The Grodan GroShow

Hosted by Grodan101

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Latest episode

Aug 2026

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About the show

Step into the world of indoor cannabis cultivation with the Grodan GroShow Podcast, your reliable source of rootzone management. Join host Riley Jones as he explores cutting-edge stone wool growing techniques and industry insights with experts and growing legends from across the globe. Whether you're a seasoned grower or just starting out, the GroShow is your go-to podcast for growing quality cannabis at any scale, batch after batch.

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32 recent

August 26, 2026Episode 3256 min

Crafted for the Culture: Cannabis Genetics, Crop Steering & Export Markets with Sublime Culture | Ep 32

Send us Fan Mail Producing premium cannabis starts with genetics, but what happens once a cultivar enters the facility is just as important. In Episode 32 of the GroShow Podcast, Brandan Leroux, Head Grower at Sublime Culture , joins Grodan Crop Specialist Chad Rigby to talk about what it takes to turn genetic potential into consistent commercial production and eventually meet the expectations of international markets. Brandan also shares his path into commercial cultivation, from his background in plant science to the mentors and experiences that helped shape how he approaches growing, managing teams and running a commercial operation today. Based in Laval, Québec, Sublime Culture approaches cultivar selection by looking beyond any single metric. Flavour, aroma and overall flower quality have to be considered alongside plant structure, yield and consistency. From there, the discussion gets into the root-zone. Brandan and Chad break down how crop steering, irrigation strategy, root-zone EC and dry-back can be adjusted across different cultivars, and how Grodan stone wool and GroSens data help support those decisions throughout the crop cycle. The conversation also looks beyond the facility. Sublime Culture is already active in the cannabis export market, giving Brandan firsthand insight into what international buyers value and how expectations around genetics, consistency, flower quality and post-harvest handling can differ from the Canadian market. What ties it all together is the idea that premium quality is rarely the result of one decision. It comes from aligning genetics, cultivation strategy and execution from the root-zone through to the finished flower. For cultivators interested in cannabis genetics, crop steering, root-zone management and international cannabis markets, this episode offers a practical look at how Sublime Culture is approaching each of those areas.

June 12, 2026Episode 311 hr 2 min

The Recipe Behind the Flower: Facility Design, Crop Steering & Post-Harvest with Culture Farms | Ep 31

Send us Fan Mail Cultivation experience is valuable. Turning more than three decades of knowledge into repeatable systems that can support hundreds of lights, multiple rooms, and an entire team is something else entirely. That idea sits at the center of this episode of the GroShow Podcast, as the conversation explores how Culture Farms combines years of hands-on experience with a structured, modern approach to producing premium cannabis at scale. In this episode, Riley is joined by Kenny Woodward, COO and Director of Cultivation at Culture Farms, alongside Grodan Retail and Commercial Account Manager Andrew Wilmerding, for a conversation about facility design, crop steering, substrate selection, automation, post-harvest management, and the systems behind Culture Farms’ cultivation approach. Kenny shares how his cultivation journey began in Texas before eventually bringing him to Oregon, where he became part of the state’s early medical cannabis community. After years of working across different facilities and production models, he joined Culture Farms and helped develop the operation into a roughly 750-light facility with three nurseries and nine flowering rooms. The discussion covers centralized nutrient mixing, workflow automation, room resets, plant spacing, canopy density, drybacks, root zone monitoring, substrate sizing, and irrigation strategy. Kenny also explains how Culture Farms evaluates growing media configurations based on vegetative time, plant size, room layout, and cultivar requirements. Repeatability is a major focus throughout the episode. Drawing from his experience working in fine dining, Kenny explains how preparation, timing, teamwork, and attention to detail can reduce mistakes and keep production moving consistently. Shared cultivation calendars, dedicated fill stations, and standardized workflows help the team stay organized and understand what needs to happen each day. Kenny and Andrew also discuss Culture Farms’ transition to Grodan Improved stone wool and how accurate root zone data has helped Kenny evaluate irrigation timing and dryback strategies with greater confidence. Rather than treating technology as a replacement for grower experience, he uses data alongside plant observation and decades of practical knowledge to refine his approach. The conversation also explores harvest scheduling, sanitation, drying and curing, bag appeal, cultivar selection, and Kenny’s comparison between cannabis cultivation and fine dining, where quality ingredients are only the starting point and the final result depends on execution. For cultivators interested in facility design, crop steering, root zone management, workflow automation, and post-harvest strategy, this episode offers a practical look inside Culture Farms’ approach to premium cannabis production.

