Internationally recognised aquascaper, author and educator George Farmer is coming to PATS 2026 for three days of live aquascaping demonstrations designed specifically for pet and aquatic retailers. George will host two live sessions every day at 10am and 1pm, with a fresh build and different talking points in every session, so there will be plenty to discover each time you visit.
Meet George Farmer
George Farmer is an internationally recognised aquascaper, author of Aquascaping and educator with more than 25 years of experience in the planted aquarium sector. A Royal Air Force veteran who became a full-time aquascaping professional in 2014, George co-founded the UK Aquatic Plant Society and has trained retail teams around the world, from independent stores to national chains. Known for his accessible, practical teaching style, George has built his career around making the sometimes intimidating art of aquascaping simple, achievable and commercially relevant.
As a brand ambassador for leading names including Tropica and OASE, he combines extensive technical knowledge with a hands-on understanding of the products aquatic retailers stock and, importantly, how they can be presented in ways that engage customers and drive sales.
Through his YouTube channel and social platforms, @GeorgeFarmerStudios, George has introduced hundreds of thousands of hobbyists to the planted aquarium world, giving him a rare combination of technical authority and mainstream reach.
At PATS, he will help retailers turn aquascaping from a specialist niche into an accessible retail opportunity.
Live Aquascaping Demonstrations
High-Impact, Low-Maintenance: Countertop Planted Tanks That Sell
Across all three days of PATS, join George for hands-on live demonstrations exploring how to create attractive, compact and low-maintenance planted aquarium displays.
Designed specifically with retail environments in mind, George will demonstrate how accessible nano-scapes positioned around the till or other high-traffic areas can capture customers' attention, start conversations and create opportunities for high-margin add-on sales. You won't see the same demonstration twice, with a fresh build and new talking points at every session, it is worth dropping by more than once during the show.
Session Times
10am and 1pm every day
What You'll Take Away
George's sessions are designed to give you ideas you can take straight back to your business, including:
- A practical, repeatable framework for creating a compact planted display in under 30 minutes, with no specialist tools or previous aquascaping experience required.
- Simple staff talking points that turn a nano-scape into a genuine customer conversation starter rather than simply a display piece.
- Guidance on choosing plants and products that keep maintenance low, helping displays stay healthy, attractive and sellable week after week.
- Ideas for using small planted displays to encourage complementary and add-on purchases.
- Live Q&A time, giving you the opportunity to put your own retail or aquascaping challenges directly to George.
