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Smart root zone monitoring in stone wool cultivation

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2 months ago

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In modern professional horticulture, medicinal crops such as cannabis and high-yielding vegetable production, root zone management is the cornerstone of consistent quality and yield. Rockwool substrates offer a very stable and correctable root environment, but this advantage is fully exploited when decisions are supported by reliable and well-interpreted data. Sensors in the root zone provide continuous information on water content, EC and temperature. Used correctly, they allow growers to anticipate plant needs rather than reacting to stress signals. Used incorrectly, they introduce noise, false confidence, and misdirection. The difference is in strategy, location and interpretation. Remember that sensors are just another tool and should not replace traditional monitoring methods.

Why Root Zone Monitoring Becomes Essential at Scale
Every grower evaluates the root zone, consciously or not. In smaller installations, this is often done visually and by touch: lifting blocks, assessing the color of rockwool, or observing the attitude of plants. These methods are valuable, but subjective and difficult to standardize.

As operations grow and the number of plants increases, manual assessment quickly reaches its limits. Weighing slabs or blocks on a scale adds objectivity, but at discrete moments and with significant manual labor. In larger facilities, the manpower required to continuously monitor root conditions throughout the crop is simply not available.

Root zone sensors address this reality. They provide continuous data streams that show trends, dynamics and responses to irrigation and climate change over time. In scaled cultivation, sensors are therefore not only a precision tool, but a practical necessity. Importantly, they do not replace experience; they formalize, making intuition measurable and repeatable.

© CULTIWOOL SA
Location, representation and care of sensors
A sensor does not measure the crop; measures the exact micro-environment in which it is installed. Correct positioning is therefore essential.

Sensors should be installed in the active root zone of a healthy, representative plant, at a depth where the roots remain active throughout the crop cycle. They should never be placed directly next to a drip, as this results in high moisture readings that do not reflect average root conditions. Therefore, consistent dripper placement is essential not only for block performance, but also for consistent sensor data.

The wider greenhouse context matters just as much. Sensors should not be placed in corners, edges, near walkways or in areas subject to shadows, drafts or uneven watering. Border plants and atypical sites experience conditions different from the majority of the crop and will yield data that are not representative of the compartment.

Once installed, the sensors must remain in place for the duration of the crop cycle. Repeated removal and reinsertion disturbs the structure of the rockwool, alters the local water distribution, and compromises the consistency of the data. If a sensor needs to be removed, it should never be put back in the same place. Previously used insertion points contain moisture and residual pockets that can affect EC readings. In such cases, the sensor must be installed in a new, unobstructed location.

Consistency in positioning is what allows producers to confidently recognize trends, responses and deviations.

How many sensors are enough?
A single sensor can never represent an entire greenhouse, and in most cases, not even an entire compartment. Changes in light distribution, uniformity of irrigation, air flow and plant development inevitably create them within the crop.

At the same time, the deployment of sensors must be economically rational. The goal is not maximum sensor density, but reliable representation. In practice, this means installing multiple sensors per compartment in areas with comparable growing conditions.

Instead of focusing on individual readings, the most robust approach is to work with average data. Each sensor reflects the conditions of its specific location; by combining their readings, growers create a stable reference that reduces the risk of overreaction to local changes and supports safer and more consistent decision-making. Again, a sensor is just one tool to consider.

Interpreting root zone data in rockwool
Rockwool allows precise control of the air-water ratio in the root zone. Sensors should therefore be used to observe dynamics rather than isolated values.

Meaningful interpretation is based on the behavior of the back-dry between irrigation events, wetting rate, EC stability and how these parameters respond to climatic conditions. Sudden spikes or drops often indicate improper watering, uneven distribution, or location effects rather than actual plant demand.

Root zone data gain real value when cross-referenced with climate parameters such as temperature, humidity and VPD, as well as visual observations of crops. Integrated platforms and multiple data sources, such as those enabled by solutions like SenseNL, help validate trends and clarify cause-and-effect relationships.

