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 Metabolites

Jasmonates in Growth, Trichomes, and Cannabinoids

Metabolic Responses to Water Deficit

Trichome Sampling & Quantification Methods

Trigonelline as a Biomarker for Drought Stress (Preprint)

Propagation & Clonal Fidelity in Cannabis Research

Additional 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.

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 lighting

LED vs. HPS and how to transition

Maximizing PPFD without added CO₂

Dimming schedules at sunrise/sunset

The impact of lenses on LED light penetration

What really matters when choosing a grow light

Emerging technologies shaping the future of cultivation

Whether 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/@MIGROLIGHT

https://www.instagram.com/migrolight/

https://www.facebook.com/MIGROLIGHT/

https://www.tiktok.com/@migrolight

Connor’s journey from greenhouse grower to propagation leader

Scaling propagation: key infrastructure and protocols

Hormonal treatments and substrate selection for optimal rooting

Managing cultivar libraries and mother plant health

IPM and environmental control strategies tailored for veg

Writing and refining SOPs for compliance and consistency

Track-and-trace integration in a regulated cannabis market

The role of living soil vs. hydroponics in Connor’s career

Collective Elevation: www.collectiveelevation.com

KIS Organics Products & Podcast: www.kisorganics.com

Cannabis 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