How to ScrOG Cannabis Plants
An in-depth guide on how to ScrOG cannabis plants for the biggest yields.
As you’re browsing your favorite Insta-grower on Instagram, look away from the trichome-dusted buds and take a look around.
What do you see?
In most cases, experienced growers harness netting to train their cannabis crop to perfection. The screen of green method, better known as ScrOG, is the technique you must learn to master if you want to step up your weed game.
Ready to learn how? Read along to learn how to ScrOG marijuana plants in a few steps — it doesn’t get easier than this!
What is ScrOG and Why You Should Use It
Alright class, it’s time to cram before finals — so pay attention.
The ScrOG method is a cannabis training technique that produces an even canopy and a lot of weed.
You might ask — but how is all of this accomplished?
The answer is simple — trellis netting. Unlike other training methods, scrogging harnesses trellis netting to shape marijuana plants from early growth. As you’ll soon find out, a few tucks are adequate to get your ScrOG in action.
The benefits of the ScrOG technique are clear:
- Increase overall yield and trichome production
- Eliminate apical dominance
- Reduce the plant’s height
- Produce multiple dominant lateral (axillary) branches
- Increases yield without increasing plant count (maximizes space)
- Increases light absorption
- Increases airflow
As you can see, the ScrOG method is loaded with several positive benefits that can take your weed garden to the next level.
When to ScrOG Your Cannabis Plants
Alright, now that you understand the basics, let’s move forward.
The next logical question is — when should I ScrOG my weed plants?
The best time to ScrOG marijuana plants is once your plant is 8-10″ in height. If you’d instead use nodes for reference, you may begin scrogging once the cannabis plant reaches its 5th node.
The reason to wait until the 5th node or 10-inches is height is to ensure the cannabis plant is in the process of producing lateral branches.
Once your marijuana crop reaches either of these requirements — you may set up your ScrOG and begin.
For ScrOG, you should wait until your plant has 5 nodes.
The Best Types of Cannabis For The ScrOG Method
Next, you must consider the best cannabis strain type for the job.
Overall, it’s best to use feminized strains over autoflowering varieties. The primary reason to choose feminized seeds is that they can provide a long vegetative cycle.
Furthermore, you must select specific features to make the most of the ScrOG method, such as:
- Choose a branchy sativa, hybrid, or indica strain
- Choose a vigorous sativa, hybrid, or indica strain
Although other ScrOG guides will tell you that you should only use a stretchy sativa, the truth is — any strain can be used. The best results, however, are observed from fast-growing indica or sativa-dominant hybrids.
Since the ScrOG method is entirely based on tucking branches in between the trellis netting, you must choose a strain that quickly stacks growth.
The Best Container For The ScrOG Method
You must use an adequate container to implement the ScrOG technique successfully.
The container, however, depends on:
- The size of the grow room
- Cultivation method (soil or soilless)
- The projected final size of the cannabis plant
- Duration of the vegetative and flowering stage
For example, if you are growing weed in organic soil and intend to vegetate for 6-8-weeks, you’ll need a large container that can accommodate a massive root system.
On the other hand, vegetating for 2-weeks requires a small container. Therefore, the container you choose is dependent on the criteria mentioned above.
You’ll need to choose the right container size depending on how long you veg your cannabis plants before scrogging.
How to ScrOG and Space Plants Effectively
If you’re scrogging a single cannabis plant — you may move on to the next section. However, if you’re scrogging multiple marijuana plants, you must read this section.
Remember, ScrOG focuses on an even canopy to produce massive yields. Therefore, you don’t want your ScrOG to interfere with another ScrOG.
In other words, you must adequately space your marijuana plants.
Overall, a single cannabis plant can be scrogged to encompass one meter squared (10.7 square feet) or more. Therefore, it’s a good idea to allow ample space in between each scrogged cannabis plant.
Furthermore, you are not limited to one cannabis plant per screen of green. If you plan on growing multiple plants, you may fit up to four marijuana plants with a maximum container size of 11-liters per meter squared.
How to ScrOG Marijuana Plants in Eight Steps
Ready to get your hands dirty?
Here’s what you’ll need to successfully ScrOG marijuana plants:
- Cannabis plant(s)
- Trellis netting or screen
- PVC or wood (for the frame)
- Screw eye-hooks
- Saw
- Measuring tape
- Hammer (or screwdriver) and nails or bolts
Step One: Build Your Screen
First and foremost — you must build the screen.