Selecting the right sensor for the right substrate
Not all sensors in the root zone are interchangeable. Sensor technology must be matched with the physical properties of the substrate to generate accurate and meaningful data. They must also be properly maintained and stored to ensure accuracy.

Different substrates, such as rockwool and cocopeat, have fundamentally different structures, water retention characteristics and EC dynamics. Sensors designed for cocopeat will not give reliable readings on rockwool, and vice versa.

Also in rockwool cultivation, the selection of sensors is important. Blocks and slabs differ in volume, water distribution and root development patterns. Sensors designed for stone wool blocks are therefore not always suitable for slabs, and vice versa. Matching the sensor to the substrate material and its form factor is critical to obtaining reliable root-site data.

Driving for uniformity and stability
In both medicinal and vegetable cultivation, success is defined by uniformity and repeatability. Correctly installed and correctly interpreted root zone sensors help to identify variability early, reduce differences between plants and support stable establishment or vegetation strategies.

Combined with high-quality stone wool substrates, the sensors become a powerful ally in precision farming, improving consistency without replacing the grower’s experience.

From data points to confident decisions
Root zone sensors aren’t about collecting more numbers; they are about creating clarity. When sensors are strategically placed, deployed in sufficient numbers, and handled consistently, they make rockwool farming a predictable and correctable system.

By averaging data from multiple representative locations, producers reduce risk, avoid overcorrection, and drive with confidence. In professional horticulture, where uniformity, stability and scale define success, reliable root zone data becomes the basis rather than an experiment, cycle after cycle.

For more information:
Cultiwool
(email protected)
www.cultiwool-substrate.com

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Third cannabis business approved by Jefferson Town Council

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20 hours ago

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May 15, 2026

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The Jefferson City Council unanimously approved “Green Leevs” as the city’s first cannabis micro-farm at its May 6 meeting. This is the third cannabis business approved by the municipality in order to bring income to the municipality. Retail dispensaries “Greenlight Apothecary” and “Gas and Grass” were previously approved.

Green Leevs are owned by Bill Comeford, Elliot McClendon and Josh Moskowitz. All three are from the local area, Comeford grew up in Jefferson. In New Jersey, a micro-enterprise is a facility with 2,500 square feet of growing space. A micro-farm relies on the craftsmanship of cannabis rather than mass production.

“We have more control, we have more hands, the smaller grow rooms make it easier to inspect each plant,” Comeford said. “If you’re careful, it makes for a better product at the end of the day.”

Green Leeves understands that there are mixed feelings about the Council’s approval of the cannabis industry and hopes that this will ease over time.

Read more at Press Jefferson










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Virginia Governor Signs Marijuana Resentencing Bill After Lawmakers Rejected Her Amendments

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20 hours ago

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May 15, 2026

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Virginia’s governor has signed legislation to grant sentence relief to people with past marijuana convictions, even as lawmakers have refused to accept proposed amendments to the legislation that would significantly narrow the scope of reform.

Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) gave final approval to the bills, Rozia Henson Jr.’s HB 26 (D) and Senate President Pro Tem Louise Lucas’ SB 62 (D), on Thursday.

Separately, lawmakers and advocates are waiting the governor’s action on separate legislation to legalize the sale of recreational marijuana after amendments to his proposal were similarly rejected by the House and Senate last month. The changes suggested in that legislation included delaying the start of sales by six months, increasing taxes and introducing new criminal penalties for cannabis users.

Retrial reform, on the other hand, creates a process by which people incarcerated or on community custody for certain crimes involving the possession, manufacture, sale or distribution of marijuana will consider changing their sentences to receive an automatic trial.

Spanberger sent proposed amendments to lawmakers last month They had to proactively submit requests for assistance to affected people instead of the courts proceeding automatically. The Senate and House of Representatives, however, rejected the proposal, effectively rejecting it and sending the original legislation to Spanberger’s desk.

Henson, the sponsor of the House version of the bill, said it was ready to accept the governor’s changes, even if he is concerned this would mean that some people with cannabis convictions would fall through the cracks because they “didn’t have a lawyer or didn’t know how to ask.”

