AROYA Office Hours LIVE

This week, host Cian Sullivan teams up with resident cultivation expert Jason Van Leuven to bring you an information-packed session focused on advancing your cultivation game. In this episode, the duo takes listeners through the latest updates to the AROYA mobile app, highlighting how its new features are streamlining daily operations for cultivators everywhere.Plus, Cian and Jason tackle community questions, including an in-depth discussion on thermal imaging, cultivation transitions, and the evolving science of plant monitoring. They discuss hot topics, such as using Far Red under-canopy lighting to accelerate plant senescence and the buzz around experimenting with a 13-hour flowering light cycle to potentially boost yields without extending total flowering times.Alongside their signature practical advice, they explore both familiar and more experimental strategies cultivators are using to unlock better results, from everything in the light spectrum to emerging conversations about brix levels.

In episode 144, host Cian sits down with Jason Van Leuven and Cory Desloge, Director of Cultivation at Harbor House Collective, Massachusetts, for a look into modern cultivation. The conversation is packed with actionable insights on tech adoption, nutrient strategies, and the shifting landscape of the Massachusetts cannabis market.Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:Cory Desloge’s background in commercial growing and how Harbor House Collective stands out in the industry.The crucial role of automation and sensor data in scaling operations, improving consistency, and allowing more time for focused plant care.A hands-on discussion about substrate EC management, custom nutrient blends, and experimenting with nutritional steering to optimize yield and quality.Market realities in Massachusetts, including recent price drops, economic challenges, and shifting consumer preferences for quality and potency.The value of genetic diversity, ongoing consumer education, and how the future of cannabis may parallel the evolution of the wine and craft beer industries, with a nod to small-batch, specialty products and immersive consumer experiences.

In Episode 143, host Cian is joined by expert guests Jason Van Leuven, Director of Applied Technology at AROYA, and Jeff Hegyi, Director of Cultivation at Xotic Brandz in Detroit. This week, we’re peeling back the curtain on cultivation operations that span both single-tier and double-stack rooms—giving you real-world insights that could help you save money and boost your yields.Jeff shares his hands-on experience managing a mixed facility with a wide range of cultivars and multi-tiered setups, highlighting the nuts and bolts of sensor density, placement strategies, and practical data collection, no matter your budget.If you’ve ever wondered about the real-world impact of heat stratification in multi-tier rooms, how to steer multiple strains at scale, or how nuanced sensor data can elevate your crop steering, this episode’s for you. Plus, the team tackles listener questions on dialing in your environment, avoiding mold during heavy bulking phases, the realities of market compression, and why sharing knowledge—not gatekeeping—is the future of successful cannabis cultivation.00:00 Sensor Placement in Multi-Tier Setups03:20 Optimizing Costs with Sensor Investment09:35 Adaptive Sensor Deployment Strategies12:13 Optimizing Sensor Data for Cultivation14:50 Cultivar Monitoring and Adjustments19:39 Cultivation Issues with Gas Strains21:41 Managing Light and Nutrient Levels26:51 Optimizing Plant Growth Conditions28:22 Avoiding Mold in LED Grow Rooms32:06 Preventing Pathogen Spread in Plants37:01 Plants Outgrowing Trellis Nets Rapidly40:14 Sustaining Success in Cultivation43:03 Innovative Community Advancing Plant Science47:01 Market Saturation and Survival Strategy51:31 Market Trends and Challenges54:30 Conversation Highlights with Jeff Hegyi

In this week's episode, host Cian is joined by Jason Van Leuven, AROYA's Director of Applied Technology, for an in-depth look into the nuances of late flower cultivation—specifically, how to manage the crucial ripening stage and those last two weeks before harvest.Together, Cian and Jason break down what "ripening" really means for cultivators, how to spot the telltale signs that your flowers are reaching peak maturity, and why dialing back nitrogen and chloride—but maintaining calcium—is essential for finishing strong. They cover ripening strategies, trichome and pistil development, nutrient transitions, and common missteps related to senescence and flushing. The episode also features thoughtful Q&A, tackling listener questions about replacing calcium nitrate with calcium sulfate or formate, achieving optimal ash quality in your final product, and the real-world challenges of dialing in irrigation and nutrition across different media and facility scales.

Welcome back to AROYA Office Hours LIVE, episode 141! In this episode, hosts Jason and Cian dig into your most pressing grow questions with a return to the classic Q&A format. Get ready for a blend of detailed, long-form answers and quick, practical takes—all inspired by issues submitted by the AROYA community.Today’s episode covers a wide range of cultivation topics, including the science and practicality of using crop water stress index (CWSI) and thermal imaging for advanced plant monitoring, as well as strategies for optimizing your facility improvements on a limited budget. The conversation then moves to essential pest management approaches—like cooking or freezing a grow room—and wraps up with tactical advice on crop shot size strategies, sensor placements (even if you have just one), and more.Jason and Cian are here to offer their insights, war stories, and actionable advice. If you love getting into the nitty-gritty of precision agriculture and want to hear answers to real questions from real growers, you won’t want to miss this one. And as always, keep those questions coming for future episodes—ARAOYA Office Hours LIVE is all about helping you grow smarter, better, and more efficiently.