Despite the cold, windy conditions in Baltimore, MD, the 2025 Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show (MANTS) was a great way to kick off the new year. It’s difficult to present an all-encompassing overview of the event since it’s largely made up of a sprawling trade show floor, here are a few topics that attendees were talking about, or that were on display among exhibitors’ booths.
- Positive vibes to start the year. It’s hard to forecast how the coming year will shape when the past five years have felt like a roller coaster. But there was a sense of cautious optimism from several of the growers and manufacturers we spoke to. Early-season orders from independent garden centers have been coming in a bit slow, but that may be largely due to the wave of cold temperatures and snow hitting much of the country.
- New plants with resistance. What kind of resistance? Anything from disease to drought damage to deer. Growers continue to seek out plants that offer not just beauty, but solutions that their customers want and need for their homes or landscapes. One example was the phytophthora-resistant Holden’s series of rhododendron from Briggs Nursery. Originating from the Holden Arboretum in Kirtland, OH, the series is both highly ornamental and cold hardy to USDA Zone 5.
- The potential, and realistic use, of artificial intelligence technology. Discussions among both growers and suppliers were on how tools like ChatGPT can offer solutions when used the right way. Similarly, implementation of enterprise resource planning (ERP) software is becoming common, especially with the range of platforms being offered by companies like Mprise Software that are designed to meet the needs of any type of grower, regardless of size.
- The search for peat alternatives (not replacements). While the panic-inducing headlines of the future loss of peat moss may be overblown, one benefit is that growing media suppliers are developing a range of alternatives, from wood fiber to biochar. We heard this when talking to companies such as Sun Gro Horticulture, Profile Products, Pindstrup, and Berger.
- New product introductions, with more on the way. There was no shortage of “new” on the trade show floor, and many companies also told us they were planning for even more new offerings later in the year. In other words, it’s going to be an exciting year!