RESOURCES
Explore academic papers, news articles, podcasts, and other resources authored or featuring the consultants of Sostanza Global.
May 7, 2019
INSIDE THE SEARCH FOR A BETTER HIGH
Researchers and cannabis producers are engineering “designer weed” to target specific effects, like easing anxiety or aiding sleep, by manipulating cannabinoids, terpenes, and breeding. Advanced extraction and cultivation aim for consistent, safer products with potential medical benefits.

Nov 19, 2017
HOW TO GROW CANNABIS? WITH MODERN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Cannabis production has long lacked scientific validation due to prohibition. This article argues for evidence-based cultivation practices by leveraging decades of horticultural research. It highlights challenges faced by legal growers and the need for research-industry collaboration.

May 26, 2021
THREE TIPS FOR CONTROLLED DROUGHT STRESS
Controlled drought stress can boost cannabis potency. A University of Guelph study showed a single drought event increased THCA and CBDA by over 12%, with even greater gains per area. Key tips: watch for wilting, apply stress in late flowering, and avoid overdoing it for best results.

Nov 11, 2022
COLLECTING AND INTERPRETING DATA FOR FERTIGATION
Fertigation at scale is complex—but data offers a path to control. Sostanza Global’s Philipp Matzneller outlines how systematic data collection, from EC and pH to leaf tissue testing, helps optimize nutrient uptake. For cannabis growers, data isn’t optional—it’s the foundation of continuous improvement.

Feb 1, 2022
HELPING CANNABIS GROWERS DIFFERENTIATE THEMSELVES IN A COMPETITIVE MARKET
In a crowded cannabis market, Sostanza helps growers stand out—offering solutions for fertigation issues, pest outbreaks, and disorganized data collection. By improving crop health and highlighting traits beyond THC, growers can differentiate their products and boost long-term success.

Feb 14, 2022
BEYOND THE STRAIN: CHASING A CULTIVATED HIGH
Cultivar choice sets the ceiling for THC, but skilled horticulture helps push it higher. This article explores how stress techniques, harvest timing, and precise nutrition influence THC production—and why growers shouldn’t chase THC at the expense of flavor, aroma, or overall product quality.

Nov 11, 2022
CONTROLLING CANNABIS ENVIRONMENTS
Review of this 10-chapter handbook offers indoor cannabis growers a comprehensive guide to controlled environment cultivation—from lighting, fertigation, and pest control to canopy management and post-harvest. Includes contributions from Sostanza on key cultivation practices.

Sep 1, 2017
OPTIMAL RATE OF ORGANIC FERTILIZER DURING THE VEGETATIVE STAGE
Five organic nitrogen rates were tested during cannabis’ vegetative stage in two coir-based substrates. No substrate differences were found. Optimal yield occurred at ~389 mg N/L, and peak THC at ~418 mg N/L, suggesting a similar range maximizes both biomass and potency.

Sep 11, 2020
GENETIC DIVERSITY AND STRUCTURE OF NORTH AMERICAN CANNABIS
This study used a 23-SNP assay to analyze 420 North American cannabis accessions, revealing five genetic clusters tied to hemp, THC-rich types, and terpenoid profiles. Findings highlight diversity patterns, population structure, and tools for breeding, traceability, and regulation.

Nov 1, 2019
COIR-BASED SUBSTRATES FOR INDOOR CANNABIS PRODUCTION
This study investigated how different soilless growing mixes—particularly those based on coconut coir—affect cannabis plant growth and yield in an indoor setting. The goal was to determine which substrates perform best from early growth through to flowering and harvest.

May 4, 2018
VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION OF CANNABIS BY STEM CUTTINGS
If you're cloning cannabis using stem cuttings, you’ve probably heard a lot of conflicting advice—how many leaves to leave on, whether to cut the leaf tips, and what kind of rooting hormone to use. This study took a scientific look at all of those factors to figure out what actually works.

Sep 1, 2017
OPTIMAL RATE OF ORGANIC FERTILIZER DURING THE FLOWERING STAGE
In this paper, researchers tested five rates of organic fertilizer on cannabis grown in two coir-based substrates. The drier mix (U2-HP) outperformed the wetter one, producing higher yields and cannabinoid content. Optimal rates ranged from 212–261 mg N/L.
