Thinking Outside the Big Box

Boutique Nursery Director Creatively Develops
& Shares the Beauty of Rare Plant Species 

Discovery, education, innovation. Three things that drive David Bache to bring new and unique plants to southeast Florida. David runs the Garden Industries nursery in the Fort Lauderdale area. David calls Garden Industries a “boutique nursery”, as the 21 acre space only holds about 1000 exotic, rare, and hybrid plant varieties. The plants come from all over the world and are sold to theme parks, celebrities, and other high end landscapers. Each plant on site gets lots of special attention.

“To grow plants from around the world, especially in an area that gets a little bit of frost, we have a rotation setup. For instance, some don't need or can't handle our summer rain. Those will go into a greenhouse for the summer, and go back outside for the winter because they’re pretty happy when it's dry. Then we rotate more pulp sensitive plants into the greenhouses. It's very hands-on.”

Garden Industries ships products from California, the Caribbean, and even Europe. When a foriegn plant comes into the nursery the team cares for it for at least a year. This lets plants grow through all 4 seasons and adapt to the weather. It also gives the team the ability to learn how to care for different species at different times of year. Each plant is pruned at least three times before sold to ensure they are well structured and solid rooted. The group produces their own liners, and they custom blend soil products that are heavier than traditional propagation mixes. They believe a more natural process gives a higher quality product. Clients seem to agree! David ships plants to clients in major cities across the globe, many who have worked with him for several decades. 

David does not use online or brokerage services to sell plants. He does utilize the internet in other ways though. He regularly shares pictures and detailed descriptions of his unique plants with more than 10,000 facebook and instagram followers. David’s social networks are a way to educate people on the vast variety of unique plants available and how to use them. He developed his knowledge base by spending 35 years in the industry, working in nurseries in several states. David also devotes time to reading books and scientific research sites. 

(Left) Philodendron Pink Princess; (Right) Costus speciosus variegated

“I get messages from people all over the world saying they love learning a plant’s information and background. People are paying more attention to that, especially since the houseplant boom 30 years ago.

"They realize the benefits of plants & what they can do with them. Plants aren’t just nice to look at, they are also economically & environmentally helpful. I mean, you could save $100 in your electric bill by just planting something adjacent to your house!"

This online content is designed for people in and out of the industry. In fact, one of his largest goals is to push landscapers to step away from their main palette and think more outside the box, because there are so many options. Things always change based on weather and supply and demand, so nurseries often add new and different products. He believes the higher interest in plant material among homeowners is pushing a demand for unique plant species. 

“Because of social media, people who are not in the industry can go home and click through Instagram when they're having their coffee and see all kinds of new things! They get excited about it and then go to a local garden center to find that plant. They want to be able to look outside their window and see butterflies and hummingbirds. They want unique and interesting features around their patio that are different from their neighbor’s, not just the typical plants often used.”

(Left) Xanthostemmon; (Right) Ixora Mega Red

He says the best way to diversify a landscape is through education.  Read about plant material. Visit trade shows that feature new species and teach ways to grow them. Fill social media feeds with plant-focused accounts. Most importantly, spend time in a nursery. Stay up to date on what is new, get to know the growers who are familiar with a plant, and learn how new species can drastically improve a green space design.