In The Mix - Front Row Ag

Adding under-canopy lighting changes more than light distribution. It can also change how much pruning and defoliation your crop actually needs.

In this episode, we look at how under-canopy lighting can influence canopy management and why traditional pruning strategies may need to be reconsidered when more light is reaching deeper into the plant. Instead of automatically removing lower growth, cultivators can evaluate whether those flower sites are now receiving enough light to remain productive.

We also discuss how much pruning and defoliation may be reduced, why there isn't a universal percentage that applies to every facility, and how existing canopy density, plant spacing, and cultivation strategy influence the potential labor savings.

00:00 Under-Canopy Lighting & Defoliation
00:31 Rethinking Lower Canopy Pruning
01:02 How Much Can You Reduce Defoliation?
01:38 Potential Labor Savings
02:08 Finding the Right Canopy Density
02:34 Balancing Productive Growth & Canopy Space

Under-canopy lighting creates an opportunity to rethink how much plant material actually needs to be removed and potentially turn previously unproductive canopy space into valuable production.

Under-canopy lighting can increase productive canopy depth, improve lower flower development, and potentially reduce pruning and defoliation labor, but getting the strategy right requires more than simply adding fixtures below the canopy.

In this episode, we break down how under-canopy lighting changes the way growers should think about light distribution, canopy management, and overall lighting intensity. We look at how different under-canopy fixture designs distribute light, how to measure PPFD within the canopy, and why total light intensity matters when combining overhead and under-canopy systems.

We also cover the relationship between under-canopy lighting and labor. With more usable light reaching lower flower sites, cultivators may be able to reduce pruning and defoliation while maintaining a productive canopy deeper into the plant.

Chapters

00:00 Under-Canopy Lighting Explained
00:37 Types of Under-Canopy Lights
01:15 How Fixture Design Affects Light Distribution
02:01 Measuring PPFD Inside the Canopy
02:51 Balancing Overhead and Under-Canopy Light
03:40 How Much Under-Canopy Light Do You Need?
04:28 Rethinking Canopy Management
05:11 Reducing Pruning and Defoliation
05:55 Potential Labor Savings

The goal isn't simply to add more light. It's to distribute light more effectively throughout the canopy and build a cultivation strategy around the additional productive space that creates.

Runoff is one of the most useful diagnostic tools growers have for understanding what’s happening in the root zone, but only if it’s collected and interpreted correctly.

In this episode, we break down how to properly collect runoff, what data to record, and how to use runoff volume, EC, and pH to evaluate your irrigation and fertigation strategy. We cover why full-day runoff provides better information than a single sample, how to calculate runoff percentage, and why comparing your drain readings against your drip is critical.

We also dig into what changing runoff EC and pH can tell you about nutrient demand, salt accumulation, irrigation volume, and root-zone conditions. Rather than reacting to a single measurement, the goal is to track trends over time and use that data to make more informed crop steering decisions.

Chapters:

00:00 How Runoff Collection Works01:00 When to Collect Runoff01:30 What Runoff Data to Record02:03 How to Calculate Runoff Percentage02:41 What Is a Good Runoff Percentage?03:26 Comparing Drip and Drain Data04:38 Where Does Irrigation Water Go?05:58 Understanding Runoff EC07:25 Understanding Runoff pH Trends07:55 What Rising or Falling Runoff pH Tells You

Runoff isn't just waste leaving the substrate. It's data that can help you understand how your plants are responding to your fertigation strategy.

How much time is your facility losing between harvest and reload?

Room downtime is unavoidable—but unnecessary downtime can cost you production. At commercial scale, an extra few days between harvest and reload can add up to millions in lost revenue over time.

In this episode, we break down how commercial cultivation teams can reduce room-flip downtime by coordinating harvest, labor, cleaning, sanitation, and the veg schedule.

00:00 Room Downtime & Production Planning00:49 The Cost of Excessive Downtime02:02 The 24–48 Hour Reload Target02:45 Planning Around Maintenance03:14 Don't Let Downtime Throw Off Your Veg Cycle04:11 Managing Labor During Harvest05:44 The Dry Clean06:09 The Wet Clean & Sanitation06:42 The Surfaces You're Probably Missing07:37 Floors, Drains & Gutters08:32 Keep the Cleaning Process Simple

08:56 Fogging & HVAC Sanitation09:18 The Goal: Reload Within 48 Hours

The goal isn't zero downtime. The goal is reducing unnecessary downtime and protecting your production schedule.

