Day Two: Taking in the Show at TPIE
The TPIE (Tropical Plant Industry Exhibition) is the most important foliage and tropical plant show in North America. It’s held every January in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, this year from January 18 to 20. I was able to attend this year as part of the 3-day media tour organized by the FNGLA (Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscapers Association) for members of the Garden Writers Association.
TPIE is a trade show showcasing the latest trends in foliage, floral and tropical plants. It covers nearly 5 acres (2 hectares), a virtual indoor garden of show-stopping display and gorgeous plants. It’s essentially designed to allow nurseries, and especially garden centers from eastern North America, to meet up with suppliers of products and plants from all over the world. There were some 400 booths at this year’s show including suppliers from over 30 different countries.
It’s not the first time I’ve attended this show. I’ve been twice before and indeed I’d go every year if I could. It is by far my favorite trade show… and as a garden writer who has to keep up-to-date on the latest garden trends and plants, I visit quite a few over the course of a typical year.
For me, it’s a chance to peruse the newest, most intriguing and most attractive houseplants, plus also the latest in pots and products: things I’ll be able to write about in this blog. There are no plant sales: everything is strictly wholesale… but at least I can start making a list of new plants I want to try.
Visiting the show takes essentially all day. Our group started with a very interesting lecture on how lifestyle trends affect how people buy and use plants followed by a guided tour of the showroom. Then we were on our own, schmoozing with all the nursery people. I took a ton of pictures!
Latest Trends
Wear Your Plants
This year it seems that gardeners will not only be growing plants, they’ll also be wearing them. Here are a few examples.
Outstanding Displays
I could have presented 50 pictures here, but I cut it down to a few favorites.
Plants Worth Noting
Just a few of the superb plants I noted. Some of the will be making it to a garden center near you this spring!
Julia Hofley, houseplant expert and fellow garden writer, and I checked notes and we both decided this plant, Tillandsia ‘Samantha’, was our favorite new plant. Well, guess what? So did the judges! It was accorded not just one, but two awards: Attendee’s Choice award and Most Unusual Plant.
Colorful Containers
This show offers lots of truly attractive containers… but using some of them is going to making gardening more difficult, as they rarely seem to have drainage holes. You might want to get out a drill if you buy one. Here are few of the more interesting ones.
Lessons Learned
TPIE is a good place to go to learn how plants are treated in nurseries. Here are a few examples.
Horrorculture
I’m sorry, but there are some horticultural practices I don’t approve of, notably when gardeners are being lead to buy by a product that is not what it is purported to be. I call that horrorculture rather than horticulture.
Just Weird
I’m not complaining: I like weird.
The Party’s Over!
There was a Happy Hour for all the exhibitors and guests after the show… but I was so burned out I returned to my hotel… to work on preparing this blog.
Enjoy!
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