Preferred gardens
Preferred Gardens breaks down how a Mixed Light Zkitttles “MLZ”entry beat elite indoor twice winning $60K and $120K in high roller competitions.
In this episode, we sit down with Dave, founder of Preferred Gardens, to talk about proving a point in the cannabis industry backing it up with six-figure competition wins.
David shares how his Mixed Light Zkittles (MLZ) entry defeated top-tier indoor cultivators in Proper Doinks’ High Rollers competitions, winning $60,000 and $120,000 purses. He explains the philosophy behind “Indoor Plus,” why he believes sun-grown cannabis delivers a different effect, and how sustainability and plant energy factor into his cultivation methods.
The conversation dives into:
Mixed light vs indoor cultivation
Winning at Zalympix (Kamikaze & DLISH)
Why landrace strains like Blue Dream and Sour Diesel are resurging
The difference between hype genetics and what the retail market actually buys
Breeding strategy, pheno hunting, and exclusivity
Multi-state expansion across PA, NY, IL, FL, and beyond
This episode is a masterclass in cultivation strategy, branding, and reading the real cannabis market.
EPISODE TIMELINE
00:00 – Preferred Gardens Intro
00:30 – Winning the Proper Doinks High Rollers
02:36 – Mixed Light vs Indoor Debate
05:42 – Entourage Effect & Experience
08:03 – Sun Energy & Plant Behavior
09:33 – Zalympix Wins
11:12 – Impact of Winning Competitions
12:30 – Building the Brand
13:15 – Preparing for Competitions
14:13 – Market Trends: Candy vs OG Strains
16:19 – The “99% Consumer”
17:46 – Importance of Variety
18:00 – National Expansion
18:30 – Zalympix May 30th Event
KEYWORDS
Mixed Light Cannabis, Mixed Light vs Indoor, Greenhouse Cannabis, Indoor Plus Cannabis, Sun Grown Cannabis, Sunlight Spectrum Cannabis, Cannabis Cultivation, Premium Cannabis Flower, Cannabis Competition Winners, Cannabis High Rollers Competition, Proper Doinks High Rollers, MLZ Zkittles, Mixed Light Zkittles, Zkittles Mixed Light, Sacramento Cannabis Grower, California Cannabis Brands, Preferred Gardens, David Polley Interview, Scott Enright Interview, Cannabis Founder Interview, Cannabis Industry Podcast, Cannabis Cultivation Strategy, Cannabis Pheno Hunting, Cannabis Breeding Program, Blue Dream 2025, Sour Diesel Original, Original Grapefruit Strain, OG Kush Classic Strains, Landrace Cannabis Strains, Legacy Cannabis Genetics, Cannabis Market Trends 2025, Recreational Cannabis Market, Cannabis Retail Buying Trends, Cannabis Brand Expansion, Multi-State Cannabis Brand, Cannabis Intellectual Property, Cannabis Consulting Services, Cannabis SOP Development, Cannabis Facility Design, Cannabis Greenhouse Facility, Sustainable Cannabis Growing, Energy Efficient Cannabis, Cannabis Sunlight Effects, Cannabis Terpene Profiles, Best Terps Competition, Zalympix Winner, Zalympix Winners Flight, Cannabis Industry Panel Judging, Cannabis Awards 2025, Mary Jane Berlin Cannabis, Catalyst Cannabis Drop, Limited Cannabis Drop, Cannabis Sell Out Release, Boutique Cannabis Brand, Craft Cannabis Grower, High End Cannabis Flower, Cannabis Connoisseur Culture, Cannabis Entourage Effect, Cannabis Pre Workout, Cannabis and Running, Cannabis Effect Differences, Cannabis Experience vs Potency, Cannabis Strain Variety, Exclusive Cannabis Genetics, Cookies Genetics Strategy, Sherbinski Genetics, Connected Cannabis Strategy, Cannabis Branding Strategy, Cannabis White Label Production, Cannabis Infrastructure Growth, Cannabis National Expansion, Pennsylvania Cannabis Market, New York Cannabis Market, Illinois Cannabis Market, Florida Cannabis Market, Maryland Cannabis Market, Cannabis Export UK, Cannabis Through Canada, Cannabis Global Expansion, Cannabis Business Strategy, Cannabis Market Analysis, Cannabis Consumer Behavior, 99 Percent Cannabis Consumer, Hype Cannabis Strains, Candy Strains Wave, OG Strain Comeback, Blue Dream Sales Data, Sour Diesel Comeback, Grapefruit Cannabis Revival, Cannabis Culture Media, Cannabis Podcast Episode, Cannabis Industry Leaders, Cultivation Masterclass, Cannabis Competitive Strategy, Greenhouse vs Indoor Debate, Cannabis Sustainability Discussion, Cannabis Energy Costs, Indoor Grow Electricity, Sun Grown Advantage, Cannabis Flower Quality Control, Cannabis QC Process, Cannabis Batch Selection, Cannabis Competition Preparation, Cannabis Booth Event, Cannabis Expo May Event, Zalympix May Competition, California Cannabis Events 2026, Cannabis Industry Networking, Premium Cannabis Drops, Recreational Cannabis Customers, Cannabis Brand Recognition Europe, Cannabis Expansion Strategy 2025, Cannabis Growth Trends, Cannabis Retail Strategy, Cannabis Cultivation Innovation, High End Greenhouse Cannabis, Craft Mixed Light Flower, Cannabis Market Evolution, Cannabis Legacy Strains Return, Cannabis Future Trends.