Cannabis Cultivation and Science Podcast

My guest for this episode is Dr. Wendy Zellner.Dr. Zellner received her doctorate from the University of Toledo in 2012, where she trained in molecular and cellular biology with a focus on the role of silicon in plant defense responses. She then completed a four-year postdoctoral position with the USDA-ARS, continuing her research on how silicon can alleviate both abiotic and biotic stress in crops such as tomato and tobacco.Her work has included developing standard methods for quantifying silicon uptake from fertilizer materials, identifying uptake mechanisms for silicon in model species, and evaluating how those pathways function across a range of crop systems.In this conversation we cover:The role of silicon in plant physiology and structureSilicon and plant defense against abiotic and biotic stressHow plants take up and utilize siliconMisconceptions around silicon fertilizers and supplementsPractical considerations for growers using silicon inputsThis remains one of the most comprehensive discussions we’ve had on silicon and plant health, and it continues to be highly relevant for growers looking to better understand how this element functions within a complete fertility program. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Guest: Julie GraeschBiological Scientist | IPM SpecialistCurrently with BioWorksFormerly: BASF, Becker Underwood, Iowa State UniversityTopics Covered:What “entomopathogenic fungi” actually meansHow fungi like Beauveria and Metarhizium infect insect pestsDifferences between blastospores and conidiaWhy formulation and environmental conditions matterCommon reasons fungal biocontrol applications failPreventative vs. reactive use of entomopathogenic fungiIntegrating fungal biologicals into a broader IPM strategyKey Takeaways:Entomopathogenic fungi are biological tools, not chemical knockdownsUnderstanding fungal life cycles improves consistency and outcomesBlastospores behave differently than traditional spore formulationsSuccessful IPM relies on timing, environment, and integration—not rescue sprays Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