Front Row Ag provides high-performance dry soluble nutrients and consultation services for commercial cultivation operations. Learn more https://bit.ly/3QZMjRI

Does nitrogen tapering actually improve flower quality, or does it depend on the cultivar?

In this video, Front Row Ag Technical Expert Tyler Simmons explains what recent research tells us about nitrogen tapering, plant metabolism, and why genetics play such an important role in determining the response. You'll also learn why flushing isn't the same as nitrogen tapering, why excess nitrogen reaches diminishing returns, and why timing matters if you choose to taper.

In this video

• Why nitrogen tapering works
• Why some cultivars respond while others don't
• Carbon vs. nitrogen metabolism
• Why more nitrogen doesn't always mean more flower
• Nitrogen tapering vs. flushing
• When to begin tapering nitrogen

Research Referenced:

Dilena, E., Hunt, I., & Close, D. C. (2025). Optimal nitrogen rates and clonal effects on cannabinoid yields of medicinal cannabis. Scientific Reports.

Chapters

00:00 Do you need to taper nitrogen?01:05 Carbon vs. nitrogen inside the plant02:20 Can more light compensate?02:40 When more nitrogen stops helping03:12 Flushing vs. nitrogen tapering04:40 Why timing matters05:15 The practical takeaway

Why is Front Row built as a 3-part fertilizer system?

It comes down to basic fertilizer chemistry.

In this clip, Bryan explains why calcium and phosphorus concentrates should always remain separate, why clogging is one of the most common issues new customers experience, and the difference between chemical and biological clogs.

He also explains how feed solution pH and EC affect the likelihood of calcium and phosphorus bonding together, increasing the risk of precipitation and clogged irrigation components.

Chapters

00:00 Why Front Row is a 3-Part System

00:21 The Most Common Issue: Clogging

00:29 Chemical vs. Biological Clogs

00:47 Preventing Biological Clogs

00:55 How pH and EC Affect Precipitation

01:15 Why Calcium and Phosphorus Must Stay Separate

Labor overhead, irrigation strategy, and equipment maintenance are critical variables that dictate commercial cannabis profitability. In this episode, experienced commercial cultivator Drew Greco breaks down the operational strategies that make large-scale facilities successful. Drew explains why implementing a strict preventative maintenance schedule is just as critical as managing a harvest calendar, and how correcting irrigation volume and reducing plant touches can drastically lower costs and improve plant health. The conversation also explores the transition to Front Row Ag detailing how a robust micronutrient profile drives distinct flower morphology and maximizes terpene production compared to competitor lines. In this episode:

• Building preventative maintenance schedules for facility equipment.
• Reducing labor costs by limiting plant touches and avoiding unnecessary topping.
• Correcting common commercial irrigation mistakes like overwatering.
• How the micronutrients in Front Row Ag fertilizer influence cannabis flower expression and flavor.
• Utilizing water analysis to identify root zone pathogens like Fusarium.
• Watch the full episode to improve your facility's operational efficiency.

Apply for a Commercial Account to access Front Row Ag's products, technical support, and commercial services: https://bit.ly/44m7lR6Chapters:00:00 – Introduction and Commercial Cultivation Background 06:45 – Facility Design and HVAC Transpiration Challenges 08:40 – Managing Pad and Fan Greenhouses in the Desert 16:35 – Implementing Preventative Maintenance Strategies 19:37 – Correcting Commercial Irrigation and Overwatering 21:11 – Reducing Plant Touches and Workflow Efficiencies 23:55 – Vegas Market Dynamics and Cultivation Profitability 27:26 – Switching to Front Row Ag30:26 – Water Analysis and Cultivation Support

