The second to last day at California Spring Trials, the Greenhouse Grower team visited four nurseries based in Israel – Cohen Nurseries, Jaldety Nurseries, Hishtil Nurseries, and Nir Nurseries – all displaying their new genetics and availabilities at Suncrest Nursery. Cohen Nurseries is a cuttings propagator for many breeders, supplying unrooted cuttings to the U.S., but it also has some exclusive genetics that it makes available to growers here. Jaldety, Histil, and Nir all offer a unique assortment of genetics, and it’s always interesting to see what they have available.
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Pacific Plug & Liner
Laura_GG_Editor: Pacific Plug & Liner is well known for its creatively merchandised displays and gorgeous combos at #CAST2018#CASpringTrials. This year the theme was heavy metal music inspired, with a "battle of the bands." Each "band" focused on one of the grower's main crops, like Eckibeckia.
Laura Drotleff: Here's the creative mind behind it all at Pacific Plug & Liner. April Herring-Murray knows how to amp up marketing and merchandising vignettes, making PP&L a memorable stop. This year, she made visitors' badges into backstage passes and offered band t-shirts for sale. #CAST2018
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Quality Cuttings Succulent Drum
@Janeen_GG: Quality Cuttings showed off its mad musical succulent skills at Pacific Plug and Liner. It’s offering 51 new succulents this year. The company continues to expand into perennials, too.
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Quality Cuttings Succulent Guitar
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Quality-Cuttings-Succulent-Radio
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Southern Living & Sunset Western
@Laura_GG_Editor: The @SLplants and @SunsetPlants brands continue to invest in consumer marketing of its plant brands and selections. I've seen some of the vignettes growers provide retailers and they look just like this showcase at #CAST2018#CASpringTrials.
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ISO Cutting Planter
@Laura_GG_Editor: Pacific Plug & Liner has invested in new automation to reduce the pain of labor shortages. The ISO cutting planter automates the heavy monotonous manual work of planting cuttings. Two more are coming, says Gen. Manager Marlon Carrera. #CAST2018#CASpringTrials
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Growcoon Biodegradable Plug & Liner Wrap
@Laura_GG_Editor: Pacific Plug & Liner is now using the Growcoon, am innovative new plant propagation system from Klasmann-Deillman that supports faster root development and forms a stable root ball. Biodegradeable Growcoon is used in all current tray systems by hand or automatically. #CAST2018
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Growcoon Dispenser
@Laura_GG_Editor: Pacific Plug & Liner purchased and automatic Growcoon plant propagation system dispenser, installed at the front of its tray filling line. The machine drops Growcoons into trays, which are then filled with media and stuck with cuttings by the ISO cutting planter. #CAST2018
@Laura_GG_Editor: The vignettes at Syngenta Flowers @SyngentaFHG were all California-inspired, using pictures of California scenery, like this strawberry field, to depict its California Dreaming theme. I'd like to have a picnic here, surrounded by Moxie geraniums, wouldn't you? #CAST2018#CASpringTrials
@Laura_GG_Editor: In Syngenta Flowers @SyngentaFHG trials with Alesco from Chrysal there was less flower shatter (right) than without (left). Important for growers who ship plants, and need longer, better shelf life at retail. #CASpringTrials#CAST2018
Next, we headed down the road to Pacific Plug and Liner (PP&L), a young plant grower that offers a wide selection of perennials to the marketplace. A few of the operation’s perennial supplier partners – Bailey Nurseries, Southern Living, and Quality Young Plants – display on location at the facility, but most of the space highlights PP&L’s perennial offerings, complete with well thought-out, engaging, compelling merchandising vignettes born from the marketing mind of PP&L’s April Herring-Murray. Everyone along the CAST trail talks about her annual themes and we all look forward to seeing what she’s thought up each year. We also got a behind-the-scenes look at some of the automation the young plant operation has invested in over the past year. More is coming to make PP&L as efficient as possible, says General Manager Marlon Carrera.
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The last stop of the day was at Syngenta Flowers, where we were California Dreaming over the creative, California-inspired displays. The breeder exhibited a number of new variety introductions this year, and the mood there felt more positive than it had in awhile, and that feeling was palpable in the way its genetics were displayed, starting with our entrance into the carefully manicured, beautiful gardens that look as breathtaking as ever. We were happy to see and feel the good vibes while talking with our friends there.
Check out the slideshow to see what was experienced, and remember we will have more comprehensive coverage in the trials in our upcoming June print issue, and online at GreenhouseGrower.com. We’ll highlight a number of things, from new varieties to trends we’re seeing, and more in-depth industry news and discussions.
Meanwhile, let us know what you think of our coverage this week so far, and what you’re seeing that you really like! We would love to hear your feedback. Comment below, send us an email at [email protected] or [email protected], or send us a Tweet @Laura_GG_Editor or @Janeen_GG.
April 20, 2018 
