years, anticipated sales trends for the next couple years, how these growers have dealt with the labor supply and how to get work done with fewer team members. The group will share their supply chain issues, the impact to their business and how they’re working to move past these obstacles. Perennial Plants, Grower Panel
Please note that all education sessions, speakers, and topics are subject to change. For the most recent information, please visit AmericanHort.org/FinishedPlant.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Visit the
Finished Plant Conference Education Session Evaluation Portal It’s a quick and easy way to provide your evaluation of the education sessions at the Finished Plant Conference
There are 3 easy steps:
1
Visit fpc.cnf.io
2
Choose the education session.
3
Click “Evaluate This Session” and provide your feedback.
Perennial Plants, Crop Talk
12 Perform Better | Grow Faster | Prepare for the Future
Perform Better | Grow Faster | Prepare for the Future
13
Get to know our
s p o t S Tour The Walters Gardens story began in 1942 when Dennis Walters and his new bride, Harriet, took over the family perennial business. Today, the company is run by the second and third generations of Walters aided by numerous other family members and dedicated employees including plant health experts, skilled horticulturists, capable customer care and marketing staff, and a pool of sales representatives and brokers nationwide. Walters Gardens is well-known in the horticulture industry for their innovation, high-quality plants, and their perennial expertise. They currently sit at over 250 employees, 1,500 acres of land, and 500,000 square feet of greenhouse space. Over 19 million perennial liners are shipped annually to independent garden centers, wholesale growers, landscapers, and municipalities across the US and Canada. Each year, approximately 100 new items are added to their catalog of over 1,000 bare root and plug perennial liners.
Henry Mast, Sr. opened his first greenhouse in the 1950s and started a legacy of quality plants grown in state-of-the-art buildings that operate year-round. Throughout most of its history, Henry Mast Greenhouses operated independently as a grower and distributor. Today, Masterpiece Flower Company heads the sales, marketing, and distribution while Henry Mast Greenhouses is one of the two suppliers of live plant products sold by Masterpiece Flower to Meijer, Home Depot, and garden center clients. Henry Mast Greenhouses has four locations and includes over 30 acres of covered greenhouses and 10 acres of outdoor growing area. Their specializations included orchids, potted floral crops, and seasonal annuals. Their focus on quality is evident in every facet of the business; from the initial research into better genetics to specifically-designed greenhouses and centralized shipping and quality control.
Garden Crossings is both an online garden center for gardening enthusiasts who are looking for new & unusual plants and a local, retail garden center in Zeeland, Michigan. They started in 2002 with a big passion, a small website, and 100 varieties in their catalog. Now they grow and sell over 1,150 varieties of plants. At Garden Crossings, the whole family is involved. They are proud of the knowledge and passion that they and their staff have for gardening. Their plants are either grown in-house or locally in Western Michigan and are promoted through social media, blogs, video, and their online catalog. With their online presence, they are able to reach customers throughout the US.
Spring Meadow Nursery was founded in 1981 by Dale and Liz Deppe. What started as a small, primarily contract-growing operation has grown to become one of the largest and best-known woody plant liner providers in North America in only 35 years. Despite their size, Spring Meadow remains a family business with family values; like providing great company culture for their employees, and high-quality plants and customer service to their clients. Spring Meadow is the sole grower for the Proven Winners’ potted shrub liners. They are a highly specialized business with a focus on potted liners from rooted cuttings. Spring Meadow boasts impressive technology at their growing facility. For instance, each liner is graded by a robotic grading machine. Spring Meadow Nursery is the only shrub propagation nursery in the world using this technology to ensure uniform standards for starter plants. The grading machine evaluates 10,000 plants per hour, eliminating the possibility for human error.
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Perform Better | Grow Faster | Prepare for the Future
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u o y k n a Th
EXHIBITOR SPONSORS The Finished Plant Conference would not be possible without our exhibitors, sponsors, and partners. Thank you for your generous support.
BallSeed Co. PMS #185 (red) and #355 (green) and black
Thank you to our state association partners for their support.