The Miami-Dade County Chapter of the Florida Nursery Growers and Landscape Association (FNGLA) will dedicate the “Charles S. Buster and John C. DeMott Greenhouse” at the UF/IFAS
Tropical Research and Education Center (TREC) in Homestead on Oct. 24.
This facility will honor John DeMott and Charles “Chuck” Buster, whose visionary work has significantly impacted South Florida’s tropical horticulture industry and beyond.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony, scheduled for 4 p.m. at 18905 SW 280 St. in Homestead on the UF/IFAS TREC campus, will reinforce TREC’s commitment to serving as a hub advancing research, education and community engagement in subtropical horticulture.
“Chances are, if you love exotic ornamental plants and have them in your home, the varieties were introduced in some way by these two visionaries,” said Edward “Gilly” Evans, director of UF/IFAS TREC. “John and Chuck’s passion for plants transcended mere cultivation. They engaged both the local community, students and the wider industry, making an impact that will be felt for generations.”
DeMott and Buster were more than just successful businessmen. They were pioneers who transformed family-run nursery businesses into industry-leading enterprises that influenced horticulture on a regional and national scale. Their collaboration in the 1980s cemented their status as horticultural trailblazers, pushing the boundaries of plant propagation, tropical species cultivation and nursery business innovation.
Jeffrey DeMott, son of John DeMott, and Jackie Torres, daughter of Chuck Buster, shared heartfelt memories of their parents.
John DeMott, who founded Redland Nursery in 1971, was a man driven by a deep love for plants, especially rare and unique species. “My dad had this incredible drive to make something rare common,” shared his son.
“He saw plant propagation as a way to preserve the species or ‘spread the germplasm,’ as he would say,” he added. “By propagating, distributing them into every backyard in Miami, you preserve the plant, ensuring its survival, and that was his passion.”
Buster, known for his acumen in business and production, brought a complementary skill set to the partnership he formed with DeMott in 1981. Together, they founded Alpha Foliage, Inc., which specialized in high-volume production of tropical plants, especially ferns. Buster’s meticulous attention to operational detail and efficiency made Alpha Foliage a powerhouse in the horticulture industry.
“Chuck was the steady hand in business operations, while my dad brought creativity, growing skills and passion for rare plants,” said DeMott. “It was a perfect balance.”
Both men’s businesses were family affairs from the start. John’s wife, Carol, and Chuck’s wife, Margie, worked alongside their husbands to build their respective empires. Carol DeMott served as the bookkeeper for Redland Nursery and Alpha Foliage, ensuring that the behind-the-scenes operations were as meticulously managed as the plants they grew.
“The four of them — John, Chuck, Carol and Margie — would go out to dinner pretty much every Friday night together. There they would talk about the business and family. They shared good times,” said Torres.
Over the years, Redland Nursery and Alpha Foliage grew from humble beginnings — a less-than-10-acre plot — to more than 250 acres that stands today. The partnership between the DeMott and Buster families extended beyond business; their families were close-knit, spending time together outside of work as well.
“John and my dad, Chuck, were not just partners — they were best friends,” said Torres. “Our families grew up together, and we continue that partnership today with the next generation actively involved in the business.”
Both DeMott and Buster were committed to giving back to the community. They were long-standing supporters of FNGLA and held numerous leadership positions within the organization. John served on the FNGLA board for many years and was known for his dedication to supporting local events such as tournaments, barbecues and fundraisers for scholarships and agricultural education.
Both men were awarded the Babe Greer Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Miami-Dade Chapter of FNGLA, which is given to individuals who have made significant contributions to the horticulture industry. Their legacy of community outreach, support for agricultural education and dedication to the industry remains unmatched.
“Dad was a strong proponent of keeping business local, always encouraging the industry to invest in the community and believed in staying loyal to his local community,” said Torres.
The Charles S. Buster and John C. DeMott Greenhouse will not only serve as a tribute to these two horticultural giants but will also be a center for research and education, said Evans. Faculty, graduate students and postdoctoral researchers at TREC will use the facility to advance tropical plant science, innovate propagation techniques and study the unique challenges posed by South Florida’s subtropical climate.
“The greenhouse represents a lasting legacy of what John and Chuck stood for —innovation, community and a deep love for plants,” said Evans. “It will serve as a hands-on learning environment for students and a demonstration site for the public, showcasing the importance of horticulture in our region.”
“The installation of this air-conditioned greenhouse will significantly extend the timeframe for projects requiring precise temperature control, greatly enhancing TREC’s capacity for tropical plant research,” said Xingbo Wu, a plant breeder and geneticist at TREC whose vanilla research will be one of the experiments housed in the greenhouse. We are deeply grateful to DeMott and Buster for their invaluable support in advancing our work in tropical agriculture”
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by Lourdes Mederos, rodriguezl@ufl.edu
ABOUT UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. ifas.ufl.edu | @UF_IFAS
ABOUT UF/IFAS TROPICAL RESEARCH AND EDUCATION CENTER
The mission of UF/IFAS Tropical Research & Education Center (UF/IFAS TREC) is to develop and disseminate science-based information about tropical horticulture and natural resource sciences through teaching, basic and applied research, and extension, to sustain and enhance the quality of human life and the natural environment. Established in 1929, UF/IFAS TREC is the only state university research and education center in the continental U.S. focusing on tropical and subtropical crops. Our faculty, support scientists, and students conduct cutting edge research and disseminate findings to the public in areas such as crop and plant breeding and biotechnology, sea level rise, soil and water management, environmental conservation, climate change, invasive plant pests and disease management, agriculture and ecosystems sustainability, and much more. The Center’s unique location—between Florida Bay and Everglades National Park—strategically situates research to the Caribbean region, Latin America, and tropical regions around the world.
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