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ScrOG growing method

31.12.2024

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What is the ScrOG method?

The ScrOG (Screen of Green) method is one of the most effective techniques for increasing cannabis yields, using a horizontal grid to control plant growth. It optimizes light distribution throughout the plant and helps to achieve the maximum number of spikelets (flowers) in limited space. This technique is ideal for growers who want to utilize the available space 100%, especially in limited environments such as small growboxes or limited heights.

Principles of the ScrOG method

The main goal of the ScrOG method is to ensure that each plant receives the same amount of light, which is especially important for cannabis, which responds to light conditions. In nature, plants often grow in different directions, resulting in uneven light distribution and consequently lower yields. With ScrOG, this can be corrected by elevating the plants with a grid, maximizing the use of space and light.

The ScrOG method uses a special grid that is placed at a certain height above the plants. The mesh cells of the netting allow the plant branches to advance through it, equalizing vertical growth. The plants begin to grow horizontally, filling the space under the mesh, and thus light is evenly distributed throughout the plant. This greatly increases the area for inflorescence formation.

The ScrOG method is particularly suitable for indica and sativa as it helps to control their growth. Sativas tend to grow taller, in which case the netting helps to slow down vertical growth and redirect the plants to the sides. Indica, on the other hand, tends to grow more bushy, and the netting helps to evenly distribute its branches for maximum efficiency. ScrOG can also be applied to autoflowering cannabis varieties, as they have a limited growth period, and the right grid setup can help you get a good harvest in a short period of time.

Feminised cannabis seeds are particularly suitable for the ScrOG method. These seeds ensure that all plants are female, eliminating the need to remove males and ensuring a stable yield. Feminised cannabis varieties are easily trained for the ScrOG method as they can be successfully trained to form horizontal branches, which increases yield.

Lighting plays a key role in the ScrOG method. By distributing light evenly throughout the plant, ideal conditions can be provided for plant development, which in turn increases yields. Using LEDs or other high quality overhead lighting will help the plant receive light from different directions, stimulating inflorescence growth throughout the plant.

Why is the ScrOG method so effective?

The ScrOG method allows the plant to develop under ideal conditions where light reaches all the inflorescences evenly, not just the top. This method requires care, patience and constant maintenance, but it can significantly increase yields by reducing the amount of plants and space used.

Benefits of ScrOG

The ScrOG method has many advantages that make it popular among experienced and novice growers alike. However, in order to get the most out of this method, you need to prepare properly and understand the elements that affect the success of growers using this technique.

Maximizing the use of space

One of the most significant advantages of the ScrOG method is the ability to maximize the use of available space. With the help of the grid, the plants grow horizontally, allowing for economical use of both vertical and horizontal space. This is especially useful if the grower has a limited size growbox or greenhouse. The netting can be installed at different levels, depending on how tall the plants are, allowing for efficient use of all available space.

Uniform light distribution

One of the main success factors of the ScrOG method is the even distribution of light to all parts of the plant. In the traditional growing method, light is mainly delivered to the upper parts of the plant, while the lower branches remain in the shade. ScrOG helps to eliminate this problem by spreading light evenly throughout the plant, which promotes denser and larger inflorescences. This is especially important for varieties such as sativa, which often has tall and elongated plants, or indica, which tends to be bushy.

Yield increase

With proper setup and care, ScrOG can significantly increase yields. This method increases the number of spikelets that receive sufficient light, which contributes to greater inflorescence quantity and quality.

More efficient plant management

ScrOG allows you to control plant growth more effectively. The use of the grid not only helps to distribute the branches, but also to limit their growth in height, making the plants more compact. This is particularly useful in grooving autoflowering cannabis varieties, which have a limited growth cycle and require special attention to the timing of netting installation.

What is the right way to use ScrOG?

For successful application of the ScrOG method it is necessary not only to prepare plants and equipment, but also to understand how to work properly with the net, how to train plants and how to take into account the peculiarities of their growth at different stages of development.

Plant preparation

At the initial stage, it is important to prepare the plants properly. It is recommended to use quality cannabis seeds that are easy to train. Feminised seeds are the best choice for ScrOG, as they will provide stability without the need to exclude male plants. Indica and sativa have also been successfully cultivated using ScrOG, but it is important to take into account their growth characteristics.

