The True Cost of Cheap Nutrients: Why Premium Products Matter in Cannabis Cultivation

LOS ANGELES — In the competitive world of cannabis cultivation, maximizing yield per plant is paramount. However, the choice of nutrients remains a divisive issue, with many growers opting for cheaper options, mistakenly believing they are saving money. 

The Hidden Costs of Cheap Nutrients

This comprehensive analysis delves into the often-overlooked hidden costs associated with low-quality nutrients and underscores the substantial advantages that premium products, such as those from Advanced Nutrients, provide to cultivators. For those seeking a sustainable and effective solution for their commercial operations, understanding the long-term benefits of investing in superior nutrient formulations is crucial. 

Cost Concerns and Misunderstandings

Many growers are driven by cost concerns, often selecting cheaper nutrients to reduce upfront expenses. However, these short-term savings often lead to higher long-term costs due to lower yields and poor plant health. Cheaper nutrients lack the balanced formulations needed for optimal growth, leading to deficiencies that require additional interventions. 

For instance, Advanced Nutrients’ pH Perfect® Technology ensures that plants absorb nutrients efficiently, stabilizing pH levels automatically and saving growers both time and money. By investing in high-quality nutrients, growers can avoid the hidden costs of poor plant performance and the frequent need for corrective measures. Consistent nutrient delivery formulations support healthier, more resilient plants, ultimately leading to better yields and increased profitability.

Readjusting cost concerns, commercially cultivating most profitably at scale requires consideration of the long-term benefits over initial costs, ensuring sustainable and productive cultivation practices.

 Cookies’ LA cultivation facility, Cookies Maywood, growing healthy buds with high-quality nutrients by Advanced Nutrients.

Lack of Knowledge and Market Conditions

Inexperienced growers may not fully understand the critical role nutrients play in cultivation. This knowledge gap leads them to perceive all nutrient products as equivalent, opting for the cheaper alternatives. 

The market’s saturation with various nutrient brands further compounds this issue, with aggressive marketing often masking the deficiencies of lower-end products. Advanced Nutrients distinguishes itself with scientifically formulated products that provide plants with exactly what they need at every growth stage. 

The hydroponic nutrients market is witnessing significant growth, with the global market size projected to reach USD 7.5 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 8.6% from 2023 to 2032. In a recent research report, Advanced Nutrients was named as a key player driving this growth. This surge is driven by the rising demand for high-quality and pesticide-free gardening.

Advanced Nutrients’ legacy bloom booster, Big Bud®, delivering cultivators optimal PK ratio and amplified yields with heavy, potent buds.

The Benefits of Premium Nutrients

Premium nutrients, like those from Advanced Nutrients, are formulated with precision and undergo rigorous testing, ensuring consistent and reliable results. Products such as Bud Candy® and Big Bud® enhance the flavor, terpene profile, and flower development, leading to higher yields and better quality cannabis. This consistency is crucial for growers aiming to maximize their output and maintain high standards.

Consistency and Reliability

One of the most renowned names in the industry, Cookies, exemplifies the impact of using high-quality nutrients. Mike Tuna, head cultivator at Cookies, and long-time Advanced Nutrients grower, highlights the effectiveness of Big Bud® sharing, “I’ve seen Big Bud® integrated into nearly every nutrient regimen because of the remarkable swelling flowers it helps produce.”

He further describes Advanced Nutrients as the ‘Ferrari’ of the commercial cannabis racetrack, boasting their superior performance and reliability in supporting their famous terpene standards and world-class genetics at scale. 

For Cookies, which sets the gold standard in cannabis cultivation with a collection of over 70 proprietary cannabis cultivars and more than 2,000 products, the choice of nutrients is a critical factor in maintaining their legendary reputation.

Balanced Formulations and Enhanced Plant Health

High-quality nutrients offer balanced formulations tailored to the specific needs of cannabis plants throughout their growth cycles. For example, the pH Perfect® Connoisseur® Grow & Bloom base nutrients series from Advanced Nutrients provides the right balance of nutrients during different growth phases. This ensures optimal plant health, including during feeding stages where pH balance is often overlooked. Additionally, biostimulants like Voodoo Juice® Plus Tablets enhance root development and microbial activity, fostering a robust root system and vigorous growth.

Long-Term Cost Efficiency and Support

While the initial upfront cost in premium nutrients may seem high, the long-term benefits far outweigh these costs. Quality nutrients lead to healthier plants, higher yields, and ultimately greater profitability. According to this Case Study, the benefits of high-quality plant nutrition can be witnessed and measured in as little as two weeks, when growers switched to Advanced Nutrients.

Purchasing at a perceived premium with Advanced Nutrients, cultivators also receive invaluable guidance and support with their grow for being a patron, and for supporting a safer, healthier, and higher-quality cannabis community. Advanced Nutrients provides detailed feeding schedules and extensive customer support. These additional tools and resources are priceless for simplifying the growing process and ensuring growers can achieve optimal results with ease. 

Mike Tuna, Head Cultivator at Cookies, tours their Maywood cultivation facility with Eljay Cathcart, Cultivation Specialist at Advanced Nutrients, to discuss how essential Advanced Nutrients is to achieving their renowned terpene profiles. Watch the video here.

Quality Growth is Sustainable Growth

The decision to use cheap nutrients is often driven by a combination of cost concerns, lack of knowledge, market confusion, and perceived simplicity. However, the hidden costs and long-term impacts of this choice can be significant. By utilizing premium nutrients like those from Advanced Nutrients, growers can achieve superior results, from consistent and reliable yields to enhanced plant health and profitability.

“Without Advanced Nutrients, we don’t know if we’d be here today,” reveals Donovan Murphy of Flower of Life, who has reached top 5% of Michigan’s market share at price per pound, after switching to Advanced Nutrients. This testimonial underscores the significant impact that quality nutrients can have on cultivation success.

“Spending the extra money on Advanced Nutrients gives us a greater return on the ROI. If I’m increasing yield by 20-30%, depending on the scale of their operation, it’s a tremendous return on investment,” details another loyal customer of Advanced Nutrients, Kyle Preciado. “By using the sustainable OG Organics line—with its organic inputs—we’re able to reuse our medium as well. … We don’t have to deal with the cost of switching our soils up.”

Farmer and owner of Green Ox, a California distribution company with a network of farms, Kyle works with around 120 growers or farmers throughout Humboldt County. Further highlighting the value of nutrient quality, he adds, “When cannabis comes across my desk, there’s absolutely a noticeable difference between the product grown with Advanced Nutrients and cannabis grown with lower level nutrients.”

Cannabis grown by Flower of Life, using Advanced Nutrients.

In the competitive world of cannabis cultivation, carefully-monitored, premium nutrients are a necessity for achieving sustainable growth and market leadership. Understanding the true cost of cheap nutrients can help growers make informed decisions that benefit their operations in the long run.

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For a more in-depth look at how Advanced Nutrients’ solutions are helping top commercial cultivators achieve market leadership, visit TopTierAdvancedNutrients.com. Explore their COAs (Certificates of Analysis) and examine exactly how they are enhancing cannabis yields and quality with innovative solutions for cannabis plant health, backed by science.