Advanced Nutrients Propels Flower of Life Michigan to Market Leadership

LOS ANGELES – In a market hit hard by falling cannabis prices, Flower of Life Michigan faced a potential business collapse. Brothers Devin and Donovan Murphy, the driving forces behind the company, turned a crisis into an opportunity by partnering with Advanced Nutrients, a leader in cannabis-specific nutrient solutions.

Overcoming Challenges with Innovation

Initially, Flower of Life struggled with low yields and inconsistent product quality, which threatened their financial stability. The plummeting prices further exacerbated their difficulties, forcing them to seek a reliable solution. They found it in Advanced Nutrients’ comprehensive range of cannabis fertilizers and biostimulants, trusted by growers in over 117 countries for maximizing potency, yield, and flavor.

Staying Committed to a Mission of Medicine

The Murphys’ mission was to produce the highest-quality cannabis for patients, ensuring it was clean and safe. When faced with the dire situation, they revisited their mission and realized that improving plant nutrition was their only way forward. Only after numerous disappointments with other nutrient brands, they discovered Advanced Nutrients, which helped them fulfill their mission more effectively than ever imagined.

Their journey began in the medical caregiver market, driven by a mission to cultivate the best medicine for patients. They felt a deep calling to think outside the box and make a positive difference in people’s lives, something they strongly believe cannabis has the power to do. 

When Michigan legalized adult-use cannabis, the brothers eagerly expanded into the recreational market. However, just as they were constructing their new facility, they faced significant challenges due to the drastic drop in prices.

Transformation Through Advanced Nutrients

Consulting with Justin Pullin from Advanced Nutrients, the Murphys implemented a tailored nutrient protocol that yielded immediate results:

• Increased Yields: From 1.5 to 2.5 pounds per 1000W light.
• Enhanced Quality: Significant rise in terpene and cannabinoid levels.

Products like pH Perfect® Technology and Bud Candy® played crucial roles in optimizing nutrient absorption and enhancing the taste and aroma of their cannabis. Voodoo Juice™ and Tasty Terpenes™ further boosted root development and terpene content, ensuring robust plant health and superior quality.

Flower of Life Co-Owners and brothers, Devin and Donovan Murphy, sit down with Eljay Cathcart, Cultivation Specialist at Advanced Nutrients, at their dispensary location, Flower of Life Flint Provisioning, to discuss how essential Advanced Nutrients is in their cultivation process. Watch the video here.

Strategic Cultivation Techniques for Craft Cannabis at Scale

Flower of Life’s success is also attributed to their strategic use of synganic growing methods, blending organic and synthetic inputs. This approach, coupled with regular SAP analysis, allowed for real-time adjustments to their nutrient recipes, ensuring optimal plant health and maximizing yields by over 66% in just two weeks. 

The importance of SAP analysis extends beyond compliance. It provides consumers and businesses with the assurance that cannabis products are safe, effective, and reliable.

Every couple of weeks, the brothers conduct SAP analysis to fine-tune their recipes for each of their unique genetics. Unlike traditional soil or tissue tests, SAP analysis offers a real-time window into a plant’s immediate fertigation needs. By analyzing the dissolved nutrients flowing through the plant’s vascular system, Flower of Life can identify deficiencies and imbalances before they cause problems. 

For commercial growers, this can make a huge difference. This precise optimization of plant health, performance, and output has been crucial for their success.

Market Impact Lands Flower of Life in Top 5% Price Per Pound Sold

The innovations in their cannabis cultivation process have been remarkable. Flower of Life’s cannabis now commands some of the highest prices per pound in the market, placing them in the top 5%. Their high-quality products are distributed in over 100 dispensaries across Michigan, cementing their reputation as industry leaders.

Michigan’s cannabis industry has seen significant growth, even surpassing California for the first time in monthly sales in March of this year, according to BDSA data. Despite this, California’s cannabis industry still generates more revenue, attributed to significant price variations between the states. Michigan offers lower-priced legal cannabis products, whereas California continues to experience higher prices.