Indica is usually a more compact plant with broad leaves and adapts well to the ScrOG technique, creating a dense net of lateral branches.
Sativa - tends to grow tall and requires more care when setting up the netting to ensure that branches do not creep over it. ScrOG helps contain Sativa's vertical growth by evenly distributing its branches for optimum light utilization.
Autoflowering varieties - have a short growth cycle, so it is important for them to set up the netting in time and not delay training.
Feminised seeds guarantee that all plants will be female, which minimizes the risk of male plants that do not bear crops.

Installing the grid

The grid is the basis of the ScrOG method. There are several factors to consider when installing it:

Installation height: the net should be installed at a height that will allow the plants to develop and reach it, but not too early. The netting is usually installed 2-3 weeks after the start of the vegetative stage, when the plants have grown enough to break through it but are not yet too tall.
Mesh size: The mesh size of the net should be large enough for the plants to comfortably thread their branches through. The usual mesh size is 5-10 cm, depending on the size of the plant. The larger the plant, the larger the mesh should be.
Material: plastic or metal structures are used for the mesh. It is important that the mesh is strong and stable, as the plants can become heavy during flowering and the mesh must be able to support their weight.

When installing the netting, it is important to make sure that it is tightly stretched so that it does not sag under the weight of the plants. It is best to place the netting about 15-30 cm above the top of the plant.

Plant training

Training plants for the ScrOG method requires time and care. At this stage, it is important to guide the plant branches through the grid cells to form horizontal growth. This process can be broken down into several steps:

Easy stem manipulation: at the beginning of the growing season, gently press the tops of the stems against the ground or against the netting to stimulate the growth of lateral branches. This can be done with soft materials such as tape or ties.
Gradual introduction into the netting: as the plants begin to grow, gradually guide their branches through the mesh cells of the netting, trying to create a horizontal distribution. Each branch is gently lifted and placed into the appropriate mesh cell.
Removing unnecessary branches: at this stage it is also a good idea to remove weak and unnecessary branches in order to concentrate the plant's energies on developing stronger lateral branches that will receive more light.

It is important to ensure that all branches passing through the netting are not kinked or broken. In general, ScrOG requires patience and careful attention, as training continues throughout the vegetative stage and sometimes even during the first stages of flowering.

Stimulating growth and attention to lighting

The most important task in the ScrOG method is to provide the plants with sufficient light. The light must be distributed evenly so that the entire shoot and each inflorescence receives enough light for its development. This is especially important during the flowering stage, when plants begin to develop their inflorescences intensively.

Uniform lighting: The light should not only come from above, but also from the sides, so that the light reaches all branches of the plant. This can be achieved by using LED lamps, which ensure that the light is evenly distributed over the entire plant area. For ScrOG, it is important that the light hits all growing parts of the plant evenly, especially the lower branches, which often suffer from a lack of light in traditional growing.
Adjusting the height of the light: it is important to control the height of the lamps to avoid overheating of the plants or lack of light.

Fertilizers and nutrients

When using the ScrOG method, plants need additional nutrients. Experienced growers recommend using fertilizers high in phosphorus and potassium at the flowering stage and a balanced fertilizer at the vegetative stage. Fertilizing should be regular, but in moderate amounts to avoid overdosing.

Vegetative stage: During this stage, plants are actively developing their root system and stems, so nitrogen is important. Use fertilizers that will support healthy growth.
Flowering: during the flowering stage, plants require more phosphorus and potassium to stimulate inflorescence growth.

Monitoring and care

Once the net has been installed and the plants have been guided through the cells, it is important to monitor their condition. Periodically check whether the branches are not kinked and whether additional correction of their position is required. Sometimes plants can grow faster than the mesh allows, so it is important to correct their position in time and continue to train the plants to maintain an even distribution of branches.

Attention! Errors Seeds does not encourage you to grow cannabis and does not promote it in any way. Cultivation is prohibited by the legislation of Ukraine. The article is of scientific and introductory interest only.