JARED HUGHES BIO
Groovy Plants Ranch traces its roots back to humble beginnings where determination, ingenuity, and passion helped grow into something unexpected.
In 2007 at 19 years old, Jared Hughes started to realize the spark of a dream. While taking classes at Columbus State Community College and working at Foertmeyer and Sons Greenhouse, he fell more and more in love with plants. The desire to grow as many plants as possible, paired with a natural entrepreneurial spirit led Jared to begin propagating succulents in his limited free time. Their low care and ease of propagation made them a perfect starter crop.
From there, the business naturally grew and he started building a small facility at his parents farm in Cardington, Ohio. As the business grew, so did Jared’s collection of different unusual plants from around the world.
In 2015 Jared and his now wife Liz were married, and together they worked diligently on growing the business. Unexpectedly, they found themselves with the opportunity to purchase an amazing greenhouse property in Fargo, Ohio, previously known as Fargo Herbs.
Jared and Liz went full force into their new venture, Groovy Plants Ranch, where they now work with their two young girls, and an amazing staff of plant professionals allows them to grow far more unique and interesting plants than they ever dreamed. In addition to the diversity of plants, Jared and Liz enjoy making the ranch a family friendly, whimsical oasis of escape for customers from all over the country.
Groovy Plants Ranch has been featured in a number of magazines like Better Homes and Gardens, and Midwest Living named them the best garden shop of 2022.
You can learn more by visiting groovyplantsranch.com and by following them on Facebook, Instagram, and Tiktok.
SHOW NOTES
Jared’s germinating interest in plants from his grandfather and mother and a love of nature
Experiences in learning at Columbus State Community College and having Debra Knapke as a teacher
His changing perception of working at a nursery
Learning about the horticulture industry from working at Foertmeyer and Sons Greenhouse
Mark Foertmeyer and Sid Raisch teaching Jared to build value around plants
Jared’s involvement in AmericanHort and networking opportunities
The use of biological organisms for pest control in the greenhouse and the learning curve of their use
Lessons learned from the SHIFT initiative like breaking the ice with plants and engaging people with plants
How Groovy Plants Ranch started with the succulent boom and grew from there
Buying property with a schoolhouse and some infrastructure
Incredible customer experiences at Groovy Plants Ranch
Jared’s innate creative spirit and making a playground out of an airplane
How Jared builds worlds at his garden center so that there is something for everyone
Jared’s formula for Groovy Plants Ranch — drip with creativity for the joy of the visit and use incredible plants in unique ways
Keeping his creative spirit alive because he genuinely loves his work
How Jared forces himself to finish projects by keeping the return in mind
Why Groovy Plants Ranch is unique in its approach to creativity
The importance of idea generation and a supportive network
Jared’s other hobbies like cars
Gardening books that inspire Jared like Bizarre Botanicals and Cacti and Succulents for Cold Climates
The interest in tropicals like Musa basjoo (Japanese hardy banana)
Exciting projects including building new greenhouses, propagating cool stock plants, and new approaches to marketing
Jared’s recent interest in perennials and peonies
How all gardeners could benefit from drip irrigation and using water to control pests on houseplants
Jared’s advice for social media including do good content that isn’t false and take good photos
The myth of a hot pepper crossing with a sweet pepper makes the sweet pepper hot and the misunderstanding about GMO’s
Propagating more horticulturists by 1. us getting more excited about plants and letting it show and 2. remembering that what we do is an inherently good thing and that plants enrich life
Learn more about Groovy Plants Ranch on Facebook, Instagram, and Tiktok.