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Man, I’ll be honest with you, this past year has been tough. And I know I’m not the only one. If you’ve been in this industry, in the green industry, and you’ve felt like the phone’s not ringing like it used to, the lot’s a little quieter, the sales just aren’t where they were... I want you to know, you’re not crazy. It’s not just you.

Here’s the thing I had to come to terms with, though: if you’re selling the same as you did last year, you’re actually losing money. Think about that for a second. Your costs went up.. materials, labor, everything... so flat sales means you’re already behind. I had to really sit with that.

So I made a decision that honestly scared me a little. I started cutting back. On purpose. I gave back land I was renting. I cut my production, instead of pushing to grow 50,000 units of something, I scaled it down to about 20,000. And people thought I was crazy. But when you give your plants more room to breathe, the quality goes up. The whole operation gets tighter, more manageable.

I also had to kill something that’s hurting a lot of us in this industry... carrying customers on credit. I used to think that’s just how it works, you front the material, they pay you when they can. But I realized, man, we all think to make a sale we gotta be the bank too. And that’s a misconception. It’s not our job. So now it’s Cash on Delivery. Period. And honestly, the customers who respected that stuck around, and the ones who didn’t weren’t really partners to begin with.

We brought in some automation too, just to get the manual stuff off our plates, the data entry, the paperwork, so our team could actually focus on the plants and the creative side of the business instead of drowning in admin work. And if you’re a small operation and you’re bleeding money on invoices nobody’s collecting, do yourself a favor and get someone dedicated to chasing that down. It pays for itself.

I’ll say this to the landscapers and contractors listening too.. please don’t squeeze your suppliers to pad your own margin. We’re all trying to make it through this together. Undercutting the person who grew your material isn’t winning, it’s just moving the pain around.

Honestly, though, the business stuff is only half of it. What’s really gotten me through this season is staying disciplined in the quiet moments.. cutting out distractions, staying grounded, keeping my integrity intact even when nobody’s watching. That’s where the real resilience comes from.

So if you’re out there feeling like you’re running harder just to stay in the same place.. I get it. But sometimes the answer isn’t doing more. Sometimes it’s doing less, on purpose, and doing it well.

Need a daily devotional? Reaches out — DM @theplantmovementpodcast or @asornamentalnursery on Instagram, or call the office at 305-216-5320.

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On Episode 104 of The Plant Movement Podcast, We sit down with Tom Springer and Eric Olsen of RediRoot / Nursery Source for a conversation about root architecture, nursery economics, innovation, faith, and the realities of building a business in an ever-changing industry.

Tom’s journey began in 2006, supplying commercial tree nurseries with affordable containers. After learning about the long-term damage caused by circling roots in traditional plastic pots, he set out to develop a better solution. Today, RediRoot focuses on air-pruning technology and container systems designed to help growers develop stronger, healthier root systems.

Eric brings his own unique journey, from commercial cannabis cultivation to horticultural sales and helping growers find practical solutions to real production challenges. Together, Tom and Eric explain why what happens beneath the soil can determine the future of the plant above it.

We get into the problems with conventional containers, how air-pruning systems encourage dense, fibrous roots, and why growing methods matter when you're producing trees and shrubs at commercial scale. They also break down their innovative “Grow and Go” system, discuss the economics squeezing wholesale nurseries, and share how better growing practices may help reduce input costs while improving plant performance.

But this conversation goes beyond containers and production. Tom and Eric speak openly about navigating market changes, adapting when an industry shifts, leading with integrity, and bringing their faith into the workplace. Their story is a reminder that business is about more than products and profit, it's also about stewardship, relationships, and how we show up when things get difficult.

If you're a nursery grower, landscaper, horticulturist, or anyone looking for a better understanding of the science and business behind plant production, this episode is for you.

RediRoot

• Instagram: @rediroot
• Facebook: facebook.com/RediRoot
• Website: rediroot.com
• Tom Springer, Founder, NurserySource (home of RediRoot) - Instagram: @tomspringer Emerson “Tom” Springer | LinkedIn
• Eric Olsen, Marketing & Sales, RediRoot - Instagram: @eric.rediroot, Eric Olsen | LinkedIn

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On this episode of The Plant Movement Podcast, we sit down with Peter “PJ” Mikoda, owner of South Florida Tropicals, to discuss his journey from starting a landscaping company in New York and New Jersey to building a tropical plant supply business serving markets across the Northeast.

Peter shares how one opportunity selling palm trees changed the direction of his career, leading him to explore the plant supply chain, build relationships with growers, expand his operations, and eventually relocate to South Florida. His story highlights the importance of recognizing opportunities, understanding your numbers, and being willing to make difficult decisions to grow.

The conversation goes deeper into nursery production, land ownership, seasonal cash flow, shipping costs, labor challenges, customer relationships, and the risks of extending credit. Peter also explains why he shifted to a stricter upfront-payment policy after experiencing the financial and emotional burden of unpaid customer debt.

We discuss the realities of operating a large nursery, reinvesting in infrastructure, protecting your business, and building relationships within the horticultural industry. From growing Christmas Palms and Robellinis to supplying Northeast garden centers, Peter’s experience offers valuable lessons for growers, landscapers, and entrepreneurs.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Peter’s journey into the horticulture industry
• Building South Florida Tropicals
• Palm tree sales and discovering market opportunities
• Nursery land, production, and expansion
• Shipping costs and logistics
• Seasonal cash flow and reinvestment
• Credit, debt, and protecting your business
• Labor challenges and industry changes
• Family, mentorship, and business relationships

Listen to Episode 103 of The Plant Movement Podcast and hear the real lessons behind building and operating a tropical plant business.

#ThePlantMovementPodcast #SouthFloridaTropicals

Connect with South Florida Tropicals:

Web: www.southfloridatropical.com

Email: info@southfloridatropicals.com

Call: 516-315-1609

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