The whole parliament did not agree with the change, however, and now HB 26 and SB 62 The laws that were originally approved have been implemented.

The relief will apply to people with convictions or convictions for conduct that occurred before July 1, 2021, when a state law that legalized personal possession and home cultivation of marijuana went into effect. State and local corrections officials should identify and notify eligible individuals of their rights to provide notice of relief and then work with courts to automatically schedule hearings.

Henson said last month that the resentencing legislation was “built for people who are still paying the price for something that Virginia has made legal.”

“If the commonwealth were to change the law, it still has the duty to review the consequences of the people punished according to the old one,” he said.

The governor’s office said in a press release when he proposed his amendments that they “clarify that there will be no tolerance for violent crimes in Virginia, from armed robbery to possession of firearms to distribute fentanyl, heroin and other dangerous drugs.”

But Henson said he shares the “governor’s commitment” to making sure violent offenders are not eligible for this relief; and that commitment is reflected in the bill itself, which excluded people convicted of violent acts under Virginia law.

Spanberger’s release last month made no mention of the actual major changes to the bill, which was the removal of automatic leniency provisions for people with cannabis convictions.

The governor’s amendment also proposed removing the deadline for court filings on the retrial.

In the previous session, members of parliament approved similar legislation, but the then government vetoed it. Glenn Young (R).

Separately, Spanberger signed several other reform bills last month, including measures protecting the parental rights of marijuana users and giving patients access to medical cannabis in hospitals.

Cannabis policy reform organizations, on the other hand, sent a letter earlier this month asking the governor to enact the adult-use marijuana sales bill.

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Cannabis operators report mixed results as rescheduling reshapes the financial outlook

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2 days ago

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May 14, 2026

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The rescheduling came mid-quarter and rewrote the tax math for each medical sales operator, but the underlying revenue picture remained uneven in early 2026, with acquisitions driven at one end of the scale and continued top-line compression at the other.

Vireo Growth: Back on $106 million deal
Vireo Growth Inc. reported Q1 GAAP revenue of $106.2 million, up 333.5% year-over-year, driven almost entirely by recent acquisitions rather than organic growth. The company completed the Schwazze acquisition in March, adding 45 dispensaries and two manufacturing facilities in Colorado and New Mexico. At the end of the quarter, it closed Eaze and Hawthorne Gardening, FLUENT Corp. announced an acquisition agreement and executed a California dispensary joint venture with Glass House Brands. Treating all acquisitions as closed on January 1, 2025 on a pro forma basis, revenue was $210.2 million and adjusted EBITDA was $42.2 million. The company ended the quarter with $137.8 million in cash.

John Mazarakis, CEO of Vireo, said: “Performance in the first quarter met our expectations and we are excited to welcome Schwazze, Eaze and Hawthorne to Vireo. We are focused on integration and optimization across the platform, while remaining opportunistic regarding growth opportunities associated with further acquisitions.”

Cresco Labs: $151 million, 280E relief and Texas license
Cresco Labs reported Q1 revenue of $151 million, down from $165.8 million in Q1 2025. Adjusted gross margin was 50.7% and adjusted EBITDA margin of $33 million was 21.7%. Cash at the end of the quarter was $67 million against a $310 million secured term loan. The company was conditionally granted a Texas Compassionate Use Program license after the quarter ended and opened two new dispensaries in Ohio.

Management said, “Moving the state’s legal medical cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III is the most impactful reform this industry has seen, and it validates the work we’ve been executing for years. We’ve built the operational foundation and balance sheet discipline to reap the immediate benefits of rescheduling, and position Cresco to take advantage of the broader path to normalization.”

Jushi Holdings: 4% growth, 460 basis point margin expansion
Jushi Holdings reported first-quarter revenue of $66.4 million, up 4% year-over-year, with gross profit margin up 460 basis points to 45%. Adjusted EBITDA was $11.4 million, up 17.2%. The margin improvement was driven by higher production volumes in Ohio, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania and the performance of grower processors. Jushi brand products accounted for 58% of retail revenue in vertical markets. The company refinanced $132.3 million in debt during the quarter, providing $160 million in new debt through 2029.

