Jelly Labs is a tissue-culture-focused nursery and testing lab based in Edmond, Oklahoma, dedicated to supporting cultivators through clean plant starts, precise diagnostics, and reliable partnerships. The company's mission is to strengthen cultivation systems by improving plant health at the earliest stage, guided by science and a commitment to thoughtful service.
That mission comes to life through a model built to meet cultivators where they are. Jelly Labs works at the front of the supply chain, providing starter plants and diagnostic insight that can help operations plan their next steps with clarity. This foundation reflects the company's belief that careful groundwork supports long‑term success, a perspective shaped in part by the experiences of its founder.
The origins of Jelly Labs begin with two friends and Co-Founders, Dylan Franks and Brian Payne. Frank's academic background shaped the company's direction; he holds a doctorate in plant science with specialization in algae biology, a field that, as he notes, emphasizes controlled systems, microbial balance, and patience.
Completing his studies as the pandemic emerged, Franks returned to his home state of Oklahoma and observed a cultivation market expanding faster than its technical infrastructure. "I saw growers moving quickly and doing their best with the tools available," Franks says. "It felt meaningful to offer something steady, rooted in biology, that could support that momentum."
From the beginning, Jelly Labs was designed around propagation. The company focuses on micropropagation through tissue culture, aiming to produce pathogen-free starter plants that arrive ready for integration into existing cultivation systems. "Our role is to focus on the early work of propagation, diagnostics, and getting plants started in a stable way, so growers can use their rooms for the parts of production that matter most to their business. It creates a setup where everyone leans into what they do best." This philosophy extends into the company's pathogen testing services, which, according to Franks, function as an entry point for many clients.
Using PCR-based plant diagnostics, Jelly Labs helps identify viruses, fungi, and pests early in the cultivation cycle. The process emphasizes accuracy and transparency, with results communicated clearly and paired with practical next steps. Testing often opens the door to deeper collaboration, as insights gained in the lab naturally connect to remediation through tissue culture and clean clone production.
Tissue culture forms the connective thread across Jelly Labs' offerings. Through sterile laboratory techniques, the team isolates healthy plant tissue to support several outcomes that matter to cultivators. One is rejuvenation, where plants regain restored vigor that supports consistent growth.
Another is pathogen removal through careful selection and sterile handling. Production follows, with clean starter plants created to support dependable cultivation cycles. Genetic banking rounds out the process, providing storage of valuable plant material so cultivators maintain continuity over time.
"Stewardship of genetics is stewardship of trust. People share their work with us, and we treat that responsibility with respect," Franks emphasizes. He adds that clients often begin with a single service and gradually engage with the full workflow. A relationship based on testing may lead to tissue culture cleansing, followed by clean clone production and genetic storage. This integrated flow allows Jelly Labs to operate as a comprehensive resource without rushing relationships.
This progression leads into the later stage of Jelly Labs' workflow, the clean clone nursery, where restored and stabilized genetics can transition into full production. Clones typically leave the facility with developed root systems, shaped to align with each client's needs. Reliability is a guiding principle, from scheduling to delivery, supporting cultivators as they plan with a greater sense of assurance.
Behind that consistency is a team philosophy that values transparency, trust, and hands‑on service. Franks shares, "There's this saying in agriculture that I've always appreciated: the best fertilizer is the gardener's shadow. It's a reminder that being present and paying attention can make a real difference, whether you're working with plants or supporting people." That perspective informs the company's preference for steady progress over hype, fostering relationships that develop through shared effort.
Within Oklahoma's evolving cultivation landscape, Jelly Labs positions itself as a partner for enterprise-level cultivators seeking reliability and scientific rigor. The company's work is guided by the view that strong production systems are supported by healthy plant beginnings. While the lab operates in a specialized segment of the industry, its methods draw from broader agricultural practices that emphasize clean starts and careful propagation, a perspective that helps keep the work grounded and adaptable.
