For over a quarter of a century, Advanced Nutrients has been the name cultivators trust when it comes to cannabis-specific nutrition. Our Cultivator Series™ set the standard as the only three-part water-soluble powder system that addresses the cannabis phase-specific shift – and growers in 128+ countries put it to work in their facilities.
Today, we’re making it official. Advanced Nutrients Elite Series CS2™ (Cultivator Series 2) Prime & Push is now available for order in the USA as the base nutrient system of the 8th-Generation Elite Series. Since its quiet release, CS2 has already gained rapid traction among commercial cultivators – and we’re actively working to make it available worldwide soon
CS2 Prime & Push™ takes everything we learned from the Cultivator Series and distills it into a streamlined two-part system – simpler to run than any other base nutrient on the market, and purpose-built for the demands of modern commercial cannabis cultivation.
Why Advanced Nutrients CS2™ Matters Right Now
The commercial cannabis market has a quality problem. Dispensary shelves are packed with mid-grade flower lacking the flavor and aroma that command premium prices. Wholesale prices keep compressing, margins keep shrinking, and cultivators producing average product are locked in a race to the bottom that nobody wins.
In every mature market, the middle collapses first. There are only two sustainable paths forward: cheap and forgettable, or top-dollar and irreplaceable.
The difference between those outcomes often starts at the foundation – your base nutrient.
If your base nutrition isn’t engineered specifically for cannabis, you’re setting a ceiling on quality before the first flower site even forms. Generic agriculture salts – formulated for tomatoes and corn, not cannabis – don’t address the plant’s phase-specific nutrient demands, and that gap shows up in your finished flower, your pound prices, and your bottom line.
Advanced Nutrients 8th-Generation CS2™ was built for cultivators who choose the second path – those who understand that premium flower starts with precision base nutrition and that every input decision either moves you toward elite quality or pulls you back toward the middle of the pack.
From Cultivator Series™ to CS2 Prime & Push™: The Evolution
If you’re familiar with our Cultivator Series, you already understand the principle of hitting the cannabis shift – matching your plant’s evolving nutrient ratios between vegetative and generative growth phases so it can express its full genetic potential for yield, potency, and terpene production.
The Cultivator Series achieved this with a three-bag system. CS2 Prime & Push takes it further.
As BigMike explains it: “Our Cultivator Series built the standard. CS2 is a different level entirely. Two bags instead of three – simpler to run than anything else on the market, and more effective than any two-part system out there. We’re hitting different pathways, upregulating things the competition isn’t even thinking about. This is a whole new technology platform. Nothing else comes close.”
– BigMike Straumietis
Fewer bags. Fewer variables. A higher standard of precision than any two-part system on the market — and measurably better nutrient alignment across every stage of the cultivation cycle.
Inside CS2: Hitting the Cannabis Shift with Two-Part Precision
At the core of Advanced Nutrients Elite Series CS2™ is a concept we call hitting the shift – and it’s what separates cannabis-specific nutrition from the generic ag formulas most cultivators are still using.
Cannabis has dramatically different nutritional demands between its vegetative and generative phases. During veg, the plant builds its foundation with nitrogen, calcium, iron, magnesium, and key micronutrients to support root development and structural growth.
As the plant shifts into bloom, those demands change – nitrogen carries through early flower before tapering off, while phosphorus, potassium, zinc, magnesium, and sulfur are needed in shifting ratios to support flower initiation, generative production, terpene synthesis, and finishing quality.
Key micronutrients like iron, manganese, and boron increase to meet generative demand before tapering at the end for clean finished flower.
Most base nutrients on the market are general agriculture formulas repackaged for cannabis. They don’t account for these phase-specific shifts, which means your plants are chronically over-supplied on some nutrients and under-supplied on others throughout the entire cycle. The result is suppressed genetic expression, compromised flower quality, and yields that fall short of what your genetics are capable of producing.
CS2 Prime & Push is engineered to address this shift with surgical precision:
- CS2 Prime™ (13-0-0) – Your nitrogen and calcium foundation from veg through late bloom. Prime focuses on root development and early structural strength, delivering the nitrogen, calcium, and key micronutrients your plants demand during veg and building the framework that determines how much weight and quality your canopy can ultimately support.
- CS2 Push™ (0-11-24) – Your phosphorus, potassium, and micronutrient driver. Push is engineered for the critical shift into bloom, delivering the elevated phosphorus, potassium, and targeted micronutrients your plants need to maximize flower density, terpene production, flavor expression, and overall yield. The 2:1 K:P ratio maintains quality production without the excessive phosphorus loading that causes toxicity and lockout in competing products.
