How to SCROG Marijuana Plants

If you’re looking to increase your yield and maximize your growing space, scrogging cannabis is a technique you need to take seriously. It is a plant training method that could bring your marijuana mastery to the next level by ensuring all parts of the plant receive enough light and airflow.

This article outlines what scrogging is, when and how to do it, and offers tips to make the process as straightforward as possible.

What Is Scrogging?

SCROG means “Screen of Green,” and it is a training technique designed to help keep your marijuana plants under control. When performed correctly, it can help you maximize your available growing space and enjoy larger yields.

While it can depend on the strain, marijuana plants are more likely to grow upwards rather than outwards. Scrogging remedies this situation through the use of a trellis net. Growers can bend and weave the plant’s branches through the trellis to manage the canopy. They bring the lower branches of plants up and higher branches down.

You need to place the trellis “screen” above the plants and work your magic on the branches as the plants get bigger. Eventually, you benefit from a horizontal canopy and a larger yield.

The purpose of scrogging is to get the most usable bud from plants in confined growing spaces. At some point, growers realized that weed plants focus most of their growth energy on one cola. When you SCROG, you create numerous budding sites instead of a single dominant one. If you achieve a successful scrogging mission, it will become clear why it is called a “Screen of Green.”

What Are the Benefits of the SCROG Growing Method?

There are plenty of SCROG advantages that give it an edge over some other popular plant training techniques. Let’s look at some of them below.

Light Efficiency

Untrained cannabis plants are, by definition, left to their own devices. In this scenario, the top of the plants receives most of the natural light. When left to grow without interference indoors, the bottom of the plants doesn’t get nearly enough light, which means a lower rate of growth.

With scrogging, you ensure that light spreads more evenly across the canopy. No longer must you watch as the bottom half of your plants produce little in the way of buds. Instead, you witness better growth and yield across the board.

Improved Airflow

It is also true that untrained marijuana plants are more susceptible to mold and infestations because of poor airflow. With scrogging, you can reduce mold and pests via improved airflow. You are advised to invest in a decent-quality fan to make the most out of this situation.

Better Use of Space

The majority of home growers only have a relatively small amount of usable space. Scrogging helps you make the most out of what you have. Rather than allowing one or a handful of plants to run wild, you keep them under control and get them to spread out horizontally.

So, if you have a small grow tent, for example, you can ensure that your crop doesn’t grow particularly tall. It’s also a fact that if you correctly SCROG a single plant, you could end up with more usable weed than if you have a few untrained plants.

Bigger Yield

All of the above means you benefit from higher yields, too. Practically every part of every plant is exposed to an adequate level of light. Thus, your plant uses most of the light emitted, leading to more uniform growth and a significantly bigger yield.

When to Start Scrogging Marijuana Plants

A successful marijuana SCROG depends on how you set up the screen, not to mention timing. While it is not set in stone, you may want to place the screen around 8 to 12 inches above the base of your plants. The ideal scenario is that the plants’ branches grow into the screen rather than you having to force them in.

For the most part, you should start scrogging once you “top” your plants, which should occur before the flowering stage. You may find that the vegetative stage of your crop is a little longer than usual when you use the screen of green technique. However, it is well worth the extra wait.

How to SCROG Cannabis

Now that you have an idea about the timing, let’s learn more about how to implement the SCROG system. Once the tip of a plant is around two inches above the screen, it’s time to get to work. Begin by tucking each shoot beneath the screen and moving them through the next square.

You’ll need to do this for the rest of the vegetative growing cycle. Introducing a 12/12 light cycle will start the flowering process, which is when scrogging begins in earnest. As your plants continue to stretch during the first few weeks of flowering, you must weave them through the screen by hand. Put one branch through each square to ensure your plants get enough space.

Please note that you should get rid of any branches or bud sites that can’t support big buds. By failing to complete this step, you will end up with a crowded canopy and a lower overall yield.

It’s also wise to be gentle throughout the process. Never try to force a branch through a square, as you’ll risk breaking it. Try to plan ahead and move branches in different directions to achieve your ultimate aim of horizontal growth.

Don’t forget to perform maintenance! Your plants undergo a lot of stress as you SCROG them, which means they need extra care and attention. Each time you move the branches around, make sure you water the crop soon after. Once you have finished scrogging, water the soil when the top 1.5 inches are dry. Keep an eye on the color of the leaves to spot potential nutrient deficiencies.

Considerations Before You SCROG Weed

While it may look daunting if you’ve never done it before, performing a marijuana SCROG is not as tough as it looks. Follow these tips, and you should have a chance of enjoying success with this innovative technique.

Be Gentle

It’s essential to be gentle throughout the process. Never try to force a branch through a square, as you’ll risk breaking it. Yes, you may need a firm hand to guide branches, but you also need to acknowledge when you shouldn’t force things. Try to plan ahead and move branches in different directions to achieve your ultimate aim of horizontal growth.

Know Thy Strain

Some marijuana strains respond to scrogging better than others. So, before you begin, take note of whether the plant is a hybrid, indica, or sativa. You’ll find that sativa-dominant strains, for example, tend to stretch. Such plants are ideal for scrogging because you can weave their branches through the screen quite easily.

Creating the Screen

Most people are surprised by how easy it is to create the screen. You’ll need to decide how many plants you want to grow and their likely size when fully grown. With this information, you can decide on the size of the screen. In general, it’s better for your screen to be too large than too small.

You can create a rectangular or square frame with four pieces of wood or PVC piping. Please ensure the wood is a little bit smaller than the growing area. You can use hemp cord or string for the screen itself.

Give Your Plants Breathing Room

If it’s your first time scrogging, you should use one marijuana strain. This ensures that the crop’s growth pattern is more predictable. As you become more experienced, you can take on the challenge of cultivating several different strains.

If you’re trying to grow several plants in a small space, you need to ensure they have enough light and airflow to keep pests and mold at bay. Experienced growers suggest that you could cultivate four average-sized marijuana plants per square meter of space. If you combine scrogging with topping, you’ll be amazed at how big the yield is from such a small space!

Summary of Scrogging Cannabis

For most people, it is only realistic to SCROG indoors, although if you can SCROG outdoors, you could benefit from a monster yield while remaining within your state’s cultivation laws.

Ultimately, scrogging is an outstanding method of boosting your marijuana yield while making the most of a small growing space. Consider investing in an indoor marijuana grow tent to improve things even more. A tent enables you to further control your crop and the growing environment. Scrogging in this scenario can provide quite extraordinary yields, and those who do it often wonder why they didn’t learn about it sooner!