The state’s journey to cannabis legalization began with voter approval in 2018, leading to the launch of adult-use sales the following year. However, the industry has been challenged by market oversaturation, which has significantly impacted retail prices, with an ounce of cannabis flower initially priced at over $500, plummeting to $80 by January of the reporting year, and closing at approximately $90 per ounce.

How Advanced Nutrients Turns Reaching 3.8% Terpenes Dream to Reality

After using Advanced Nutrients, Flower of Life’s Apples & Bananas strain consistently reaches 3.5-3.7% terpenes, even hitting 3.8% — a feat most cultivators can only dream of.

Devin Murphy remarked, “Without Advanced Nutrients, we wouldn’t be here today. Their products transformed our yields and quality beyond expectations.” Donovan Murphy added, “Advanced Nutrients has given us an edge in a highly competitive market. The convenience and effectiveness of their products are unmatched.” 

Devin calls Bud Factor X a “cheat code” for producing more resins and terpenes, while Donovan raves about the convenience of Voodoo Juice Plus Tabs. “One of the challenges to keeping pathogens at bay is constantly inoculating with beneficials,” he explains. “The convenience of Voodoo Juice Plus Tabs is second to none. You just drop a tablet in, and it helps you sleep at night.”

To help keep profitability high, the brothers grow synganically. They blend Advanced Nutrients’ OG Organics line with the cost-effective, user-friendly Cultivator Series 3-part water-soluble powder base nutrient system. This combination enables them to achieve the perfect balance of quality and cost-effectiveness at scale. 

The Cultivator Series predictably hits the expected PPMs spot-on, something they couldn’t find with any other powdered nutrient line, despite testing almost all popular brands. The Voodoo Juice line provides an easy and convenient way to introduce beneficial microbes, helping to keep pathogens at bay.

How Advanced Nutrients Steps in Where Most Growers Overlook

Plant health and nutrients are often overlooked when addressing the financial health of a cannabis cultivation operation. Producing higher quality products is integral to maximizing profit margins. With Advanced Nutrients, Flower of Life increased their yields and significantly improved the quality of their plants. This was achieved through the unmatched customer care and dedication of Advanced Nutrients’ team, with cultivation specialist Justin Pullin, who collaborates with founder and CEO, BigMike Straumietis and the Advanced Nutrients science team.

Advanced Nutrients CEO and Founder, BigMike Straumietis

A Quality Future for Cannabis

Flower of Life Michigan’s journey from the brink of collapse to market leadership highlights the critical role of strategic nutrient investments. Their partnership with Advanced Nutrients has not only stabilized their business but set a new standard for quality in the cannabis industry. Its future looks promising as cultivators like Flower of Life Michigan embrace innovation, continuous learning, and growth. Their partnership with Advanced Nutrients has not only rescued their business from the brink of collapse but also set a new benchmark for quality in the industry. By prioritizing the safety and well-being of patients, cultivators are poised to elevate the entire cannabis market.

CFOs navigating saturated and competitive markets should take note of the remarkable turnaround achieved by Flower of Life Michigan, highlighting the pivotal role of cannabis-specific nutrient solutions and biostimulants in boosting yields, potency, and profitability. This case study serves as a testament to the transformative power of strategic nutrient investments in revitalizing the bottom line.

The cannabis industry is on the cusp of extraordinary growth, driven by pioneers like BigMike and Advanced Nutrients. Their commitment to pushing the limits of cannabis genetics and plant health is reshaping the landscape for cultivators and operators alike. With innovations that enhance yield, potency, and overall plant health, Advanced Nutrients is setting new standards. These themes of innovation and excellence will be explored in depth on “Inside Cultivation with Advanced Nutrients,” a new online show airing fortnightly on HighlyCapitalized.com. Hosted by BigMike, the show aims to empower growers with cutting-edge insights and practical advice, ensuring they stay ahead in this rapidly evolving industry.

Grown by Flower of Life with Advanced Nutrients. Photo courtesy of gallery on Flower of Life’s website.

For a more in-depth look at how Advanced Nutrients has helped Flower of Life Michigan achieve market leadership, visit Advanced Nutrients’ blog here. Explore their journey and download the Flower of Life cultivation recipe to see exactly how they enhance cannabis yields and quality with innovative solutions for cannabis plant health, backed by science.