Meetings
Meetings take place at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden on the Fourth Monday of every month
Meetings generally take place in classroom Corbin A at Fairchild Garden unless otherwise noted. Refreshments and Raffle table are usually set up by 7:15pm and speakers begin presentations at 7:30pm.
During each meeting, there is a speaker on a pre-announced topic related to growing plants. Speakers are often well-known members of the exotic plant community including growers, horticulturalists, botanists, and collectors. Members are able to sell plants during the meeting at the designated Members’ sales tables. Additionally, members may bring in snacks, drinks, and plants for the Raffle table.
Meetings are free to attend, but the society relies entirely on the support of our paying members to sustain our mission and activities. None of this would be possible without their generosity and commitment. By becoming a member, you help ensure that we can continue offering these opportunities and resources to everyone. Join us today.
Next meeting: September 22, 2025
Speaker: Ivan Portilla
Topic: “Aroids of Ecuagenera”
Vice President and founding partner of Ecuagenera, Ivan has organized and participated in orchid conferences around the world over the last 20 years. He is a specialist in the propagation of orchids and has collaborated in the description of new plant species, many of which have been named after him: Epidendrum ivanportillae, Spathiphyllum ivanportillae, Anthurium ivanportillae, Phragmipedium Ivan Portilla, and Masdevallia ivanii.
In his talk, Ivan will speak on Ecuagenera, a family-owned and operated nursery giant known for orchids and tropical plants based in Ecuador since 1992 with nurseries also in the USA in Florida and California. He will speak about Ecuagenera, what they do and what they grow with a focus on aroids.
Previous meeting: “The Nature of Ferns“
Speaker: Reggie Whitehead
Renowned showman and fern aficionado Reggie Whitehead presented “The Nature of Ferns.” He incorporated the beginnings of the TFEPS and a little history in a can't-miss talk for those interested in the South Florida plant community and its history. He walked us through many different varieties of ferns including his own namesake, Micorsorum whiteheadii.
August 25, 2025
Past meetings
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![Chip Jones holding a bromeliad and speaking into a microphone in front of a presentation slide with interview questions asked to Bert Forster cut off]()
Speaker: Chip Jones
July 28, 2025
Topic: “Bromeliad Breeders from the World Bromeliad Conference 2024”
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![Brett Jestrow presenting in front of a slide with palms]()
Speaker: Brett Jestrow, PhD
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![Alex bello gesturing toward a slide with photos of 2 cattleya hybrids side by side]()
Speaker: Alex Bello
May 26, 2025
Topic: ”Cattleya Species of Venezuela and South America”
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![Irina Kim Sang of Miami Vertical Garden in front of a slide presentation depicting a grid/color block design and implementation]()
Speaker: Irina Kim Sang
April 28, 2025
Topic: “Sustainable Vertical Garden Design: A Comprehensive Guide and Case Studies”
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![Mike D'andrea in front of a slide with turning points in Monstera cultivation]()
Speaker: Mike D'andrea
March 24, 2025
Topic: “2025 Update on Variegated Monstera, an International Perspective”
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![Chad Husby pointing toward an image of a field of horsetails.]()
Speaker: Chad Husby
February 24, 2025
Topic: “The Paleozoic in the Present: Giant Horsetails in the Wild and in Cultivation”
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![Jesse Durko]()
Speaker: Jesse Durko
January 27, 2025
Topic: “Winning Plants for South Floridas Gardens“
2024
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![Horticulturalist Palmer Crippen and a slide depicting Hoya Imbricata]()
Speaker: Palmer Crippen
November 25, 2024
Topic: “Epiphytic Ant Plants of the South Pacific”
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![Ellis, Ashley, and Hunter presenting at the September 2024 meeting]()
Speakers: Ashley and Hunter
September 23, 2024
Topic: “How to Create, Engage, and Gain Active & New Plant Enthusiasts Despite Rumors that “The Boom” is Over“
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![Cat from Dade Plant Co demonstrating how to propagate Hoya.]()
Community Night
June 23, 2024
Members share stories about unique and fascinating plants they've collected.
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![Presentation slide of curled fern frond and speaker Chad Busby]()
Speaker: Chad Husby
April 22, 2024
Topic: “Botanical Explorations in Colombia”
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Speaker: Philip Iloo of Stelmar Gardens
March 25 2024
Topic: "Pyrrosia and their mutations"