Together, CS2 Prime & Push™ deliver a slow, precise curve of nitrogen through bloom that fades to zero in the final weeks.
Phosphorus and potassium spike at bloom initiation to trigger a strong floral transition, then increase steadily through the most generative weeks before tapering down for a clean finish. Calcium and magnesium ratios are optimized from veg through final ripen, and sulfur supply increases during mid-bloom when it matters most for terpene synthesis.
This is what hitting the shift looks like in practice – and no other two-part system on the market achieves it.
Tetraplex Iron™: Advanced Chelation Built for Cannabis
Iron availability is one of the most underappreciated bottlenecks in commercial cannabis cultivation. Most nutrient lines use a single iron chelate, which limits uptake across varying pH levels and growing media.
CS2 features Tetraplex Iron™ – a proprietary complex of four iron chelates (including ortho-ortho EDDHA) engineered for superior uptake across a wide pH range. This is the result of nearly a decade of iron-specific research by our team of PhD plant scientists, and it ensures your plants maintain consistent access to this critical micronutrient regardless of substrate conditions.
Iron levels in CS2 are increased by over 30% compared to previous formulations, and all micronutrients are chelated for maximum bioavailability. The result is healthier plant development, more efficient nutrient utilization, and noticeably improved crop consistency from run to run.
CS2 + OVR™: The Complete Base Nutrition System
Advanced Nutrients CS2™ is designed to pair with OVR™ (Overdrive 2.0) – our zero-nitrogen late bloom finishing solution.
When you run CS2 Prime & Push through your cycle and then add OVR in the final two weeks (while continuing Push), OVR continues to hit the shift through finishing – giving you the most complete base nutrition coverage available for cannabis.
OVR replaces your calcium source in those critical final weeks, delivering targeted biostimulants and chelated micronutrients while eliminating nitrogen interference. The result is increased flower density, enhanced terpene profiles, and a clean burn with flawless white ash.
Together, CS2 Prime, CS2 Push, and OVR give you a three-product base system that precisely covers every stage from vegetative growth through final ripen.
We’ll have a dedicated article diving deeper into the CS2 + OVR protocol soon – stay tuned.
What CS2 Prime & Push Delivers for Your Operation
- Precision-tuned cannabis nutrition. CS2 is meticulously calibrated to match the unique nutritional needs of cannabis, supporting consistent crop development throughout the entire cultivation cycle by strategically shifting key macros and micros as your plants progress.
- Enhanced flavor and aroma. CS2’s phase-specific nutrition supports full terpene expression throughout the cultivation cycle – delivering the flavor profiles that separate top-shelf flower from the mid-grade product flooding most dispensary shelves today
- Simplified protocol. Move from three bags to two without sacrificing precision. CS2 Prime & Push streamlines your feeding schedule while providing a more effective nutrient regimen.
- Competitive economics at scale. CS2 is designed for commercial operations seeking professional-grade nutrition with favorable cost-per-gallon economics. Fewer products, less waste, lower total input costs.
- Clean fertigation performance. Formulated with the highest quality, fastest-dissolving inputs for smooth irrigation from veg through harvest. No clogging, no buildup, no maintenance headaches.
- Optimal root zone conditions. CS2 features precision-calibrated cation-anion ratios, rich in cations to acidify your growing medium for ideal rhizosphere health.
- Eliminates excess phosphorus. Unlike competing base nutrients that overload phosphorus (causing toxicity, lockout, and deficiencies), CS2 optimizes P levels for peak plant performance.
- Seamless integration. Transitioning from a three-part system is straightforward. CS2 integrates into your existing facility workflow with simplified feeding protocols and minimal retraining.
27 Years of Cannabis Science in Every Bag
CS2 isn’t a product that was rushed to market or adapted from general agriculture. It’s the product of 27+ years of cannabis-specific research, over $3 million in 8th-Generation development investment, and the kind of scientific infrastructure no other nutrient company in the industry can match.
Advanced Nutrients holds one of the first government-issued licenses to grow cannabis for research purposes. Our team of PhD plant scientists has studied nutrient uptake, metabolite production, and phase-specific optimization across tens of thousands of tissue samples and hundreds of genetic varieties. CS2’s formulation is built directly on that data – not theory, not guesswork, but measured nutritional responses mapped at every stage of the plant’s life cycle.
The 8th-Generation Elite Series is already delivering measurable outcomes at top facilities:
The quality difference is undeniable.
