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Cool products crowned at TPIE

In association with the Garden Center Group, the Tropical Plant International Expo (TPIE) in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, announced the 2024 Cool Products Awards winners from the show floor in January. The products ranged from innovative watering meters to plants that can eat rats, with consumer home goods and interesting pots in between. Winners were determined from votes from participating garden centers. Here are four standouts:

Deroose Plants: Miranda pitcher plant

With massive leaves, a tendency to vine and bulbous pitchers, Deroose has released what may become a legendary plant. With the ability to grow big enough to eat rats (yes, rats), this hungry hungry houseplant is eye-catching, exotic and will stop traffic in your houseplant section.

Foliera: Upcycled metal pots

Built from recycled cars, these glossy pots, watering cans and bird baths are seamless and rust-proof, even in northeastern climates. The deep, rich color can almost be mistaken for glazed stoneware, but these super-light nestable pots can hit the ground without a dent, meaning less breakage in store, from both products and employee backs.

Mossify: Clip-on grow light

Full-spectrum light-on-a-stick, the Mossify clip-on makes grow lights manageable and brightens plants tucked in even the most shadowy corners. While completely compact, the light — which comes in both black and white colorways — can also telescope, growing with the plant, or be moved to a plant of a different size.

Cabinotier: SUSTEE water meters

Newly imported from Japan where they’ve been houseplant hobbyists’ secret weapon for a decade, the SUSTEE water meter is a leave-in stick that lives with the plant and changes color based on moisture needs. The plastic housing comes in three sizes for various pot depths, and the color-changing core can be replaced at the end of its 6- to 9-month lifespan.

For more on TPIE, see our recaps and full Cool Product roundup on gardencentermag.com.

Proven Winners partnerships

Proven Winners has announced several recent partnerships:

• Adding J. Berry's renowned Hollywood Hibiscus to its catalog of ColorChoice flowering shrubs. Proven Winners Color Choice Hollywood Hibiscus will continue to be grown at J. Berry facilities in Texas. Retailers with J. Berry Hollywood Hibiscus currently in stock will continue to sell through current inventory, and new liners of Proven Winners ColorChoice Hollywood Hibiscus will transition to the classic white Proven Winners containers.
• Partnering with Walters Gardens on a new mangave program, the ART & SOL Mangave collection. Walters Gardens is bringing six of its top mangave varieties into the Proven Winners brand in 2024 under the ART & SOL Collection name, with more manfreda x agave hybrid introductions expected soon.
• Partnering with Garden State Bulb Company to create an exclusive new flower bulb program for retailers and consumers. The pair plans to collaborate on creating product assortments with multi-genus combinations, including spring and fall assortments and highly coveted single varieties. All packages sold by Garden State Bulb under the partnership will be branded and packaged as Proven Winners. Garden State Bulb Co. will continue to sell its existing bulb programs under the Garden State Bulb brand.

Canadian IGC show

The 64th International Garden Centre Association’s Congress, hosted by Garden Centres Canada, a Canadian Nursery Landscape Association commodity group, is coming to Montreal and Quebec City from Aug. 25-31, 2024. The annual event is hosted in a different country each year. Canada expects to host 250 participants from around 20 countries at the event. More than 10 garden centers and local attractions will be visited during the event. Morning business sessions and an interactive tour are being offered, allowing garden centers time to exchange best practices, ideas and experiences with one another at the week-long event. Canada has hosted three IGCA Congresses: 2017 in Niagara Falls, 2008 in Vancouver and 1995 in Toronto. For more information, visit igca24.ca.

Products:

A new folding watering can and collapsible bucket from Centurion are created with storage and mobility in mind. The heavy-duty non-porous silicone offers strength, while the foldable and detachable parts make them easy to use anywhere. Whether working with a small container garden or a large backyard operation, these work with every project and space. centurionbrands.com, amazon.com/centurion

The PopUp Garden is a new vertical gardening system that allows your customers to grow their favorite plants, vegetables, herbs and flowers in 2 square feet. It supports plants’ natural growth patterns, letting you grow up, down, and around with easy assembly and no tools required. Space-saving and pest-deterring, the PopUp Garden boosts airflow to prevent rot. mypopupgarden.com

PlantPetz is a collection of battery-powered smart planters that make real plants and flowers interactive. They feature a moisture sensor, dance to music and respond to touch. Products include a 4-inch and 6-inch robotic planter, an animated flower vase, an interactive artificial Christmas tree and the “Hi Planty!” stake that makes plants interactive with a personalized message. From Rhode Island-based animatronics and robotics product development company Hello Tomorrow, PlantPetz premiered at CES 2024 in Las Vegas. According to CNET, which viewed the product at CES, the products are in production now and should be available soon. hellotomorrowinc.com

Promotional opportunities for March:

All month: National Celery Month

Third full week: Horticulture Therapy Week

1: World Compliment Day

8: International Women’s Day

13: National Good Samaritan Day

14: Learn About Butterflies Day, Pi Day

17: Corned Beef and Cabbage Day

19: First Day of Spring

21: National Fragrance Day

26: National Spinach Day

28: National Weed Appreciation Day

29: National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day

30: Take a Walk in the Park Day

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