Indoor cannabis cultivation presents unique challenges, especially when working with limited space—but Todd Dahn has spent years learning how to make the most of every square foot. Based in Holyoke, Massachusetts, Todd is the co-founder of Cannalive Genetics, a company rooted in legacy experience and a passion for precision. With more than 15 years of cultivation under his belt, most of it self-taught through forums and trial and error; Todd transitioned from the music industry to cannabis just as touring halted during the pandemic. His focus? Custom genetics, high-yielding strains, and maximizing output without compromising quality.
We caught up with Todd to talk about environmental control, defoliation strategy, and why small rooms might just be the secret weapon of serious cultivators.
Tell us a bit about your grow setup—how much space are you working with, and what inspired you to start cultivating indoors in Massachusetts?
We currently run about 800 square feet of canopy split between two rooms, harvesting 400 square feet at a time. In each 400 sq ft room, we run 96 plants across five strains.
Cannalive Genetics was born out of a shift. I was working in the music industry when the pandemic hit and touring shut down. We already had custom genetics in the legacy market, so transitioning into the legal space felt natural. It gave me the opportunity to apply my experience in branding to a new industry I’ve long been passionate about.
What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced growing high yields in a limited indoor environment?
The biggest challenge has been maximizing plant count without overcrowding, which can lead to light competition and airflow issues. We use heavy crop steering and room planning to make sure each plant gets the light, airflow, and attention it needs.
Small rooms are actually an advantage for us. They’re easier to control environmentally, so we focus on having more small rooms instead of a couple large ones. That allows us to dial in the microclimates and ensure consistency.
Walk us through your go-to strategy for boosting yield in tight spaces.
We pack in the plant count, but everything is highly intentional. Crop steering plays a big role, we do staged defoliation: a light clean-up in veg, a full strip at the flip to flower, another heavy defoil at the end of week two of flower (after stretch), and one more toward the finish.
We also cluster strains by growth style, so taller, faster-growing plants don’t crowd out the shorter ones. Every one of our strains is custom-bred, and yield-per-plant has always been a focus for us—right alongside taste and aroma.
Lighting plays a role too. We adjust intensity throughout the cycle to help steer plant behavior.
Has the Massachusetts climate or regulatory landscape influenced your grow setup?
Not really. We grow indoors, so the wild New England weather isn’t much of a factor. As for regulations, Holyoke has been incredibly grower-friendly. They own their own power company and hydroelectric dam, which makes electricity costs significantly lower than other areas, plus the real estate was affordable.
What lighting setup do you recommend for cultivators working in compact spaces?
We run Grower’s Choice 720 LEDs. They gave us the best performance for the price when we moved away from HPS. Sure, I’d love to outfit everything with Gavitas, but for the value, Grower’s Choice has delivered what we need.
Are there any strains that thrive in small spaces and still deliver big yields?
Since we grow all in-house genetics, I don’t have much experience with new market strains. But in the past, I’ve had good success with Mimosa, Jack Herer, Blueberry Headband, and Sour Alien Cakes. Locally, I’m a fan of Moonbow from Tower Three; a strong cultivar with serious bag appeal.
How do you manage airflow, temp, and humidity in a confined area?
Defoliation helps reduce microclimates and improves airflow naturally. On top of that, we run 1.5x the required HVAC and dehumidification so we’re never pushing the system to its limits. Smaller rooms make it easier and cheaper to stay in that perfect environmental zone.
What advice would you give to new growers trying to get big results in small spaces?
First, build relationships. Go to your local grow shop and connect with people who actually grow, ask questions and get advice specific to your space. They can help you figure out what is best for your individual room and space constraints.
Second, overbuild your environment. If you think you need one AC unit, get two. Good environmental control is key to great flower.
Lastly, pick the right genetics for your space. Don’t try to grow 10-foot sativas in a 6-foot room. And once you dial in your drying and curing process, repeat it. Consistency is everything.
What’s your preferred growing medium, and how does it support your method?
We grow in perlite rocks. They’re reusable, environmentally friendlier than some options, and they give us instant drybacks, which is critical for controlling drought stress. It’s a bit more work between runs, washing and resetting, but worth it for the control it gives during the grow.
What’s one thing more small-space growers need to understand about scaling yield?
It’s easy to grow cannabis, but hard to grow great cannabis. If you want to increase yield without adding square footage, master two things:
- Environmental precision: warm early, cool and dry late. That’s how you unlock terpenes and trichome expression.
- Nutrient control: understand how EC and pH affect nutrient uptake week by week.
When you push your plants within a dialed-in environment, even small spaces can produce big results.
Veronica Castillo is a Communications Strategist and published writer who brings over a decade of experience from insurance and HR to her current role as Communications Manager at the Minority Cannabis Business Association. Following her early career in insurance law and human resources, she established herself as the Traveling Cannabis Writer, publishing over 200 articles and managing multiple magazine columns while documenting stories across the United States. As a communications specialist and Board Member for MCBA, she develops comprehensive marketing strategies, secures national media coverage, and champions equity in the cannabis industry through policy and empowerment initiatives. Her expertise spans crisis communications, strategic media relations, and integrated marketing campaigns that drive organizational growth and meaningful engagement.
Vee has relocated to Puerto Rico to help build the bridge between the mainland and its colony. You can follow her journey on her website, Instagram, and/or LinkedIn.