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.
Listen to the full episode below:



