2025 Education Sessions

2025 Annual Meeting Education Sessions:

Tuesday, October 21

6:00 AM - 9:30 AM Conference Registration Open

6:30 - 7:30 AM Fellows Breakfast, Flamingo Room (Tower Building, first floor)

8:00 AM Visit with Sponsors

8:00 AM Auction Open, Diamond 1-2

8:00 AM GeneralSession, Royal 1-2

Opening Remarks, Michael Roe, 2024-25 IPPS-SR President,

Introduction of Vivian Munday Scholarship Recipients, Margie Jenkins Scholarship Recipient,

Coach Vince Dooley Scholarship Recipient, and Exchange Program Participants

8:15 AM Session 1, Moderator TBD

8:15 AM A Horticultural Journey & Opportunities with IPPS, Dr. Fred Davies

8:35 AM Developing Talent Through a Futuristic Internship Model, Jerrin Victor, Corporate Director – Science and Technology, Magnolia Gardens Nursery

8:55 AM Beyond the Dip: Redefining Auxin Applications for Improved Propagation Outcomes, Anthony Bowden, Assistant Professor - Ornamental Extension Specialist, University of Arkansas

9:15 AM Question and Answer for Session 1 Speakers

9:25 AM Recognition of New Members, Brie Arthur, Membership Chair

9:35 AM Poster Pitch, Students

9:55 AM Refreshment Break, Visit with Sponsors, Visit Silent Auction, View Posters

10:15 AM Session 2 Moderator, Dr. Mack Thetford, University of Florida

10:20 AM The Charles SR-IPPS Student Research Competition

10:25 AM First Student Presenter

10:45 AM Second Student Presenter

11:05 AM Third Student Presenter

11:25 AM Fourth Student Presenter

11:45 AM Question and Answer for Session 2 Speakers

11:50 AM Sponsor Recognition, Richard May, Sponsor Chair

11:55 AM Announcements

12:00 PM Lunch on your own

1:30 PM Session 3 Moderator (TBD)

1:35 PM What We Know and Don’t Know About Fungus Gnat, Dr. JC Chong, Technical Development Manager – Ornamental, SePRO Corporation

1:55 PM Nutritional Considerations for Optimum Stock Plants and Cuttings, Lynn Griffith, President - Tropical Plant and Soil Expert

2:15 PM Finding Your Niche, Jennifer Tucker, Owner - Jensfarm Maples

2:35 PM Question and Answer for Session 3 Speakers

2:45 PM Refreshment Break, Visit with Sponsors, Visit Silent Auction, View Posters

3:05 PM International Tours: 2025 & 2026, Brie Arthur

3:20 PM New Friends and Old Foes: Tips for Managing Difficult Nursery Diseases, Dr. Emma Lookabaugh, Senior Technical Specialist - BASF

3:40 PM Bracing for Hurricane Season – Insights & Lessons Learned from Florida Growers and FNGLA, Tal Coley, Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Association - Chief Executive Officer

4:00 PM Train Your Staff How to Water, Paul Fisher, Professor and Extension Specialist in Floriculture, UFL

4:20 PM Question and Answer for Session 4 Speakers

5:30 PM Auction Closes, Diamond 1-2

6:30 PM Social (cash bar)

7:30 PM Awards Banquet and Live Auction, Royal 1-2

9:00 - 11:00 PM Auction Checkout, Diamond Pre-function

Thursday, October 23

7:00 - 9:30 AM Registration Open

8:00 General Session, Royal 1-2

8:00 AM Welcome, Session 5, Moderator (TBD)

8:05 AM The Latest in Nursery Weed Control: Herbicides, Application Equipment, Mulch, and other Strategies to Save Money, Chris Marble, Associate Professor – UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture, Mid-Florida Research and Education Center

8:25 AM "I Can Propagate That"-A Survey of Propagation Research From Seeds to Tissue culture, Sandra Wilson, Professor - University of Florida

8:45 AM The Hidden Cost of Hot Containers, Jeremy Pickens, Assistant Extension Professor - Auburn University

9:05 AM Question and Answer for Session 5 Speakers

9:15 AM Annual meeting

10:15 AM Refreshment Break, Visit with Sponsors, View Posters

10:35 AM Session 6, Moderator (TBD)

10:35 AM Inventory Management, Christopher Brown, Jr., Lancaster Farms - BioWorks

10:55 AM Boxwood Disease Mitigation with Biologicals, Mark Freeman, Technical Services Manager

11:15 AM Question and Answer for Session 6 Speakers

11:25 AM Session 7, Moderator (TBD)

11:25 AM IPPS Early Career International Exchange Program 2024: Southern Region North America to Europe, Max McKeon, Huntsville Botanical Garden

11:40 AM Looking forward to Houston in 2026, Paul Winski, Local Site Chair, Houston, TX

11:55 AM Question and Answer for Session 7 Speakers

12:00 Conference ends

What we know and don’t know about fungus gnat

Presented by: JC Chong, Technical Development Manager – Ornamental, SePRO Corporation

Fungus gnats are common pests in plant propagation and production. There are still a lot of myths about this pest despite its long association with plant production. We will review fungus gnat’s association with plants and plant production, dispel misconceptions, and discuss strategies in preventing and managing this pest.

Developing Talent Through a Futuristic Internship Model

Presented by: Jerrin Victor - Corporate Director – Science and Technology, Magnolia Gardens Nursery

Internships are more than temporary assignments — they are pipelines for future leadership in the horticulture industry. In today’s rapidly evolving horticultural landscape, we must invest in people as much as plants. At Magnolia Gardens Nursery, we’ve designed a purpose-driven internship program that does more than teach tasks — it nurtures curiosity, critical thinking, and career clarity. By embedding mentorship and measurable outcomes, our internships don’t just fill time, they grow talent.

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