Greenhouse Grower to Grower

Hosted by Greenhouse Grower

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Episodes

100

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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About the show

Greenhouse Grower to Grower is a podcast where we talk to growers from across the greenhouse industry about market trends, innovation, their biggest challenges and opportunities, and more.

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60 recent

August 28, 2026Episode 10332 min

Ep.101 - Why You Should Attend AmericanHort’s Plug and Cutting Conference

AmericanHort’s Plug and Cutting Conference is an every-other-year event that dives deep into young plant production, and is a must-attend gathering for anyone involved in this part of the supply chain. In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Rachel Rawls and Alejandra Feliciano from AmericanHort, as well as Ivan Tchakarov and Juan Ponce of Metrolina Greenhouses, to talk about this year’s program and what attendees can expect to learn. And because the conference will be held in Philadelphia, we also talk about history. And cheesesteaks. Here’s our conversation.

August 21, 2026Episode 10234 min

Ep.100 - Insights From Abe Van Wingerden on Consumer Trends, Planning for 2027, and More

What better way to commemorate the 100th episode of the Greenhouse Grower to Grower podcast than by checking in with our very first guest, Abe Van Wingerden of Metrolina Greenhouses? In this episode, Abe looks back at lessons learned from this past spring, how the company is expanding to keep up with consumer demand, and the key factors that will determine its success moving forward. Here’s our conversation.

August 14, 2026Episode 10143 min

Ep.99 - Lessons and Success Stories in Family Business Transition From Three Perspectives

One of the many panel discussions that took place at Cultivate last month revolved around the topic of succession planning. I was in attendance for that discussion, and it was honestly so compelling that I left the room with a long list of questions that remained unanswered. So I invited the panelists to join me on the podcast for a follow-up discussion. In this episode, I’m joined by Karin Walters of Walters Gardens, Keith Berns of Berns Garden Center and Landscaping, and Robert Saunders of Saunders Brothers. We talked about everything from how the business transition conversation should start, to how each of them are running the business different from previous generations. Here’s our conversation.

August 7, 2026Episode 10021 min

Ep.98 - Get to Know Lionel van der Walt, the New President of AmericanHort

Lionel van der Walt was announced as the new president and CEO of AmericanHort in early June, and Cultivate was his first chance to officially introduce himself to the industry. With Cultivate behind him, he’s now getting out into the field and talking to industry members. These travels included a recent visit to Greenhouse Grower’s main offices in Willoughby, OH, where I took the opportunity to sit down with Lionel in person to talk about his past experience, his short- and long-term goals for AmericanHort, and why he’s anxious to continue bringing the industry together with one unified voice. Here’s our conversation.

July 31, 2026Episode 9921 min

Ep.97 - How The Plant Company Is Raising the Bar in Houseplants

Earlier this week, The Plant Company announced expanded access to its leafjoy houseplants to independent garden centers through an agreement with Eason Horticultural Resources. That announcement was just the latest in a number of steps The Plant Company is taking to make it easier for consumers to find new varieties in this quickly growing category. In this episode of the Greenhouse Grower to Grower podcast, I talk to Dave Thorne, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at The Plant Company, about all of this, as well as why quality starts with the breeding process and evolves through investments in high-quality plant production. Here’s our conversation.

July 24, 2026Episode 9826 min

Ep.96 - Lessons From Cultivate’26 From Two Students in Horticulture

It’s not just experienced growers, suppliers, and other industry members who attend events like Cultivate. This year a group of undergrad students from North Carolina State University made their way to Columbus, Ohio, for their first Cultivate experience. They walked the trade show floor, attended educational sessions, and made connections that will hopefully lead them to long careers in the industry. In this episode of the Greenhouse Grower to Grower podcast, I talk to two of these students – Alex Slepova and Symone McCoy – to get their perspectives.

July 17, 2026Episode 9719 min

Ep.95 - Immediate Cultivate’26 Takeaways From Greenhouse Grower Editor Brian Sparks

In this episode, Greenhouse Grower Editor Brian Sparks shows some of his initial takeaways and insights from AmericanHort’s Cultivate’26.

July 10, 2026Episode 9623 min

Ep.94 - Data-Driven Plant Production Insights With Stephen Weichsel of Green Circle Growers

During Cultivate’26, Stephen Weichsel, Program Manager for Young Plants at Green Circle Growers in Oberlin, OH, will talk about how to leverage data-driven tools to measure and optimize plant performance, streamline operations, and boost profitability. He’ll also outline real-world, practical strategies for creating and applying actionable KPIs to drive efficiency in the greenhouse. I caught up with Stephen to learn more about why this should be a critical area of focus for the floriculture industry, and what you can expect to learn during his presentation.

July 3, 2026Episode 9522 min

Ep. 93 - A Look Back at Darwin Perennials Day, and a Look Ahead to Cultivate’26

In this episode, Greenhouse Grower’s Brian Sparks and Marisa Reyes talk about highlights from Darwin Perennials Day, and what we’re most looking forward to at Cultivate’26.

June 26, 2026Episode 9442 min

Ep.92 - “See the Good”: Jessie Jacobson on Building a Positive Company Culture

Jessie Jacobson grew up with an interest in horticulture, but when she became President and Owner of Tonkadale Greenhouse in Minnetonka, MN, in 2016, her passion for plants expanded into a passion for building a healthy team and cultivating a positive work environment. At Cultivate’26, Jessie will join a panel of her peers to talk about practical approaches to onboarding, internal communication, leadership alignment, and empowering staff to tell your brand story. In this conversation, I talk about all of this with Jessie, as well as her takeaways from the spring 2026 season, and her involvement in Midwest Women in Horticulture.