Episode 151: Light, Spectrum, and Plant Signals — A Practical Guide with Dr. David Hawley part 1
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.
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Episode 150: Plants Under Pressure: How Stress Shapes Secondary Metabolites (w/ Dr. José Leme)
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.
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Episode 148: 15,000 Clones a Year — Cannabis Propagation with Connor Ockfen
📝 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.
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Episode 147: The Chemistry of Survival: Plant Stress Responses with Dr. Michael Gutensohn
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
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Acerca de Cannabis Cultivation and Science Podcast
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 organic growing from a science based perspective and draw in top experts from around the industry to share their wisdom and knowledge. If you want to hear the latest in growing technology and methods, this is the place..
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