How to Use CS2 Prime & Push
Follow the 8th-Gen Elite Protocol for precise application rates at each stage of growth. Advanced Nutrients CS2 Prime & Push are used together throughout veg and bloom. Both products run together from veg through late bloom, with rates adjusted as your crop progresses.
In the final two weeks before flush, stop Prime, continue Push, and add OVR. OVR + Push carry the program through finishing.
Mix a fresh reservoir weekly. Apply daily in coco, and 2-4 times weekly in other substrates as needed. CS2 is compatible with all growing media – coco coir, rockwool, peat-based substrates, soil, and hydroponic systems – and flows cleanly through any commercial irrigation setup.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CS2’s NPK ratio?
CS2 is a two-part system. CS2 Prime has an NPK of 13-0-0, focusing on vegetative nutrition. CS2 Push has an NPK of 0-11-24, engineered for the generative bloom phase. The Push formula maintains a 2:1 K:P ratio to maximize quality and production without overloading phosphorus.
How does CS2 differ from the Cultivator Series™?
The Cultivator Series is a three-part water-soluble powder system. CS2 Prime & Push condenses that into a streamlined two-part system with new technology pathways and Tetraplex Iron™ chelation that weren’t available in the original Cultivator Series. CS2 upregulates different metabolic pathways and represents an entirely new technology platform. The Cultivator Series remains available for growers who prefer it.
What does “hitting the cannabis shift” mean?
Hitting the shift refers to precisely matching your plant’s evolving nutrient demands as it transitions between vegetative and generative growth phases. Cannabis requires different ratios of macros, secondary nutrients, and micronutrients in each phase. CS2 Prime & Push is specifically engineered to address these phase-specific shifts, advancing your crop’s genetic expression for yield, potency, terpene production, and the flavor profiles that define top-shelf flower. No other two-part base nutrient system on the market achieves this.
Is it mandatory that I use CS2 and OVR™ together?
It’s not mandatory, but strongly recommended. CS2 was designed to pair with OVR for complete phase-specific coverage from vegetative growth through final ripen. OVR provides the zero-nitrogen finishing nutrition that maximizes flower density, terpene profiles, and burn quality in those critical final two weeks. Running CS2 without OVR means you’re missing the finishing component that completes the shift.
Would CS2 work without using OVR in the last two weeks of bloom?
CS2 can function as a standalone base nutrient, and you will see improvements in plant performance from the phase-specific nutrition alone. However, for optimal results – particularly in flower density, terpene enhancement, and clean finishing – pairing CS2 with OVR delivers the full benefit of the system as it was designed.
Is CS2 compatible with my irrigation system?
Yes. CS2 is formulated with the highest quality, fastest-dissolving inputs for clean fertigation. It flows smoothly through any commercial irrigation setup, including sensitive drip systems, flood-and-drain, DWC, and hand-watering applications. No clogging, no buildup.
What growing media can I use CS2 with?
CS2 works across all growing media: coco coir, rockwool, peat-based substrates, soil, and hydroponic systems. Application frequency varies by media – daily for coco, 2-4 times weekly for other substrates – but the formula is universally compatible.
When and how do I apply CS2?
Follow the CS2 feed chart for precise rates at each stage. CS2 Prime & Push are used together throughout your entire cycle – from the first week of veg through late bloom – with application rates adjusting as your plants progress through each phase. In the final two weeks before flush, Prime use stops and OVR begins, while Push continues. OVR + Push complete the shift through finishing. CS2 integrates into your existing feeding schedule without requiring protocol overhauls.
Does CS2 come with a guarantee?
Absolutely. Like every Advanced Nutrients product, CS2 is backed by our 100% Money-Back Grower Guarantee. If you aren’t completely satisfied with your results, return the unused portion with your original sales receipt to your authorized place of purchase within six months for a full refund. We stand behind CS2 because we’re confident in what it delivers.
Get Started with CS2 Prime & Push
Advanced Nutrients Elite Series CS2™ is available now for licensed producers in the USA.
Visit our 8th-Generation website for more information and buying options, or contact our Support and Sales teams directly:
- Phone: (424) 435-1545
- Email: sales@advancednutrients.com
Outside the USA? We’re working to bring the complete 8th-Generation Elite Series to growers worldwide. Subscribe to our waitlist to be the first to know when CS2 becomes available in your region.
Your base nutrient is the foundation of everything you grow. CS2 Prime & Push gives you the most precise, cannabis-specific foundation available. The rest is up to your discipline.
