Meet Mikey
Mikey is responsible for setting cultivation standards that have earned him praise throughout the industry. His approach to cultivating Royal Trees, RIZE’s proprietary brand of pure, clean, science-based cultivated cannabis is simple; to unleash the power of this extraordinary plant to improve lives.
Born and raised in Wisconsin, Mikey began his agricultural career at 16, planting seeds in cornfields. He subsequently spent 10 years as a caregiver with various retail locations on the Keweenaw Peninsula operating under the name Green Touch and is credited for initiating the first licensed cultivation facility in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. To this day, Mikey remains highly sought after for his cannabis knowledge and expertise.
Mikey’s success continues to be evident in the popularity of Royal Trees products among RIZE customers. A top selling RIZE brand, Royal Trees’ rapid growth is prompting RIZE Cultivation Operations to triple in size by Spring 2025, in addition to adding a state-of-the-art packaging facility.
Mikey and his passionate and talented cultivation team host monthly Vendor Days at all RIZE stores, so please watch for upcoming events at your favorite location.
Royal Trees FAQ's
About Royal Trees
Who is our Director of Cultivation?
Mikey Gohl is the Director of Cultivation. He has managed the day-to-day operations for Royal Trees cultivation and packaging since 2023.
Where is the grow located?
At the Iron Mountain RiZE Location.
How long has the grow been in operation?
6/29/21, making it 4 years.
What is our mission for Royal Trees?
Our mission is to cultivate top shelf cannabis focused on science and diverse genetics that are free of pesticides, PGRs and remediation. We also prioritize teaching our customers about the importance of all cannabinoids.
What are we proud of?
We are proud of the stains we grow and provide, along with our harvest weights and test results for the products and strains.
How many people work in the grow?
10 cultivators; Mikey, Jesse, Dylon, Eric, Noel, Mya, Franny, Mark, Danny, Brock, and David.
How big is the Grow?
The Grow is currently 8,900 square ft and is expanding with the construction of Grow #2 adding another 12,450, which should be expected to be finished by the end of 2025.
Do you guys offer tours?
Yes, we offer the opportunity to win a tour of the grow during our vendor day events held at all RIZE locations.
What do you like most about being a cultivator?
Working with cannabis plants at Royal Trees offers a unique chance to delve into every aspect of the plant, surrounded by a tight-knit team of professionals who share a passion for their work. We also enjoy building meaningful connections with our customers, understanding their needs and preferences, and learning why they appreciate our products.
Nursery 101
What is a Nursery?
A Nursery is where all the mother plants are cared for as well as where clones and seeds are nurtured for harvest batch rotations.
Do you use seeds or clones?
Both. Seeds are used for new strain development, while clones are used for strains we want to keep producing.
What is a clone?
A clone is a cutting taken from a plant usually the end most point of the branch where growth hormones are concentrated. This cutting is an exact DNA clone of the plant which it was taken from.
How often do you grow new strains?
We grow 4 new strains each year!
What’s the difference between regular and feminized seeds?
Cannabis seeds that have been feminized undergo genetic modification to ensure they produce only female plants, unlike regular seeds which can produce male or female plants.
Cultivation 101
What is a cultivar?
A cultivar is a cultivated plant that has been selectively bred for preferred traits and preserves those traits through subsequent propagation.
What is Crossbreeding?
Crossbreeding means to combine different strains, allowing breeders to create new genetic combinations and offspring with an improved diverse set of traits.
How long does a plant take to flower?
63 Days or 2 months and 3 days.
What are terpenes?
Terpenes are the aromatic compound that produces the aroma and flavor of the plant.
What are cannabinoids?
Cannabis seeds that have been feminized undergo genetic modification to ensure they produce only female plants, unlike regular seeds which can produce male or female plants.
Do you use pesticides?
All Royal Trees Products are pesticide free, never remediated, no PGRs, and state tested for quality insurance.
Processing 101
How do you know when plants are ready to harvest?
Royal Trees Uses a scope to view the trichomes to see if they are milky and amber.
What are trichomes?
Trichomes are remarkable, hair-like structures on plants that provide vital protection against environmental stressors, and they can also be found on algae, lichens, and some protists.
What makes the flower sticky?
Trichomes are resin glands, that protect against sun rays and are used as defense mechanisms. A sticky bud also implies that a lot of trichomes have formed meaning it’s abundant in THC.
How often does Royal Trees harvest?
Every 2 weeks.
What is The Drying Process?
The drying process is the process of hanging the flower in a controlled environment with a humidity level between 55% and 60% and no light for a period of one and a half weeks.
What is the Curing process?
The curing process occurs after drying, where the flower is stored in a glass jar for usually 2-3 weeks to prevent moisture loss and preserve the aroma and flavor.
How long is the drying process?
Royal Trees typically does a 7-10 drying period in the winter and 9-13 drying period in the summer.
How long is the curing process?
Royal Trees cures it’s flower for 2 weeks – month depending on the strain.
How do you trim your flower?
First machined trim and then hand trim to save terpenes.
Do you package your own flower?
Yes, we have our own packaging facility right next to the Grow.
Do you make your own pre-rolls?
Yes, all Royal Trees pre-rolls are professionally trimmed and packed by machine.
How long is the process between seed-to-sale?
The process takes about 5 months
What does pruning mean?
Creating more air flow and more light pockets for your plants to thrive. Removing access plant material
Customer 101
How should I store my product?
Flower should be packed in an airtight glass container in a dark cool spot with controlled humidity or with humidity control packets. Extracts should be maintained at room temperature. For temporary storage of less than six months, extracts should be refrigerated in airtight containers. Solventless extracts, such as water hash and live rosin, should be frozen at temperatures below -10°C. However, freezing may increase the risk of mold growth upon thawing.
How do I know your products are safe to use?
Michigan has strict rules and regulations requiring products to undergo testing prior to sales. The state will issue products a certification confirming the completion of product testing. Royal Trees takes pride in its testing protocols and results, having maintained a flawless testing record and achieved outstanding results in 2024. If you would like to review test results for a product, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected], and we will happily provide access. Royal Trees also showcases test results at vendor days, allowing customers to learn more.
What do RELAX, FOCUS and UPLIFT mean on your packaging?
Royal Trees has created a distinctive classification system, abandoning traditional genetics terms such as Sativa, Hybrid, and Indica. Instead; the company classifies its products using the terms Uplift, Focus, and Relax.
Relax, Focus, and Uplift are the terms that most accurately describe the effects of the strain of the product bearing those labels. Relax is made using the strain Punch Breath designed to help you unwind after a long day. Focus is made using Platinum Garlic, helpful for completing your tasks. Uplift is made using Sage & Sour, helpful for beginning your day.
What products do you offer?
We have a wide variety of products that we offer at our retail locations. We have flower in 3.5G, and 28G prepackaged weights, 14G Pre-ground Shake, pre-rolls, full- spectrum disposable cartridges, and concentrates in the form of sugar, full-spectrum diamonds and cured resin
What are your team’s favorite strains?
- Mikey- Sage N Sour
- Jesse- Dedication OG
- Dylon- Cookies N Cream
- Noel- Black Cherry Punch
- Eric- Sage N Sour
- Mya- Black Cherry Punch
- Franny- Sage N’ Sour
- Mark- Dedication OG
- Danny- Black Cherry
- Punch
- Brock- Randy Moss #9
- David- Dedication OG
Want to learn more about cannabis cultivation and what makes our flower different? Explore our About Page or check out our FAQ for more insights.
To learn more about Royal Trees, or to reach out to our team, please contact us at [email protected].