Why do CO₂ levels rise after the lights turn off in a sealed grow room?Many commercial cultivators notice CO₂ climbing overnight, even when CO₂ injection is disabled. In this episode, Tyler Simmons explains why this happens, what plant respiration has to do with it, and why elevated nighttime CO₂ is usually normal in sealed environments.You'll also learn when high CO₂ readings may indicate a problem, what current research says about nighttime CO₂ in other crops, and how growers can use accumulated overnight CO₂ to delay morning CO₂ injection and improve efficiency.In this episode:- Why CO₂ increases during the dark cycle- Plant respiration vs. photosynthesis- Why sealed rooms accumulate CO₂ overnight- When elevated CO₂ should be investigated- What current research suggests- Using overnight CO₂ to reduce morning injectionSubscribe for more commercial cultivation education from Front Row Ag.Chapters00:00 The Overnight CO2 Anomaly00:20 Understanding Nighttime Plant Respiration00:42 Media and Substrate Contributions to Room Gas01:02 Auditing for Solenoid Leaks and Structural Gases01:28 Indoor Cultivation vs. Natural Dissipation01:50 What Academic Data Says About Nighttime Carbon Dioxide02:56 Practical Commercial Observations on Crop Potency and Growth03:24 The Morning Injection Delay Strategy03:48 Identifying Unexplained Biomass Decomposition

Most fertilizer companies stop at product delivery. At Front Row Ag, that's where the work begins.

In this episode, we discuss how commercial customer onboarding helps identify operational challenges before they become expensive problems. From water chemistry and sanitation to irrigation infrastructure and facility workflows, our team works to establish a clean baseline before implementing a nutrient program.

You'll learn why water testing is one of the first steps in every onboarding process, how hidden sanitation issues can impact facility performance, and why successful nutrient programs must be customized to each operation.

We also discuss preventative maintenance, common mistakes that lead to recurring production issues, and how ongoing education and technical support help commercial facilities achieve more consistent results over time.

Learn more about Front Row Ag commercial support services: https://frontrowag.com

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Commercial Onboarding

00:40 Building Relationships and Understanding Facilities

01:50 Transitioning from Liquid Nutrients to Salts

02:20 Why Water Testing Comes First

03:25 Water Sanitation, Bacteria, and Hidden Problems

04:20 Why Every Facility Requires a Custom Approach

05:55 Examples from Small and Large Commercial Operations

07:25 Common Water Chemistry Issues Across Facilities

08:10 The "Aha Moment" for Many Operators

09:00 Clean Facilities vs. Facilities Needing Remediation

10:20 Cleaning Tanks, Lines, and Establishing a Baseline

11:25 Why Buying Fertilizer Is Only the Beginning

12:30 Preventative Maintenance and Operational Success

13:50 Training, Education, and Long-Term Support

15:05 Avoiding Mistakes vs. Chasing Big Wins

16:25 The Value of Proactive Facility Management

In this episode, Matthew breaks down an upstream supply chain issue that many growers may not realize is affecting fertilizer manufacturing worldwide: sulfuric acid availability.

Sulfuric acid plays a critical role in producing many of the raw materials used throughout the fertilizer industry, including phosphoric acid, potassium sulfate, mono potassium phosphate, and other key ingredients. As global supply chains tighten and sourcing priorities shift, manufacturers may be forced to source materials from different suppliers, resulting in changes to consistency, particle size, impurities, and solubility.

Topics covered:

• Why sulfuric acid is one of the most important industrial chemicals in fertilizer production
• How global supply chain disruptions can affect fertilizer manufacturing
• Why some growers are seeing more residue and precipitation in stock tanks
• Which fertilizer ingredients are most vulnerable to upstream sourcing changes
• What growers should watch for when evaluating fertilizer quality
• How quality assurance and analytical testing help maintain consistency

Chapters

00:00 Why Are Fertilizers Suddenly Mixing Differently?

00:29 The Hidden Role of Sulfuric Acid

01:29 A Global Supply Chain Problem

03:11 What Happens When Manufacturers Run Out?

04:39 The First Warning Signs

05:28 Products Most Likely to Be Affected

06:04 What Sulfur Percentage Can Tell You

07:13 The Real Cause of Stock Tank Residue

08:21 What's Actually Inside Fertilizer Raw Materials?

09:12 Why Some Fertilizers Now Take Hours to Dissolve

10:15 What Growers Should Do Next

10:36 Why Front Row Is Different

If you've noticed unexpected changes in mixing performance, stock concentrate appearance, or residue buildup, this episode explains what may be happening behind the scenes.

Learn more at FrontRowAg.com