What Is Scrogging & How to Scrog Cannabis

Scrogging, a term derived from “Screen of Green,” is a popular technique among cannabis cultivators. It involves using a screen, rope, or net to control and optimize plant growth, and therefore gain higher weed yield. Sounds easy to understand, right? But when should you set the scrog and how to do it properly? This post offers a complete guide on what ScrOG is with everything you need to know.

What is Scrog?

Scrogging is a cannabis training practice that uses a SCROG screen or net placed horizontally above a group of plants, typically cannabis plants in the Northern California and Oregon regions. The primary goal of scrogging is to maximize the growth of plants by training them to grow horizontally under the screen, especially when growing plants indoors or in limited spaces such as grow tents.

What is a ScrOG Screen?

A ScrOG screeis a piece of equipment used in cannabis cultivation, primarily to optimize plant growth and yield.

What is the Purpose of ScrOG?

The primary goal of scrogging is to maximize the growth and yield of cannabis plants, especially when growing them indoors or in limited spaces.

What is the Best Spacing for ScrOG?

The main components of a ScrOG screen include a frame and a screen: the frame is typically made of metal, wood, or PVC pipes, and provides the structure to support the screen; The screen is usually made of sturdy mesh material, such as nylon, wire, or plastic. The mesh size is typically between 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) square.

Benefits of Scrogging

Why bother with a screen? Well, scrogging can significantly increase yield, ensure better light distribution, and improve air circulation among plants. This leads to healthier, more robust growth. To break them into pieces, you can benefit from the following advantages of scrogging:

Increased Yields: One of the primary benefits of scrogging is the significant increase in crop yields. By training plants to grow horizontally and filling the canopy under the screen with bud sites, growers can harvest cannabis with more abundant and denser yields compared to traditional growing methods.

Better Light Distribution: Scrogging ensures that every part of the plant receives adequate light. This is achieved by spreading the branches horizontally and weaving them through the screen. With uniform light exposure, all bud sites can develop effectively, leading to larger and more potent flowers.

Improved Air Flow: Proper air circulation is crucial for plant health. Scrogging helps maintain a well-ventilated canopy by preventing dense, overlapping growth. Improved airflow reduces the risk of moldy weed, mildew, and pest infestations, resulting in healthier plants.

Optimal Canopy Management: With scrogging, growers can achieve an even canopy, where all branches and bud sites are at the same height. This uniformity promotes consistent growth and flowering, making it easier to monitor and maintain the plants.

Increased Light Efficiency: By ensuring that grow light penetrates deeper into the canopy, scrogging maximizes the use of available light sources. This results in higher photosynthetic efficiency and better energy utilization by the plants.

How to Use a ScrOG Net?

In this part, we’ll demonstrate how to use a ScrOG net to optimize your cannabis grow.

How to Build a ScrOG Net?

Building a ScrOG (Screen of Green) net is a straightforward process that involves a simple frame and a sturdy mesh screen. The frame can be constructed from materials like metal, wood, or PVC pipes, and should be sized to fit the grow area. The screen mesh is typically 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) square and can be made from nylon, wire, or plastic.

To assemble the ScrOG net, the frame is first set up at the desired height above the growing medium, usually 12-18 inches (30-45 cm). The mesh screen is then securely attached to the frame, creating a stable and level surface for the plants to grow across. As the plants develop, their branches and main stems are trained to grow horizontally across the screen, using clips, ties, or other methods. This technique helps to create an even, flat canopy that maximizes light exposure and yields.

When Should You Start ScrOG?

Since you want the branches to naturally grow into that screen instead of pushing them into the net after they’ve grown tall, when to scrog becomes paramount. However, it doesn’t mean a dead end if you have to manually weave the branches, just handle them with enough care.

The ideal timing for scrogging cannabis is after topping and just before the flowering stage arrives. If you need to perform topping the weed or branch pruning, do not place the plants in a screen yet, as this can affect their growth shape. Meanwhile, you should scrog the plants before the flowering stage to avoid disrupting the process of producing buds.

How Far to Place Scrog Net?

The optimal height for placing a ScrOG (Screen of Green) net is typically 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) above the growing medium. This height provides enough room for the plants to grow and develop their canopy under the screen. The screen should be set at a level that allows the main stems and branches to be easily trained and spread out horizontally across the mesh.

Some growers may need to adjust the screen height during the grow cycle to accommodate the specific needs of the plants and the grow space. The goal is to create an even, flat canopy that maximizes light exposure and yields, so the screen height should be tailored to the strain, grow medium, and other factors for best results.

How Long to Scrog into Flower?

When using a ScrOG technique, when to transit into the flowering stage is crucial. Typically, growers will allow the plants to grow and fill out the ScrOG screen for 2-4 weeks after the initial training. During this vegetative growth period, the plants will spread out and establish a dense, even canopy across the horizontal screen.

Once the screen is sufficiently filled, the grower can then trigger the flowering stage by adjusting the light cycle. This allows the plants to focus their energy on producing large, dense buds rather than continued vegetative growth. The exact duration of the ScrOG training period can vary based on factors like strain, grow medium, and plant vigor, but generally 2-4 weeks of vegetative growth after the initial screen setup is an effective timeframe to transition into the flowering phase and maximize the benefits of the ScrOG method.

How to ScrOG a Plant Step by Step?

In this part, we’ll learn how to scrog cannabis and autoflowers.

How to Scrog Cannabis?

