Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt Cruz.
Hi Matt, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
In 2022 I was starting to get burned out of dealing cards in private poker games in Texas. I remember having a chat with my sister about just wanting to work with flowers but I never thought it would really become a thing. The following year I finally decided to quit the gambling world and moved back to Maryland. The second day back I found myself at a farmers market chatting with a produce vendor who offered me a job. I accepted it and without asking a couple days later she connected me with a flower farmer that was looking for farm hands. I of course accepted that job as well. 1.5 years later I decided to start my own hydronic tulip farm while still working at the other farm. So 2025 is year 2 of my own hydroponic tulips.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not at all. Temperature control. Tulips like to be cooled, Rooted and grow at varying degrees. Too warm or too cold work either speed up or slow down production. Speeding up sounds good, but will make your tulips shorter and weaker. Timing is very important. As for the business size of things, finding markets has been a challenge. Maryland has quite a bit of flower farmers which is great for customers but as a new grower, I find myself going to smaller markets and further markets but it’s all been part of the fun of trying to make it.
As you know, we’re big fans of Agripina and Bloom. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I’m a relatively new flower farmer. I just started year #2 in November of 2025. I love growing all kinds of blooms but I specialize in growing hydroponic tulips from December to May. I’m known for growing peony tulips. Those are double petal tulips that look like mini peonies. What sets me apart from other growers is that I can grow local flowers in the winter months when you typically see most but not all of the other flower farms shut down. I’m proud of how long my flowers last. Yes, they can be a higher cost than grocery flowers but they’ll last much longer as well. I want people to know that tulips are not only a spring flower, they are a great winter flower as well. As good as they look in my coolers, they’d look even better in your home!
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I got lucky in learning from an experienced flower farmer. But if that didn’t happen for me I’d say find the field you want to learn about about and volunteer your time if possible. Outside of hands in experience, I’ve also learned a lot from other farmers on YouTube. It’s a great resource to learn from people of varying degrees of experience.
Pricing:
- Tulip bunches – $25
- Tulip posy jar – $19
- Wholesaling available
Contact Info:
