by Greg Borstelmann
A universal fact when operating a tissue culture lab of any size is that it’s not if you will ever run into a problem, it’s when. Every lab experiences setbacks. The real test is how quickly you or your team can diagnose and fix them. This is where education and a thorough understanding of the entire tissue culture process become the backbone of success.
Training Isn’t a One-Time Event
In my experience, many labs treat training as a checkbox. Training typically stops once technicians learn transfers and media prep.
However, tissue culture is not a static process. Small habits drift over time, shortcuts creep in, and the genetics that enter the lab change. These seemingly small instances can compound over time, leading to a cascade of issues. The most successful labs regularly revisit their standards. They observe technicians, review workflows, and correct drift before it impacts production. Learning becomes part of daily operations.
Education is key to success in tissue culture. Photo: Greg Borstelmann
Understanding the “Why”
There’s a major difference between knowing how to perform a task and understanding why it works.
Technicians who understand the reasoning behind sterile technique, media formulation, environments, and hormone use make better decisions in the long run. They troubleshoot faster and they adapt more effectively. When problems arise, and they will, this understanding becomes invaluable.
Strong Feedback Loops
Proper education also improves decision-making at the organizational level. Labs that track outcomes, review data, and continuously refine processes develop strong feedback loops. Problems are caught earlier, and solutions are implemented faster. Without education and documentation processes like appropriate explant tracking sheets, and R&D tracking, the same mistakes are bound to repeat themselves.
Build a “Boring” Lab that Wins
The best tissue culture labs are intentionally boring. Not the talent that’s working in the hoods, but the processes put in place by the talent.
Successful labs rely on:
- Consistency
- Documentation
- Disciplined workflows
- Prevention over reaction
They avoid unnecessary complexity and focus on fundamentals.
When labs are built slowly and deliberately, success follows. When shortcuts replace fundamentals, problems are inevitable. The difference between a successful operation and a failed one is rarely talent. It’s almost always process.
Greg Borstelmann is the founder of Shoots n’ Roots, a leading cannabis tissue culture consulting company. He has helped cultivators across the U.S. establish clean plant programs and commercial-scale labs using optimized, research-backed micropropagation systems.