During the crucial time between topping the cannabis plants and the onset of the flowering stage, the ScrOG (Screen of Green) net can be especially effective in optimizing the plant’s growth and yields. This is known as the “golden time” for ScrOG training. After topping, the plants can be trained and spread out horizontally across the ScrOG screen over 2-4 weeks, establishing a dense, even canopy that maximizes light exposure.

As the plants approach flowering, the ScrOG net helps maintain this flat canopy, guiding the plant’s energy into producing large, dense buds rather than continued vertical growth. Removing or adjusting the ScrOG screen at this critical juncture can disrupt the plant’s development, so growers should time the ScrOG training to coincide with the flowering transition for best results.

Step 1: Set the screen or trellis net about 1 foot above the base of the plants. This provides enough space for the branches to grow while maintaining adequate light exposure.

Step 2: Make sure each branch has one section of the net to fit in. It’s not a good idea to squeeze multiple branches into one square of the screen, as this can lead to uneven nutrient and light distribution for each branch. When manually interfering with the growth direction, do not force the plant but handle it gently.

Step 3: Now it’s time to adjust the spacing. Generally, this means keeping about 1-2 feet of space between pots. You can also gauge spacing by ensuring that the longest branch of a plant overlaps with the longest branch of the adjacent plant by about 6 inches.

Step 4: When it comes to the last plant life cycle, the flowering stage, you should remove those weak and impotent branches that are usually the lower ones to avoid decreased yields.

Note: Scrogging may temporarily cause stress to cannabis plants, and you might observe that the plant leaves appear slightly wilted afterward. However, there’s no need to worry because with adequate direct light, they will recover, and the scrogging process will prove beneficial in the long term. To provide some extra support during this period, it’s beneficial to water the plants within 24 hours of scrogging. This helps them overcome the stress associated with the procedure.

How to Scrog Autoflowers?

Scrogging autoflowering cannabis plants requires a slightly different approach compared to photoperiod strains, but the general principles remain the same.

When scrogging autoflowers, it’s important to start training and setting up the screen earlier, as autoflowers have a shorter overall growth cycle.

Step 1: Choose a suitable grow tent size (3×3 or 4×4) that can accommodate your plants and the screen. Use full-spectrum LED lights for efficient and effective growth. Opt for resilient autoflower strains like Northern Lights Auto or Blueberry Auto.

Step 2: Provide 18-24 hours of light daily. Maintain a humid environment (60-70%) and temperatures between 70-85°F (21-29°C). Allow seedlings to develop 3-5 nodes before starting any training.

Step 3: Install the ScrOG and start the autoflowers scrog training within the first 2-3 weeks of the grow, once the plants have established a solid vegetative structure. The screen should be positioned relatively low, around 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) above the growing medium, to allow the autoflowers to grow up through the screen. As the plants grow, gently guide the branches and main stems to spread out horizontally across the screen.

Step 4: Due to the compact and fast-growing nature of autoflowers, it’s often helpful to use a finer mesh screen, around 4 inch (10 cm) squares, to better support the dense canopy. This helps maintain an even, flat surface as the plants fill out the screen.

Step 5. During the flowering stage, continue to lightly train the autoflowers to the screen as needed, being careful not to overstress the plants. The ScrOG technique helps autoflowers maximize their limited vegetative growth period and produce a consistent, high-yielding canopy.

Proper timing and a lower, more dense screen are the key differences when scrogging autoflowering strains versus photoperiod plants. With some practice, the ScrOG method can be very effective for optimizing autoflower cannabis grows.

Conclusion

In conclusion, scrogging, or “Screen of Green,” is a valuable technique for cannabis cultivation, promoting higher yields, optimal light distribution, and improved plant health. Timing and gentle handling are essential for success. Despite initial stress, plants recover with proper care.

FAQs about Scrogging

By the end of the post, we’ll answer several questions frequently-asked by scroggers.

• What is the ideal screen size for scrogging?

The ideal screen size for scrogging can vary depending on factors like the size of your grow space and the number of plants. However, a common recommendation is to use a screen with 2-inch by 2-inch (5 cm by 5 cm) grid spacing. This size allows for effective branch placement and light penetration.

• How long does it take to see results from scrogging?

Typically, you’ll start to notice the effects of scrogging during the vegetative growth phase, which can last several weeks. As the branches grow horizontally and fill the screen, you’ll see improved canopy management and better light distribution.

• What does Scrog mean in growing?

Scrog stands for “Screen of Green.” It’s a plant training technique used in cultivation, particularly with cannabis plants. Scrogging involves setting up a horizontal screen or trellis above the plants and training the branches to grow horizontally through the screen. This method maximizes light exposure, airflow, and bud development, resulting in higher yields and better-quality flowers.

• What is the difference between Scrog and mainlining?

Scrogging and mainlining are both plant training techniques used in cultivation, but they have distinct differences. Scrogging involves training the branches to grow horizontally through a screen or trellis to create an even canopy and maximize light penetration. Mainlining, on the other hand, focuses on creating a symmetrical plant structure by pruning and topping to encourage a single central cola and uniform branching.

• What are the differences between SOG and ScrOG?

The main difference between Sea of Green (SOG) and Screen of Green (ScrOG) lies in their plant training and growth techniques. SOG involves growing many small plants close together, encouraging them to develop a single main cola, which allows for quicker harvest cycles. In contrast, ScrOG uses fewer plants but involves training them to grow horizontally through a screen, creating an even canopy and maximizing light exposure to all bud sites. This method encourages multiple colas per plant and typically results in a higher yield per plant but requires a longer vegetative phase compared to SOG.