For those who want to optimize the available space and maximize floral production, the Scrog Technique in Indoor cannabis growing is the most used. With this technique the plant is stimulated to branch out with a mostly horizontal development, each top will receive the same amount of light avoiding unfavorable situations that are created in standard growth, where lower branches remain in the shade and only the central cola and the upper branches are favoured.

Cannabis scrogging techniques

The SCRoG method with cannabis inside the Grow Tent is one of the most used cultivation techniques, the acronym term of Screen of Green , or Green Screen, works with a special large mesh SCRoG net (5cm or 8cm) positioned horizontally, between the vases and the light source. In this way, the lateral branches of the plants can be passed through the holes in the net and then the branching can be placed in the chosen position.

In doing so, the cannabis plant will adapt perfectly to the space available, covering the entire surface, homogeneously illuminating each branch and top that will grow above the installed net. The SCRoG for the cultivation of Cannabis is mainly used by those who have a limited height in their Indoor Growing, as with this technique the plants will tend to have horizontal growth, also called candelabrum, instead of developing vertically.

This will encourage greater growth of the side branches to the detriment of the central one, thus making the plant low and wide. The practice of scrog with cannabis is also very advantageous for those who have few seeds, in fact by stimulating the plant to a "candlestick" growth, the space that can usually be occupied by a certain number of plants can be occupied by a smaller number of plants with the same yield, even more, that is obtained with more specimens.

Wich cannabis varieties are ueseful for screen of green?

In Indoor grwoing the Screen Of Green is the most effective technique to maximize the production of the plant. Being trained to grow horizontally, she will give a higher production of buds covering all the desired surface area. In fact, with this technique it will be possible to cultivate fewer plants which, by covering the entire space, will give a greater production of the crop.

When a plant is grown in SCRoG, it occupies a larger area than plants grown in the traditional way, therefore fewer plants will have to be planted, otherwise the cultivation space will be crowded and the growth of one branch will be detrimental to that of a other. A perfect success with the SCRoG technique means making sure that all the holes in the network are occupied by a lateral branch. Leaving holes empty wastes lamplight. 

With this growing technique, the plant will be stimulated to bring out the lower branches rather than the higher ones. Therefore it is necessary to increase the vegetative phase of the plants slightly, in order to give the lateral branches time to grow and reach the net. When all or most of the branches have reached the net you can move on to the flowering stage.

The lower part of the net does not receive sufficient light for the inflorescences to develop, and it is therefore a good habit to prune it, removing almost all the vegetation. Remember not to keep the environment excessively humid, due to the onset of infestations and molds, due to the close proximity between one top and another.

In hydroponic cultivation the SCRoG is widely used, not only for the qualities described above, but also because, notoriously, in hydroculture the plants have a root grip of less strength than in the earth, and the fact that the plants are well wedged into the net makes them more sturdy so as to prevent the branches from breaking with the weight of the flowers. Choose the best grow tent mesh of various sizes to suit your needs.

Which cannabis strains are best suited for SCRoG? With this cultivation technique the plant begins to be prepared towards the end of the vegetative phase but the actual technique is mainly developed during the first weeks of flowering, therefore the most suitable Cannabis varieties for SCRoG are mainly the Sative genetics.

The flowering times, longer than other varieties, of the Sativa genetics allow the ramifications to be adapted to the new setting, giving the plant time to homogenize the surface, so that when the plant begins to flower, each branch will have crossed the net completing its development horizontal.

One of the predominantly Indica genetics that best lend themselves to the SCRoG technique is the genus OG Kush, a variety that still maintains vigorous vegetative growth in the first week of flowering, a characteristic that allows the plant to adapt to the net. Autoflowering cuttings and varieties are not recommended for SCRoG but lend themselves to other techniques such as SoG (Sea of ​​Green) .

Maximize your yeld with scrog cannabis

How do I increase production yield with SCRoG? Let's see the steps in detail in order not to make mistakes and to optimize the harvest and the available cultivation space in the best possible way.

  • First we germinate the seed and we will continue with a classic growth until at least the 3rd vegetative week, without further interventions, in the normal way as we will do with any other plant.
  • After an initial phase of growth, when the plant has developed for at least 5 internodes, we begin to physically prepare it, i.e. we must force it to grow horizontally by increasing the branching, it must not grow with its classic pyramidal shape. To carry out this step correctly we will rely on a complementary cultivation technique, the Topping (or trimming). This topping technique simply consists in removing the apical part of the plant so as to stimulate the growth of the lateral branches. Let us remember that when we perform alternative cultivation techniques the plant undergoes stress, even if we will see the results on the harvest but a topping in the vegetative phase can extend the growth phase by even a week.
  • Once the plant has overcome the stress of the Topping and has completed its vegetative phase we can already see its transformation. The side branches have considerably lengthened reaching the same height as the youngest and tallest branches, its "candlestick" shape is evident, which will help us install the SCRoG Net.
  • To facilitate the horizontal growth of the plant, it may be useful to introduce another technique, that of LST (Low Stress Training), i.e. the tying of the branches. We can use this further technique, after topping, if we notice that some ramifications stand out in height compared to the remaining branches. The main purpose of the SCRoG is to send plants that have the tips of the branches all at the same height into flowering, even before implementing the net.
  • We remind you that the Net for SCRoG will not serve to give it the flat shape but it serves to distance the buds and homogenize the surface in order to illuminate each inflorescence equally, only the steps preceding the laying of the net are of fundamental importance for a good result of the Technique SCRoG.
  • We recommend installing the SCRoG Net between the 1st and 2nd week of flowering, before the branches stiffen, a natural process that characterizes the flowering of Cannabis plants. We spread the net by clinging the four corners to the internal uprights of the Grow Box structure, using the appropriate hooks. Then we lower the net a little at a time until we get just above the first topping, taking care to pass the branches inside the meshes of the net.
  • A last step to carry out is the cleaning of what is below the net. After the plant has resumed its natural growth and has adapted to the net, we can eliminate all the remaining leaves and any small florets that develop under the net. Since the SCRoG creates a "Green Screen" that will overshadow everything that is under the net, by keeping this aerial part of the plant clean we can channel all the energies above the net, guaranteeing an abundant harvest and above all characterized by large and of equal size.
  • Remember to maintain adequate ventilation above and below the net and a continuous exchange of air. We make sure that the buds as they develop do not come into contact with each other in order to reduce the possibility of mold forming.