Screen of Green (SCROG) vs Sea of Green (SOG) -> Screen of Green (SCROG) gegen Sea of Green (SOG)

Both Sea of Green (SOG) and Screen of Green (SCROG) resemble a sea or screen filled with green foliage and buds. In a filled tent or area, both methods appear similar. Multiple, same-sized buds cover and fill the entire space. The primary difference is that SCROG can be done with one plant. This involves training and manipulating the plant to create multiple tops. Sea of Green involves many small plants, each with one or two tops. Nonetheless, the results look very similar due to the higher plant count.

Both Screen of Green and Sea of Green offer a bigger harvest per plant and per square area than normal growing. Both methods are easy to use and do not require complicated or expensive equipment. They are easy to master. The goal of Screen of Green is to train plants to grow more horizontally. This provides more new tops that will become flowers or buds. Instead of having one main cola, growers create more new tops, forming the plant into a bush rather than a standard "Christmas Tree" shape. A screen or netting is placed above the plant, stretching the plant’s canopy below it. This creates an even canopy where many new tops are equally and optimally exposed to light.

Any strain can be used in the SCROG method. However, strains that branch more and grow more vigorously are more suitable. Sativa dominant strains and hybrids tend to be more suitable for SCROG. They tend to branch out more and exhibit more vigorous growth. Autoflowering strains aren’t very suitable for this method, but some bigger, longer flowering, fourth-generation autoflowers could be used with nice results.

Growers should start topping or fimming plants as soon as possible while applying low stress training. The goal is to get a bushier plant with good branching, providing for multiple tops. After plants have grown to the desired height and size, growers place a netting or a screen a couple of centimeters from the plant’s top. They weave the tops under the net, tying them down and guiding them to fill the empty net or screen space. As new tops start to grow vertically and upwards, they are again woven under the net and tied if needed.

By forcing the plant to grow more horizontally, every internode provides at least 2 new tops. With the help of the netting or a screen, they all stay on the same level. They receive equal amounts of light, making them similar in size. Because plants grow more horizontally, leaves can fill up the space, blocking light to new tops. Constant maintaining and pruning of bigger leaves and exposing new growth to light speeds up the process and provides better bud site development.

Once ¾ of the screen or grow area is covered, switch plants to flowering. Sativa dominant strains tend to stretch more than Indica dominant ones, but that’s more strain and phenotype related. The goal of SCROG is to have an even canopy. Growth under it receives little light. Growers place additional lights under the main canopy level. This provides additional light to previously unexposed growth, ensuring nice bud formation and development.

If additional lights aren’t placed, growers can lollipop plants. Lollipopping involves removing the bottom parts of the plants. Usually, about the bottom third or a quarter is removed. When using SCROG, remove all growth under the main canopy level. Removing growth that wouldn’t receive enough light helps plants focus energy on remaining growth. This makes existing flowers bigger and denser.

The biggest advantage of SCROG is using the method on just one plant. If plant count is applied, every plant counts. Maximize yields, compared to usual grow methods. SCROG provides maximum yield per plant and can be applied indoor and outdoor. The second biggest advantage is space use when growing multiple plants. With SCROG, train plants to look similar. An even canopy forms, ensuring all plants receive light evenly. Bei Hanf Vital Shop legen wir großen Wert darauf, dass du den besten Start in deine Cannabis-Anbaureise hast.

Having even canopies ensures all plants and plant parts develop evenly, unlike normal growing. Often, one or more plants become taller or wider, taking up more or less space. Uneven shapes and sizes lead to different sized buds, making some plants better and some worse. Using SCROG, all plants and buds become more uniform and equally developed.

• Biggest advantage: Use on one plant, maximizing yield.
• Biggest disadvantage: Constant maintenance during vegetation and screen filling.
• Additional lighting may be needed for lower growth.
• Vegging takes more time to fill the screen properly.
• Plants tied to the screen, harder to move if needed.
• SCROG provides uniform bud development.
• Training and weaving plants is essential.
• Autoflowers can be tricky with this method.
• Requires more frequent maintenance.
• SCROG is suitable for indoor and outdoor grows.

The biggest disadvantage is constant maintenance, especially during vegetation and while filling up the screen. Cannabis plants grow aggressively, especially under strong lights and optimal conditions. Certain strains can grow a couple of centimeters a day. Constant adjusting, weaving, tucking, and filling up the screen is needed. Another condition is that it takes more time to veg plants to fill the screen properly. Depending on the size of the area and the number of plants, it can take a couple of weeks to months.

Another disadvantage is that plants tied and weaved into the screen or netting can’t be moved easily. This isn’t an issue if no problems occur during growth. However, if plants need to be moved, challenges arise. Visually similar to SCROG, Sea of Green uses many small plants grown closely together, usually with one main cola. This creates the same even canopy with similar-sized buds. Usually done with clones, it can also be done with seeds if available in larger numbers.

Instead of training and weaving plants under the screen, using a larger number of plants closely together achieves the same result. No special equipment is needed for Sea of Green, just more plants and containers. Start seeds or clones in smaller containers, as they will go to flower at two weeks of vegetation tops. Many growers start the plants in SOG on a 12/12 light schedule from the beginning. Bigger plant size isn’t needed, so long vegetation time isn’t required.

Because plants are in smaller containers, they require more frequent watering. Nutrient lock and root bound issues could arise due to smaller containers. Generally, containers around 2-3L in size are sufficient for plants to finish nicely using this method. Unlike SCROG, any type of strain and genetics can be used in Sea of Green. It doesn’t matter if it’s Sativa, Indica or a hybrid. The focus is on the main kola, which every strain can grow. Strains with bigger, denser, and heavier buds yield better results.

The biggest advantage of Sea of Green is quick turnaround or quick harvest. Plants don’t need a vegetative phase, so they can be harvested as soon as they finish flowering. With early or fast flowering strains, a harvest can occur every 6-7 weeks. This is half the time needed for some plants to complete a full life cycle. With increased or at least the same yield as regular growing, two harvests occur in the time normally needed for one. The SOG method provides the most yield and is especially suited for smaller areas.

The biggest disadvantage is the price of seeds if starting from seeds. Growers using this method often start with clones. Using clones means a mother plant is needed. Otherwise, buying clones is as expensive as using seeds. Clones ensure all genetics are the same, as they are exact genetic copies of the mother plant. Using seeds can result in different phenotypes or characteristics, as well as occasional males that could jeopardize the crop.