n this conversation with plant scientist and commercial cultivation strategist Dr. Matthew Indest, we explore the emerging frontier of seed-based cannabis production and what it would take for the industry to move beyond clonal propagation.We cover:The agronomic upside of seed-grown plants (disease resistance, vigor, adaptability, cost savings)The scientific and operational barriers preventing widespread seed adoptionHow genetic stability, inbreeding depression, and trait selection differ between cannabis and traditional cropsData-driven cultivation strategies for evaluating new seed linesWhether seed-based production can truly rival clonal systems for consistency and top-tier flower qualityWhat the next decade of cannabis breeding and cultivation might look likeAbout Dr. Indest:Matthew holds a Ph.D. in plant science and has spent more than a decade bridging academic research with applied cannabis production. He has led breeding and cultivation programs across indoor, greenhouse, and outdoor operations and focuses on developing high-performing cultivars and integrated, data-backed production systems. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This wide-ranging conversation with Bryant Mason covers a series of essential—but frequently misunderstood—topics in organic cultivation. We explore why simple, low-tech data collection strategies often outperform high-tech systems and how to interpret those readings in the real world. From there, we break down how pH truly behaves in biologically active soils, what your water test results do and don’t tell you, and how water chemistry shapes nutrient availability.We also discuss practical considerations for under-canopy lighting, when it helps and when it’s a distraction, and dig into the recurring challenges Bryant sees around phosphorus and nitrogen management in living soil. Throughout the episode we jump between concepts, case studies, and troubleshooting insights that growers can apply immediately.Topics Covered:Low-tech monitoring and data-collection approachespH dynamics in organic systemsWater testing and interpreting resultsUnder-canopy lighting: pros, cons, and real-world usePhosphorus and nitrogen management in living soilPractical troubleshooting and decision-making strategies Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this conversation, Tad and Dr. David Hawley (Chief Science Officer at Fluence) unpack what really matters when dialing in your lighting strategy for cannabis and other high-value crops. They get deep into how plants perceive light, what “good spectrum” actually means, and how to think about intensity, uniformity, and plant response in a more scientific (and practical) way.Topics covered include:Understanding Daily Light Integral (DLI) and how it relates to plant metabolismWhen to use far-red and what to expect from itThe truth about UV lighting and secondary metabolite productionManaging leaf temperature and avoiding hidden stress from high PPFDHow fixture placement and uniformity impact yield and morphologyUsing dimming strategies through different growth stagesWhy overemphasizing spectrum specs can distract from the real gainsPractical steps for mapping your grow and verifying performanceDavid also shares insights on under-canopy lighting, canopy architecture, and the future of horticultural light design, offering takeaways for both commercial cultivators and serious home growers.Resources mentioned:Fluence by OSRAMKiS Organics Living Soil & Nutrients Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this conversation, Tad and Dr. David Hawley (Chief Science Officer at Fluence) unpack what really matters when dialing in your lighting strategy for cannabis and other high-value crops. They get deep into how plants perceive light, what “good spectrum” actually means, and how to think about intensity, uniformity, and plant response in a more scientific (and practical) way.Topics covered include:Understanding Daily Light Integral (DLI) and how it relates to plant metabolismWhen to use far-red and what to expect from itThe truth about UV lighting and secondary metabolite productionManaging leaf temperature and avoiding hidden stress from high PPFDHow fixture placement and uniformity impact yield and morphologyUsing dimming strategies through different growth stagesWhy overemphasizing spectrum specs can distract from the real gainsPractical steps for mapping your grow and verifying performanceDavid also shares insights on under-canopy lighting, canopy architecture, and the future of horticultural light design, offering takeaways for both commercial cultivators and serious home growers.Resources mentioned:Fluence by OSRAMKiS Organics Living Soil & Nutrients Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Can stress actually improve flower quality? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. José Leme to dive into the science of plant stimuli and how growers can apply it in practice. We cover:🌿 Mechanical cues — how super cropping and vibration trigger plant defense pathways.💧 Water restriction — why moderate, timed drought can shift carbon toward secondary metabolites like terpenes and cannabinoids.🧪 Jasmonates (MeJA) — when they increase trichome density, and what trade-offs you need to consider.🔬 Trichome measurement pitfalls — why bracts are the gold standard for consistent data.🌱 Propagation & trial design — the importance of clonal fidelity and standardized protocols when testing stress strategies.Dr. Leme and I also highlight practical guardrails for growers: cultivar differences, timing, and the “sweet spot” between beneficial stress and damaging stress.📄 Referenced Studies:Water Deficit Stress and Secondary MetabolitesJasmonates in Growth, Trichomes, and CannabinoidsMetabolic Responses to Water DeficitTrichome Sampling & Quantification MethodsTrigonelline as a Biomarker for Drought Stress (Preprint)Propagation & Clonal Fidelity in Cannabis ResearchAdditional vibration study discussed in the episode.🎧 Whether you’re a grower, consultant, or researcher, this conversation will give you a framework for using stress not as a risk—but as a precision tool to enhance plant quality. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on the Cannabis Cultivation and Science Podcast, we're diving deep into lighting and photobiology with Shane Torpey, founder of MIGRO. With a background in engineering and construction, Shane turned his passion for growing into a global grow lighting company known for trusted reviews and educational content.We break down what’s working—and what’s not—in cannabis lighting for 2025, including:Far-red and intra-canopy lightingLED vs. HPS and how to transitionMaximizing PPFD without added CO₂Dimming schedules at sunrise/sunsetThe impact of lenses on LED light penetrationWhat really matters when choosing a grow lightEmerging technologies shaping the future of cultivationWhether you’re scaling a facility or dialing in your home grow, this episode gives you the tools to make smarter lighting decisions rooted in science and real-world data.Links to channels here:https://www.youtube.com/@MIGROLIGHThttps://www.instagram.com/migrolight/https://www.facebook.com/MIGROLIGHT/https://www.tiktok.com/@migrolight Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

