From shop floors to global stages, Hydrofarm’s Paul Gonzalez (21+ years in the game) joins Eric to unpack what actually moves growers forward. They compare Spannabis vs. Mary Jane Berlin, why Germany’s living-soil crowd is surging, and how genetics booths supercharge real buyer conversations. Paul breaks down Gaia Green (EcoCert dry amendments: All Purpose 4-4-4, Power Bloom, worm castings) and Grotek’s evolution (bio + mineral blends, Vitamax Pro, the Monster Bloom classic), plus how Hydrofarm chooses bases by market without bloating costs.What you’ll learn:• How trade shows really drive demand (and why Berlin is booming) • Gaia Green vs. Grotek—when organic dry amendments or liquids make sense • Practical nutrient philosophy: AB simplicity, targeted boosters, and clean reservoirs • Rapid-fire grow takes: flushing, silica under heat stress, under-canopy lighting ROI, foliar worth, microbes in rockwool • Hot-summer tips: silica for resilience and simple mulching to protect soil moisture#BehindTheGrow #Hydrofarm #GaiaGreen #Grotek #Spannabis #MaryJaneBerlin #IndoorGrowing #Hydroponics #LivingSoil #Horticulture