Grab Your Ticket and Meet Us at PLANTMANIA !
Welcome
GREATER NEW ORLEANS PLANT EXPO!!
Saturday and Sunday
October 4 and 5th, 2025
The Harbor Center
Slidell, LA
Plantmania Expo 2025
Welcome!
Plantmania Expo welcomes plant lovers to the Big Easy !! Join us for fun, excitement and all things green in the Greater New Orleans area. Our Expo will be held at the fantastic Harbor Center located in Slidell, LA just minutes from downtown New Orleans.
Plantmania Expo is a 2-day indoor market style event featuring rare, exotic and popular house plants from growers from across the WORLD. As well as, plant related crafts and free educational / breakout sessions including General Plant Care 101, Pest ID and Management, Passive Hydroponics, Bonsai and much more !
Don't miss this opportunity to come together with plant enthusiasts, collectors and experts from all over to celebrate and share rare, unique and exotic plants from around the world.
Grab your tickets NOW !
Expo Schedule
Saturday October 4th and Sunday October 5th
8am -Doors open for VIP/Early Bird Shoppers
10am-Doors open for General Entry
5pm -Saturday Oct 4th Expo Ends/Doors Close
4pm - Sunday Oct 5th Expo Ends / Doors Close
Plantmania Expo show host
PROUD SHOW HOST FOR PLANTMANIA EXPO !!
Plants Unlimited, Inc , located in Daphne AL, is a unique destination for plant lovers - our dreamy boutique style retail store offers thoughtfully curated lush houseplants , stylish planters and botanical decor. This boutique offers inspiration for beginners and seasoned collectors alike.
Meet our Guests
Dana Washington @leafydiva
Dana Washington is a plant educator, speaker, and the creator behind Leafy Diva, a social media brand followed by over 300,000 plant enthusiasts worldwide across Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, and Xiaohongshu (Red Note).
Known for her witty and practical approach to houseplant care, Dana has built a reputation for breaking down plant care into honest, accessible lessons that resonate with both beginners and seasoned collectors.
Her plant-related educational series have reached millions online. She continues to inspire plant lovers with both knowledge and humor.
Presentation
Fidel Pineda @thepondon
Fidel “The Pon Don” is a plant grower, educator, and Secretary of the DFW Begonia Society. Specializing in passive hydroponics, he teaches others how to grow thriving plants with minimal maintenance. Believing that caring for plants mirrors caring for ourselves, his mission is to help people grow—both in their indoor jungles and in life.
With long-term goals of crafting a delicate mixture of beauty through Begonia & Anthurium hybrids, Fidel blends his passion for plant genetics with a commitment to innovation, striving to contribute something unique and inspiring to the world of horticulture through his ongoing studies in passive hydroponics.
His goal is to spread knowledge and light throughout the plant community, creating spaces where people and plants can thrive together.
Evan Pardue @underhillbonsai
Evan has been practicing the art of bonsai since 2010. He has shown his Louisiana native trees at the US National Bonsai Exhibition and other regional shows and has conducted lectures and workshops across the Gulf Coast area.
Evan launched a podcast show in 2021 called Little Things for Bonsai People .
Evan is the nursery manager for Underhill Bonsai, a full-service bonsai nursery in Folsom, Louisiana with focus on growing, selling and broker pre-bonsai and specimen bonsai at all levels from entry to serious collector. Underhill Bonsai services include re-potting, styling, monthly maintenance, installation of irrigation systems and much more. If it relates to bonsai, they have it !
Underhill Bonsai also hosts its very own bonsai convention called C'est Bonsai. Each C'est Bonsai celebration includes guest bonsai artists from around the US, a professional bonsai exhibit, workshops and demonstrations, boiled crawfish and other creole classicals, and live jazz music.
Awards:
Golden Scissors Award presented by Pedro Morales, 2024
Best Kusamono Display, Bonsai on the Bayou, 2023
William Afton
William Afton is a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Horticulture in 2011 and a Master of Science degree in Horticulture in 2018 from Louisiana State University.
He is currently employed by the LSU AgCenter as the Agriculture and Natural Resource (ANR) Extension Agent for St Tammany Parish.
His primary focus is horticulture, but he enjoys collaborating with colleagues and volunteering to chaperone St Tammany Parish boys at 4-H Summer Camp and 4-H University. He also enjoys working with community organizations like the Covington Community Garden and the Giddy Up & Grow Community Garden in Folsom, LA.
In his free time, Mr. Afton enjoys walking the Mandeville Lakefront and spending time at his family’s camp near Woodville, MS. He currently resides in Mandeville, LA.
"Dr Joe" Willis
"Dr. Joe" Willis is the LSU Horticulture Agent for Orleans Parish and holds a BS in botany from North Carolina State University and a Ph.D. in plant pathology from the University of California-Riverside.
During his career, Dr. Joe has gained expertise in microbiology, genetics, plant pathology, horticulture, greenhouse management, aquaponics, hydroponics, nursery crop production, field crop production, apiculture, composting, and vegetable crop production.
Dr. Joe has regular articles in GNO Gardening magazine which reaches over 35,000 subscribers monthly and has garnered national awards. He also has monthly appearances on WWL-TV and WVUE-TV providing horticultural tips. In conjunction with other local agents, he has developed several online courses that have reached gardeners from all 50 states and 72 different countries.
As a Louisiana Master Gardener coordinator, he pioneered the reverse classroom training model and the GNO Master Gardener course has 50-75 students annually.
Chris Harris (@bayouplantman)
Chris Harris, known as Bayou Plant Man, has been an avid gardener since childhood with inspiration from his grandmother. With 14 years of nursery and landscaping experience, he's now diving deep into rare houseplants and sharing his passion on TikTok and Instagram.
At Plantmania Expo, Chris will lead a class on soil composition, breaking down the mixes that help plants truly thrive.
Platinum sponsors
T&T Plants and Things
T&T Plants and Things in Downtown Lawrenceville, GA, your ultimate destination for indoor plant needs and plant-themed accessories. Join us for terrarium building workshops and community events like Plant Bingo to connect with fellow plant enthusiasts. Visit us today for a unique plant shopping experience that celebrates the joy of greenery! .
Variegated Ventures
Variegated Ventures, located in Clarksville, TN, is a Plant Lover's Heaven. Variegated Ventures specializes in variegated, rare & exotic plants. Owned by the Retired Military Family.
premier sponsors
Book a Hotel
Baymont by Windham
142 Oak Ct Slidell LA 70458
(985) 641-2143
Mention Plantmania Expo for discounted rate