May 22, 2026Episode 3046 min

Consistency at Scale: Inside Pro Gro’s Precision Cultivation Strategy | Ep 30

Send us Fan Mail Consistency is one thing. Maintaining it across thousands of plants, multiple facilities, and dozens of cultivars is something else entirely. That idea sits at the center of this episode of the GroShow Podcast, as the conversation explores how Pro Gro approaches precision cultivation, irrigation strategy, crop steering, and scaling commercial cannabis production without losing consistency or quality. In this episode, Riley is joined by Jacob Nelson, Vice President of Cultivation at Pro Gro, alongside Director of Cultivation Nick Winninger and Building Operations Manager Lexi Carlson, for a conversation on the systems, strategies, and philosophies driving one of Michigan’s leading cannabis cultivation operations. Drawing from their backgrounds in caregiver cultivation, horticulture, facility operations, and large-scale cannabis production, the team shares how Pro Gro evolved from its traditional market roots into a nearly 3,000-light cultivation operation focused on consistency, standardization, and continuous improvement. The discussion covers a wide range of practical cannabis cultivation topics, including substrate consistency, root zone monitoring, irrigation strategy, drybacks, environmental control, lighting, automation, and how the team balances technology with a hands-on cultivation approach. Rather than relying entirely on sensors or automation, the episode focuses on how growers can combine data, observation, and experience to make better cultivation decisions at scale. A major theme throughout the conversation is consistency. From the advantages of stone wool and standardized irrigation strategies to runoff collection, dryback targets, and environmental monitoring, the Pro Gro team explains how reducing variability across rooms and facilities has become one of the biggest drivers behind their cannabis cultivation model. The episode also looks at how Pro Gro approaches genetic trials, under-canopy lighting, production timelines, and scaling SOPs across facilities while still maintaining the caregiver mentality and collaborative culture that helped shape the company early on. For cultivators interested in crop steering, irrigation management, environmental control, and improving consistency across large-scale cannabis cultivation, this episode offers a practical look inside a modern cultivation operation focused on precision, adaptability, and repeatable results.

May 8, 2026Episode 291 hr 2 min

Science-Backed Cannabis Cultivation: Turning Research Into Real-World Results | Ep 29

Send us Fan Mail Science helps growers ask better questions. Production shows which answers actually hold up at scale. That idea sits at the center of this episode of the GroShow Podcast, as the conversation explores how research, data, and precision crop steering are shaping the next stage of cannabis cultivation. In this episode, Riley is joined by Deron Caplan, Senior Consultant at Sostanza Global , alongside Grodan Crop Specialist Chad Rigby , to discuss what science-backed cultivation looks like once it moves from theory into production. Deron brings a unique perspective to the conversation as one of the first researchers in North America to complete graduate work focused specifically on indoor cannabis production. Drawing from his research background, consulting experience, and work with growers around the world, he shares how the industry can better connect scientific thinking with the day-to-day decisions that determine crop performance. The discussion covers a wide range of practical topics, including substrate consistency, root zone monitoring, irrigation strategy, environmental control, lighting, data collection, and how to separate R&D from day-to-day production decisions. Rather than chasing trends, the episode focuses on how growers can use research principles to make better decisions, reduce variability, and build more repeatable cultivation systems. A major theme throughout the conversation is consistency. From the benefits of a inert growing media and ideal sensor placement to drybacks, EC, pH, and canopy management, Deron and Chad explain why dependable systems matter when growers are trying to steer crops at scale. The episode also looks ahead at where cultivation innovation is moving, including under-canopy lighting, lower planting densities, cultivar-specific pruning strategies, automation, and the growing importance of measuring the right data instead of simply collecting more of it. For cultivators interested in cannabis research, crop steering, and improving consistency across rooms and cycles, this episode offers a practical look at how research can support better decision-making without losing sight of what growers actually need in production. Contact Deron at Sostanza here: https://www.sostanzaglobal.com/contact

February 18, 2026Episode 2859 min

From Lab to Grow Room: Tissue Culture & the Future of Cannabis Genetics with Max Jones | Ep 28

Send us Fan Mail Max Jones of the University of Guelph joins Grodan Crop Specialist Chad Rigby and host Riley Jones for a focused conversation on how cannabis research translates into commercial cultivation. Drawing from his work in tissue culture, clean plant systems, and advanced breeding, Max explains how genetic preservation, disease management, and plant rejuvenation move from lab theory into real-world production. The discussion connects research concepts like tissue culture, polyploid breeding, and F1 hybrids to practical cultivation realities, including managing hop latent viroid, maintaining mother stock health, and improving uniformity across rooms and cycles. Chad ties these ideas back to execution, highlighting how system design and environmental control ultimately determine whether scientific innovation delivers consistent results. Rather than positioning research as something separate from day-to-day production, this episode reframes it as infrastructure. When lab insight aligns with how a facility actually operates, growers gain stronger genetic stability, clearer decision-making, and fewer surprises from run to run.

