Potency Testing
Measurement of cannabinoid concentrations for regulatory compliance and product labeling.
Learn MoreNutrient Monitoring (Plant Health)
Analysis of nutrient levels to support cultivation and plant health monitoring.
What It Is
Proactive Plant Health
By the time a nutrient problem shows up visually, it has usually been affecting the plant for some time. Yellowing leaves, stunted growth, and tip burn are symptoms of conditions that were developing at the root level long before they showed above ground. At that point, the crop is already compromised.
Nutrient monitoring provides cultivators with analytical data on plant tissue and growing media before problems progress to that stage. It is not a compliance requirement. It is laboratory support for the cultivation process itself, designed to give licensed growers the same data-driven approach they already apply to compliance testing, extended to plant health. Early detection of nutrient imbalances can help reduce yield loss, improve crop consistency, and identify production issues before they affect harvest quality.
Nutrients Commonly Reported
- Nitrogen (N)
- Phosphorus (P)
- Potassium (K)
- Calcium (Ca)
- Magnesium (Mg)
- Sulfur (S)
- Iron (Fe)
- Manganese (Mn)
- Zinc (Zn)
- Copper (Cu)
- Boron (B)
- Molybdenum (Mo)
Testing Before the Symptoms Appear
Cannabis is a nutrient-intensive crop. It moves through vegetative and reproductive growth, each phase placing different demands on nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and a range of trace elements. A deficiency or toxicity in any of these alters how the plant develops, how it allocates energy, and what it produces at harvest.
Three sample types provide a complete picture. Plant tissue analysis measures nutrient concentrations inside the plant, which is distinct from what is available in the growing medium. A nutrient can be present at adequate levels in the media and still remain unavailable to the plant if pH, root health, or competing ions are interfering with uptake. Growing media analysis captures what is available in the root environment, giving context to tissue results and informing amendment decisions. Irrigation water analysis documents the mineral content and pH of the water source before anything is added, which determines how the feed solution behaves once nutrients are introduced.
Where Monitoring Fits in the Production Calendar
During Vegetative Growth
Tissue and media analysis early in production establishes a nutritional reference point for the batch. Identifying deficiencies or irregularities at this stage allows for corrections before the plant enters the more demanding flowering phase, when the window for intervention is narrower.
At Transition and Through Flower
The shift from vegetative to reproductive growth changes the plant’s nutritional requirements. Phosphorus and potassium demand increases; nitrogen requirements change. Testing at transition shows whether nutrient inputs are aligned with what the crop actually needs at that point. Monitoring through the flower allows for adjustments as requirements shift week by week.
Post-Harvest and Between Runs
Media analysis at the end of a run documents what the previous crop left behind in the growing medium and whether it remains within workable parameters for reuse. Water analysis at the start of a new run confirms source water quality before it carries through into the first feed.
When the Data Identifies an Issue
A tissue result showing elevated copper alongside low iron and manganese often points to a pH problem rather than a missing input. A media result showing high sodium in a reused growing medium points to salt accumulation that needs to be addressed before the next run. Neither conclusion is reachable through observation alone.
Nutrient monitoring data does not prescribe corrective action. It provides the analytical basis for making informed adjustments. What to add, remove, or change is a cultivation decision. The laboratory’s role is to produce accurate, traceable results so those decisions are grounded in what is actually present rather than what was planned.
What Each Report Includes
Each submission includes the following as part of the analytical report:
- Quantified nutrient concentrations for macro and micronutrients
- Individual values for each analyte tested
- Results interpreted against established agronomic reference ranges and cannabis-specific cultivation benchmarks where applicable
- Separate reporting for tissue, media, and water samples submitted together
- Traceable records for each sample and submission
What We Analyze
Submissions can include one or more sample types depending on what stage of production the grower is in and what information is needed.
- Plant Tissue: leaf and stem material collected at defined growth stages. Results reflect actual nutrient status inside the plant, independent of what is available in the growing medium.
- Growing Media: soil, coco coir, rockwool, and other materials. Measures available nutrient levels, pH, electrical conductivity, and parameters that affect how nutrients move to the root.
- Irrigation and Fertigation Water: source water and mixed feed solutions. Documents mineral content, pH, and conductivity before nutrients are introduced.
- Soil Amendments: compost, organic inputs, and other materials being considered for incorporation into the growing environment.
Turnaround Expectations
Turnaround expectations vary depending on the sample type and panels requested. Results vary based on sample type and the scope of analysis requested. Tissue, media, and water samples may move through different preparation workflows. Timing is confirmed during intake so cultivators can align testing with crop schedules and production milestones.
*Nutrient monitoring analysis is performed using validated methods and quality control procedures. Results are reviewed by laboratory personnel before issue and are traceable back to the specific sample and submission.
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