Jim Cacioppo, president and CEO, said: “The recent scheduling of state-licensed medical marijuana for Schedule III is an important milestone for the industry, eliminating 280E tax limitations for medical operations and supporting a more favorable long-term operating environment.” Medical sales accounted for about 60% of Jushi’s 2025 revenue, making this material relief.

iAnthus Capital: Revenue falls to $33.5 million
iAnthus Capital reported first-quarter revenue of $33.5 million, down $4.6 million from 2025’s first quarter. Gross margin was 47.5%, up 477 basis points from the 2025 quarter. The company did not provide a management comment in the press release.

Country farms: international export record, fourth consecutive quarter of net income
Village Farms International reported first quarter consolidated net sales of $50.2 million, up 27% year-over-year, with net income of $2.9 million and adjusted EBITDA of $9.9 million, up 118% year-over-year. International export sales increased 171% to a record $14.6 million, driven by demand for EU-GMP compliant products in Germany. Pure Sunfarms had the top Canadian market share in dried flowers for the 15th consecutive month. The company started planting the first half of its Delta 2 greenhouse expansion and expects its Phase II facility in the Netherlands to reach full capacity by the end of 2026, which would quadruple Dutch production.

Michael DeGiglio, President and CEO, said: “Our first quarter results reflect a strong start to the year and continued momentum in our largest markets, with adjusted EBITDA growth of 118% year-over-year, significantly outpacing revenue growth of 27%, driven by our international business and continued leadership in Canada.

Cronos Group: Record revenue, $822 million in cash
Cronos Group reported Q1 net income of $45.2 million, up 40% year-over-year and a record quarter, with net income of $15.7 million and adjusted EBITDA of $5.1 million. Israel led growth PEACE NATURALS grew 53% for ninth consecutive record quarter. In Canada, the Spinach brand took first place in vapes with a 9.8% share of the national market, and maintained its top spot in edibles at 20.8%. The company ended the quarter with $821.9 million in cash and authorized a new $50 million stock repurchase program. The deadline to close the acquisition of CanAdelaar, one of the ten licensed growers in the Dutch Controlled Cannabis Supply Chain Experiment, has been extended to September 9, 2026 to allow time for regulatory approvals.

Mike Gorenstein, chairman, president and CEO, said, “Cronos achieved net earnings and gross profit in the first quarter as we continue to execute against our unlimited product strategy and the additional supply from Cronos GrowCo’s expansion fuels the next phase of our growth.”

Org chart: Revenue down 9%, Sanity Group acquisition closes after quarter
Organigram Global reported fiscal second quarter net income of $59.8 million, down 9% year-over-year, with adjusted EBITDA of $0.9 million, down 82%. Lower vape and pre-infusion sales drove the decline, along with a $5.8 billion dent in the U.S. hemp business. The company achieved a record quarterly harvest of over 32,000kg at its Moncton facility, up 56% year-on-year, and launched 10 SKUs in Australia targeting over 4,000 pharmacies. At the end of the quarter, Organigram acquired Sanity Group, one of Germany’s leading cannabis companies, and updated its 2026 guidance to net revenue of more than $350 million.

James Yamanaka, CEO, said: “Q2 reflected our poor performance in vaporizers and temporary challenges in pre-infusion production, compounded by slower industry growth. We have acted quickly to address these issues, and the operational changes and product improvements we have implemented are already beginning to stabilize performance.”

Greg Guyatt, Chief Financial Officer, said: “The financial impact of the competitive and operational challenges encountered earlier in fiscal 2026 is believed to have materialized in the first half of the year, and we are now beginning to stabilize performance. We expect to resume a trajectory of margin expansion and improved profitability during the second half of the year, supported by positive revenue and international sales growth. The Sanity Group.”

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