December 22, 2025Episode 271 hr 6 min

Making Sense of Cannabis Genetics: Translating Breeding & Precision Growing with Ryan Lee | Ep 27

Send us Fan Mail Ryan Lee of Chimera Genetics joins Grodan Crop Specialist Chad Rigby and host Riley Jones for a deep conversation on how cannabis genetics and cultivation strategy come together in controlled environments. Drawing from decades of breeding and research experience, Ryan breaks down how genetic potential is established, classified, and expressed, and where growers have the most influence once plants enter production. The discussion connects genetic selection to real-world cultivation decisions, including climate strategy, root zone management, and crop steering. Chad ties breeding concepts back to precision growing, highlighting how irrigation, substrate choice, and environmental control shape consistency across rooms and runs. Rather than treating genetics and cultivation as separate disciplines, this episode frames them as one integrated system. For growers focused on repeatability, efficiency, and long-term performance, it offers a clearer way to align genetics with how their facilities actually operate.

December 1, 2025Episode 2637 min

Impressively High Yields: Inside Grodan’s Latest Precision Irrigation Research | Ep 26

Send us Fan Mail In this special episode, we unpack one of Grodan’s most significant cannabis research milestones to date. Crop Specialist Chad Rigby returns to break down the findings behind our new whitepaper, Impressively high yields are reality for cannabis growers, highlighting how precision irrigation, EC management, and autoflower F1 hybrid seeds contributed to annual dry flower yields averaging 9.7 kg/m² — with multiple treatment groups surpassing 10 kg/m² . Together, Chad and host Riley Jones walk through the trial design, why lower EC outperformed higher EC, how staged shot sizes shaped generative steering, and what the GroSens Suite revealed about real-time plant behavior. They also explore how this research supports more consistent, repeatable outcomes for commercial growers and what it signals for the future of professional cannabis cultivation. Want to dig deeper? Download the full whitepaper for trial data, methodology, and key insights at Grodan101.com.

July 25, 2025Episode 251 hr 7 min

Clean Canopy, Clean Crop: Building Better Foliar and IPM Programs with BioSafe Systems | Ep 25

Send us Fan Mail In Part 2 of our “Start Clean, Stay Clean” series, we shift the focus from the root zone to the canopy — and why what happens above ground often reflects the strength of your entire cultivation system. Zac Ricciardi (BioSafe Systems) returns alongside Grodan Crop Specialist Jon Jirikovec to share real-world strategies for dialing in foliar programs, strengthening IPM, and managing environmental conditions to support healthier, more consistent plants. From spray timing and product compatibility to SOPs and the root-to-canopy connection, this episode is packed with insights you can put to work. 🎙️ If you haven’t yet, check out Part 1 (Episode 24) for strategies on root zone management, water treatment, and microbial balance.

July 18, 2025Episode 2459 min

Start Clean, Stay Clean: Root Zone Management, Microbial Balance & Input Timing with BioSafe Systems | Ep 24

Send us Fan Mail It’s a mindset that guides this deep dive into the root zone on Episode 24 of the GroShow Podcast , as Zac Ricciardi (BioSafe Systems) and Jon Jirikovec (Grodan) join host Riley Jones to explore the underlying root zone conditions that can affect crop uniformity — and how dialing them in unlocks better data, healthier crops, and precision growing at scale. From algae control and water testing to microbial timing and fertigation compatibility, this episode offers practical insight into what it really means to “start clean, stay clean” — and how Grodan stone wool enables growers to turn that clean foundation into more consistent crops, better irrigation control, and precision cultivation at scale. Curious how to put these practices into action? BioSafe also offers a quick-reference guide on algae prevention and root zone protocols in stone wool — a helpful companion to what you’ll hear in the episode. The conversation also explores how BioSafe inputs like Zerotol can be integrated without disrupting beneficial microbes or nutrient delivery. With real-world examples, clear timing strategies, and advice on what to track before and after system cleanup, it’s a must-listen for any grower looking to level up their root zone game.

July 2, 2025Episode 2346 min

Dialing In the Root Zone: Real-Time Irrigation Strategy with the GroSens Suite | Ep 23

Send us Fan Mail In Episode 23 of the GroShow Podcast, host Riley Jones is joined by Kaz Makarewicz (Product Owner, e-Gro) and Chad Rigby (Crop Specialist) to explore how growers are using Grodan’s all-in-one root zone monitoring system — the GroSens Suite — to improve irrigation strategy and crop steering. From setting up sensors and configuring rooms in e-Gro to interpreting drybacks, EC trends, and real-time alerts, this episode walks through the full system and how it helps growers stay consistent across zones, reduce risk, and dial in better decisions every day. Whether you’re just getting started or refining your process, this conversation is packed with practical insights on using real-time data to grow with more control.