📝 Episode Highlights:Connor’s journey from greenhouse grower to propagation leaderScaling propagation: key infrastructure and protocolsHormonal treatments and substrate selection for optimal rootingManaging cultivar libraries and mother plant healthIPM and environmental control strategies tailored for vegWriting and refining SOPs for compliance and consistencyTrack-and-trace integration in a regulated cannabis marketThe role of living soil vs. hydroponics in Connor’s career🧪 Mentioned in This Episode:Collective Elevation: www.collectiveelevation.comKIS Organics Products & Podcast: www.kisorganics.comCannabis Cultivation & Science Conference: September 5–7, 2025, Bozeman, Montana — featuring Suzanne Wainwright-Evans, Dr. Greenhouse, Jeremy Plumb, and more. Early bird tickets available now!Join our Patreon for bonus content: Patreon.com/KISOrganics Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of the Cannabis Cultivation and Science Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Michael Gutensohn, an expert in plant physiology and secondary metabolism, to explore the intricate relationship between environmental stress and the production of secondary metabolites in cannabis. We discuss how various abiotic stressors—such as light intensity, temperature fluctuations, and nutrient availability—can influence the biosynthesis of key phytochemicals, including cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. Dr. Gutensohn shares insights from his research on plant defense mechanisms, metabolic signaling pathways, and how growers might harness controlled stress to enhance both plant resilience and phytochemical output. Whether you’re a cultivator aiming to fine-tune your grow environment or a scientist delving into cannabis metabolomics, this episode offers valuable, research-backed perspectives on optimizing secondary metabolite production through stress modulation. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to the Cannabis Cultivation and Science podcast, I'm your host Tad Hussey of KIS Organics. This is the podcast where we discuss the cutting edge of growing from a science based perspective and draw on top experts from around the industry to share their wisdom and knowledge. My guest this week is Bryant Mason. I’ve had Bryant on the podcast a few times in the past and he’s one of my favorite guests.Bryant is a Certified Crop Advisor who specializes in organic cannabis nutrition. He has spent the last 8 years working to combine precision laboratory techniques with data science in an effort to unravel the complexities of cannabis soil and crop nutrition. Along with his work on soilless media, he also helps outdoor cultivators around the U.S. with nutrient management and cover cropping. If you would like to do soil testing, help interpreting a soil test, or are interested in an online course on these subjects, his website is www.soildoctorconsulting.com. If you want to save $100 on his course, you can use the discount code KISORGANICS, all one word. I’ve taken his course and was recently going back to review some of the content. It’s excellent and I highly recommend it for anyone wanting to do a deep dive on cannabis fertility and re-using your soil.After recording the podcast with Bryant, he had a couple of points he wanted to clarify so there is a short addendum that I added in at the very beginning of the podcast.Now on to the show! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Before starting the podcast, I wanted to share about an exciting new conference that we are hosting in conjunction with Collective Elevation in Bozeman, Montana. I’ve been talking to Suzanne Wainwright Evans about hosting a conference for years, and Adam at Collective graciously offered to open up his doors and let us host it on his property. The event is happening on September 5-7th, 2025 and I’m super excited. We are kicking it off with workshops from The Bug Lady Suzanne and Dr. Greenhouse, followed by a facility tour and then a bunch of excellent speakers and networking events over the next 2 days. Then on the 7th, the Montana Living Soil Alliance is hosting a tasting event that will be included in the price of the conference ticket. The tasting event will be a private event, with cannabis donated by the Living Soil Alliance, as a way to have an amazing sensory experience and see what premium quality Montana Living Soil has to offer. Tickets are limited to 200 spots, so be sure to grab a ticket if you’re interested. Tickets are now on sale at kisorganics.com and the conference is called the Cannabis Cultivation and Science Conference.In honor of the conference, I wanted to do an interview series with some of the amazing folks at Collective Elevation to give a growers perspective and share some of what they’ve been able to accomplish. I’ve already had Adam Arnold on the podcast and you can also view a tour of their facility on the kisorganics youtube page.My guest this week is Jared Ferguson, the Greenhouse Manager at Collective Elevation. He’s been working at Collective for over 4 years now, but prior to that he studied Environmental horticulture at Montama State University in bozeman. During which he worked for the universities greenhouse facility and research farm, where hje got his first experiences in mixing soil, amending plants, managing irrigation, and conducting IPM processes. Now on to the show! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Saul began his agriculture work in vineyard and winery operations on the Central California coast.  After deciding to focus his career on crop protection he moved north where he managed IPM programs at Monterey Mushroom Company and Jacobs Farm/Del Cabo.  This work led to a position as IPM Manager at Harborside Farms where he directed their bio-intensive greenhouse cannabis IPM program.  Saul now works as a Technical Sales Representative for BioBee USA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dr. Nadia Sabeh is the President and Founder of Dr. Greenhouse, Inc., an agricultural and mechanical engineering firm that specializes in the design of HVAC systems for indoor plant environments. Dr. Sabeh has her PhD in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Arizona’s Controlled Environment Agriculture Center (CEAC) and is a licensed Mechanical Engineer in the State of California. For over 20 years, she has dedicated her education and career to helping farmers control their environments, allowing them to grow crops indoors, in greenhouses and in facilities that would otherwise be impossible or impractical to do so. Nadia has a free VPD app for both iPhone and Android as well as an amazing podcast called "The Doctor is in" that's available on all streaming platforms. https://www.doctorgreenhouse.com/podcast/tag/podcast Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

