In Episode 21 of the Grodan GroShow Podcast, host Riley Jones is joined by Anders Peterson and Michael Williamson from PIPP Horticulture, along with Grodan Crop Specialist Jon Jirikovec, for Part 2 of a special mini-series in collaboration with PIPP’s Cultivation Elevated podcast — all about vertical cultivation, facility design, and substrate strategy.

As the cannabis industry continues to evolve, more cultivators are turning to vertical farming to maximize production and efficiency. But going vertical isn’t just about adding more racks — it requires integrated planning across lighting, airflow, fertigation, and substrate selection. This episode unpacks how to design for success from the ground up.

We explore the fundamentals of vertical grow room design, how to avoid the most common mistakes when scaling up, and why choosing a steerable substrate like Grodan stone wool allows for consistent performance at every level. The guys also highlight how cross-functional collaboration between facility planners, cultivators, and crop consultants is the key to long-term success.

“If you don’t have proper airflow or irrigation planning to match your vertical layout, you’re going to run into problems fast,” says Anders. As the team discusses, the best results often come when growers build their environment around the plants—not the other way around.

Whether you're building a new facility or retrofitting an existing space, this episode is full of insights that can help you make more informed design choices — and get more out of your crop steering strategy.

Listen now!