Takeaways from Cultivate as a Green Kid in Horticulture [Opinion]

July is here, which means another successful Cultivate has come and gone. This Cultivate will hold a special place in my heart, however.

Not just because it was nice to see everyone after more than a year of lockdowns and stay-at-home orders, but because it was my very first Cultivate.

As someone who has only been working with the horticulture industry since October, when I wasn’t allowed to travel and meet people except on Zoom, this experience was vital for me to learn and grow in my new industry. Here is what I took away as someone who is still quite green about horticulture.

Saturday: Arrival

I arrived at my hotel in the afternoon, after about a two-hour drive. From there, I wasn’t resting. I was getting dressed and ready to go down to the convention center.

My first educational class was on water quality, making me feel like I was back in college in lectures with everyone again. It’s one thing to learn something over the phone or email, but it is a whole other thing to sit down and take notes from leaders in the industry.

From there, I got to explore the main expo during setup. There were many colorful booths filled with tech, varieties, growing media, and pots and trays. It felt like walking into Diagon Alley. It was a world that was so different to me, and everyone was so kind to help me and teach me about it. I felt my jaw was on the floor as I walked.

The last event I attended on Saturday was the Ohio State University (OSU) Cultivar Trials. Believe it or not, I had never been to a plant trial before. There were so many different varieties, both foliage and flowers. It was really interesting to see how each cultivar grew during the trial and to see crops I had never seen in person now face to face with me.

Sunday: Introductions

I woke up the next morning bright and early. As someone who isn’t a morning person, this was tough, to say the least.

The morning keynote was nice as it gave me a glimpse into the world of running a horticulture business. It was another side of growing I knew I had a lot more to learn about.

After the keynote and a humorous magic show, it was back to the floor, where I walked the main expo again. This time, it was all about meeting people at their booths and discussing what was new with their companies.

It was then I learned an interesting lesson that most horticulture companies are family-owned. I guess I never realized it until I was talking to several companies.

It was also pretty cool to look at the new varieties that were coming in 2021 and 2022. There were so many colors, shapes, smells, and sizes. There was a plant for everyone to enjoy.

Monday: Medal of Excellence

Now, Greenhouse Grower has for years held its Medal of Excellence (MOE) event at Cultivate, and this year was my first to attend.

After finishing up my last educational sessions, and a fire alarm incident that scared the daylights out of me, it was time to prepare for MOE.

This event was my favorite. It was the first time I got to see real growers and industry leaders celebrate their achievements. Hearing each grower and breeder come up to the podium like it was the Grammys was invigorating and inspiring.

It was a great event, and it was amazing to see everyone smiling and laughing as they caught up with each other as the pandemic lockdowns ended.

I think my biggest takeaway from the entire convention was that even in the darkest of times, people in horticulture are resilient, and once the sun comes out again, we all are able to grow back stronger.