PASSION GROWS PROGRESS Communication: The Ultimate Seed Of Success

Seth Marrero, head grower at Brad’s Bedding Plants, never stops learning. His inquisitive nature has helped him build his career at Brad’s Bedding Plants, facilitating his move up the ranks while serving in several different roles at the Florida-based greenhouse, and motivates him every day to strive for continuous quality throughout the growing process.

Brad’s Bedding Plants specializes in annuals, with thousands of their plants showcased in home and commercial landscapes, golf courses and amusement parks, as well as on retail garden center shelves across Florida. Plant sizes include 4-inch, 6-inch and 3-gallon containers. Brad’s Bedding Plants also grows poinsettias, ferns, and a line of herbs and vegetables. Seth manages more than 20 acres of growing space of quick-turn crops with production schedules ranging from 8 to 12 weeks. When plants are moving so quickly from propagation bench to loading dock, a dedicated plant health program is paramount to ensuring quality. Quality is engrained into every team member and production process.

“It’s our main focus,” Seth explains. “‘Quality Annuals Since 1987’ is on our catalogs. It’s on our business cards. It’s on our sign out front. It’s the motto we live by.”

A Desire to Learn

Seth received his first lesson in quality processes from his uncle, Brad Bethurem, who founded Brad’s Bedding Plants. The seed for a career in the green industry was planted when Seth was young, visiting the property in summer and zipping around on a golf cart. Those times proved to be special because they drew him to the business after high school. His uncle had recently purchased land in Delray Beach for a second location, and Seth started with what he fondly recalls as “grunt work” – responsibilities such as building out infrastructure for the greenhouse range and an irrigation system. After working on much of the construction throughout the property, he transitioned to driving delivery trucks. Next, he was back in the greenhouse performing any task he could that was related to plant production. He was fascinated by the growing process, and it wasn’t enough to just go through the motions of growing plants. Seth said he wanted to learn everything he could about production and how to make improvements throughout the life of the crop. 

“I wanted to learn how to grow the plants better and help the company be more successful and more efficient at what we do,” he says. “I wanted to absorb as much knowledge as possible.”

He looked for guidance from his uncle and the former head grower before he retired. He also received valuable lessons from his uncle’s connections in the industry. It shaped how he handles business relationships with open and frequent communication.

“Communication is the biggest key,” he says. 

Communication Skills 

Whether he’s using his bilingual skills with the greenhouse crew, speaking to a breeder about genetics or asking his BASF sales specialist about a pathogen or insect pest, Seth says each relationship is just as important as the next. And it should be reciprocated, he adds.

“The people you get your cuttings from or the people breeding the plants you’re buying want to help you. They want you to be successful just as much as you want to be successful,” he says.

Seth’s eagerness to learn has helped shape those internal and external relationships, which have led to plant health strategies and protocols.

And those strategies must be flexible. For instance, Florida experienced abnormally cold and wet weather conditions in March, and as a result, Seth’s crew had to battle additional pathogen and fungal issues. 
“We come up with a plan of attack and have the technicians initiate it. I love seeing the plants recover and come back from those issues, then go out the door in good shape,” he says.

And when he has a problem with a crop, Seth leans on his BASF sales rep, Peggy Clanton for help and advice.
“[BASF has] some of the most amazing people working for them, like Peggy,” Seth shares. “She is awesome. I sent her a video about a pest I didn’t recognize and she says, ‘Let me talk to somebody and I’ll get right back to you.’ And she did get right back to me and found out it was a predatory mite. If there’s an issue or a question, she’s on it.”

Seth says he also appreciates the webinars and online technical support BASF provides.

Plant Health Strategies

Rotation is the backbone of Seth’s entire plant health program. Part of Seth’s rotation includes both Pageant® Intrinsic® brand fungicide and Empress® Intrinsic brand fungicide from BASF. He uses Pageant for both broad-spectrum applications, as well as targeted use. He also applies Pageant to unrooted cuttings seven days into production.

“A couple of years ago we did a comparison of Archangel Angelonia unrooted cuttings. One batch was untreated and the other was treated with Pageant [Intrinsic brand fungicide]. We saw a stronger, healthier root system with the treated plants, and we also saw more breaks in the plants. Typically, that plant elongates really quickly and we either have to pinch it or apply a PGR. That wasn’t needed with Pageant [Intrinsic brand fungicide]. It also helps plants recover more quickly from stress.”

Seth prefers to use Empress Intrinsic brand fungicide on seed-germinated crops. 

“We drench Empress [Intrinsic brand fungicide] on all of our seed product, and it keeps the root system healthy,” he adds.

Part of his rotation includes a monthly spray of Pylon® miticide-insecticide to help control thrips.

Correct spray applications must be coupled with rotation in any IPM program, Seth explains.

“You could have the best IPM strategy in the world, but if your applicators aren’t paying attention to mixes and calibrations for proper application on the plants, you’re not going to be successful. And the use of spray adjuvants really helps,” he says. 

He keeps meticulous records, and everything is recorded in his Microsoft Outlook Calendar.

“I record every chemical used, the date, the rate, the type of application, the REI time, the applicator’s name, the target pest or disease, and any other notes,” he explains.

Seth is always willing to share other strategies for a successful crop, such as monitoring pH and sampling substrates often.

“A lot of problems people have is often because of the wrong pH,” he explains. “Send off substrate samples to different labs three times a year. Do it in January, May and October and get a good idea of what you’re working with.”

Many of Seth’s strengths boil down to fostering open communication with everyone he meets from day to day. That leads to a valuable crop and higher profits. 

“I love it when I go out to help load a truck and the plants just look stunning. For me, that start-to-finish process keeps me going.”