My guest this week is my good friend, Suzanne Wainwright-Evans also known by many as The Bug Lady. She is an Ornamental Entomologist specializing in integrated pest management.  Suzanne has been involved in the Green Industry for more than 25 years with a primary focus on biological control and using pesticides properly.  She is a graduate of the University of Florida with degrees in both Entomology and Environmental Horticulture. Suzanne has been on the podcast multiple times and I highly suggest folks go back and listen to some of her other podcasts if you haven’t already. Her website is bugladyconsulting.com where you can find links to other webinars, podcasts and information as well as how to contact her for direct consulting. Now on to the show! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

My guest this week is my good friend, Suzanne Wainwright-Evans also known by many as The Bug Lady. She is an Ornamental Entomologist specializing in integrated pest management.  Suzanne has been involved in the Green Industry for more than 25 years with a primary focus on biological control and using pesticides properly.  She is a graduate of the University of Florida with degrees in both Entomology and Environmental Horticulture. Suzanne has been on the podcast multiple times and I highly suggest folks go back and listen to some of her other podcasts if you haven’t already. Her website is bugladyconsulting.com where you can find links to other webinars, podcasts and information as well as how to contact her for direct consulting. Now on to the show! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This was a fun podcast for me because I think there's a lot of misinformation around this topic and it was great to hear from an expert! Sphagnum Peat Moss is the gold standard for the horticulture industry. In N. America we use the majority of our peat for growing plants. Are there better options? What's the current research tell us about the sustainability of peat moss? In this episode we talk about why peat moss is such a popular choice for media as well as the pros and cons of the current substrates on the market.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

My guest this week is Christine DeJesus. Christine operates at the intersection of regenerative organic agriculture and social justice. For five years she’s been perfecting a highly efficient organic cultivation model while managing operations for Galenas Cannabis in Akron, Ohio. Prior she worked in food justice, ran a farm for Great Lakes Brewing Company, functioned as campaign coordinator for Marijuana Policy Project, and co-founded the Midwest CannaWomen. She was featured in the documentary “Polycultures: Food Where We Live,” with Michael Pollan, and at the “My Global Kitchen” exhibit at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Christine is a creative writer, a columnist for Cannabis Business Times magazine, and holds degrees from both Kent State and the University of Pittsburgh. In her current role, she focuses on keeping plants, processes, and people healthy and productive while delivering top-tier quality cannabis flower to Ohio consumers. Christine also works with home-growers to bring commercial-level success to their backyard gardens. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Christine Goedhart is an experienced educator and educational developer with a specialization in teaching undergraduate biology courses. Currently serving as a Science Education Specialist at the University of British Columbia, she supports faculty in making their courses more equitable and student-centered, and she recently developed and taught an undergraduate Biology of Cannabis course. Previously, Christine spent eight years as a full-time faculty member at Citrus College, where she taught a variety of biology courses for non-major students. With a strong commitment to student-centered and inclusive education, Christine has effectively implemented innovative pedagogical and assessment strategies to enhance student engagement and learning in biology courses, and she shares information, tips, and evidence-based best practices for teaching in her Tips for Teaching blog article series. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

My guest this week is Matthew DeBacco. Matthew received his Bachelors degree in Pathology with a secondary degree in horticulture, then going on to receive a master’s degree in agronomy 2011 and a masters in education in 2014, both from the university of Connecticut. Then in 2020 he received his PhD from Ashford University. Matthew started the first cannabis course at a public university at the University of Connecticut. I first found out about Matthew from his research on powdery mildew with cucurbits using raw milk, as it was circulating around the giant pumpkin community. Matthew also enjoys growing giant pumpkins and has held the state record twice with the largest weighing 1,885.5 lbs. In this episode we talk about the similarities between the giant pumpkin community and the cannabis community and how we might be able to utilize some of the advancements across the cultivation of these very different plants. Now on to the show! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.