Remember, this technique is called the screen of green, and you’ll need your inner-DIY to get it done.
Build a rectangular or square frame that’s self-supported. You may use wood or PVC piping to achieve this shape. If using PVC, you can utilize connector-joints to build the structure sans nuts and bolts.
If you choose to go the wood-route, you’ll need nails, screws, or bolts to accomplish the task. Remember — measure twice, cut once.
Next, anchor the screw eye-hooks across the top of the frame.
Place one eye-hook every 2.3-inches (6cm) along the top of the frame. Once complete, Attach the trellis netting or customize the screen with durable string. Make sure the trellis netting is taut.
Do you want to learn how to build a ScrOG set up? Read our in-depth guide on How to Build a Screen of Green (Coming Soon).
With a little bit of elbow grease you can make your own trellis with PVC or wood.
Step Two: Set The Screen Above Your Plants
Next, it’s time to place the screen 20-40cm (8-15-inches) above your cannabis plant(s).
Remember, once you begin scrogging — there’s no going back. Therefore, you must be methodical and strategically arrange the branches.
Step Three: Top or FIM Your Cannabis Plants (Optional)
Although not necessary, we recommend that you top or FIM your cannabis plants at this stage.
Remember, you may top your cannabis plants once they exhibit 5-nodes, which perfectly aligns with the ideal timing of scrogging marijuana plants.
Topping and FIMing weed produce multiple branches instead of one, making your job easier once it’s time to tuck branches into the ScrOG.
Therefore, cut off the terminal bud or cut it in half and watch 2-4 new branches grow after 1-week.
If you don’t know how to top or FIM weed plants, head over to our guide — How to Top and FIM Cannabis Plants.
We recommend that you FIM or top your cannabis plants when you’re doing ScrOG.
Step Four: Tuck and Weave The Branches
Once the cannabis plant branches pass through the netting (minimum 5cm above the net), it’s showtime.
At this point, it’s time to weave cannabis branches through the netting. You must be gentle because you don’t want to break anything during this delicate process.
Remember — tuck and weave.
At first, each branch will only go so far. However, as the branches continue to grow, you can continue to weave the branches into isolated netting sections.
Remember, you will most likely begin weaving the outer branches before the inner stems. Make sure you do not weave the outer branches towards the middle. Instead, focus the outer branches towards the outer portion of the netting.
Lastly, never place two branches into the same square.
Gently tuck the branches below your netting and make sure to point the outer branches towards the outside of the trellis.
Step Five: Maintain An Even Canopy
Once you’ve started to weave branches into the netting, you must focus on maintaining an even canopy.
Whether you’re scrogging one or multiple marijuana plants, your sole concern remains with tucking branches that exceed others. Therefore, if a single branch towers over the rest — weave it into the netting!
Make sure you maintain an even canopy.
Step Six: Switch To Flowering
Once the entire netting is filled and turned into a screen of green — it’s time to flower.
If you’re scrogging your weed plants indoors — the time is now to switch the light schedule to 12/12. If you’re growing outdoors, you must continue to weave until the flowering season begins.
Step Seven: Lollipop Your Marijuana Plants
Next, it’s time for a bit of maintenance.
Before the cannabis plant goes into a full-blown flowering mode, you need to trim a bit down there. In other words, break out the trimmers and perform the lollipop method to clear out all of the lower growth that isn’t receiving any light.
By removing the lowest quarter of growth, you’ll force the marijuana plant to focus its resources on the upper-most growth.
Unsure how to lollipop weed plants? Head over to our guide — How to Lollipop Cannabis Plants (Coming Soon).
Before flowering begins you’ll want to lollipop your plants.
Step Eight: Enjoy An Amazing Yield
Once the flowering stage begins, it’s time to kick back and watch the buds stack.
All of your hard work and focused attention will pay off as you watch each branch put on massive nugs as the weeks pass by.
Furthermore, the netting provides a dual purpose — support. As the cannabis flowers’ weight increases, the net below will give your resin-packed buds adequate support.
You’ll be happy you used the ScrOG method once you see the results!
A Lot of Work For a Lot of Bud
Although the ScrOG method requires a lot of work, time, and attention — it’s worth it.
There’s no better way to transform a single cannabis plant into a bud producing machine than the screen of green technique. Now that you understand how to ScrOG marijuana — it’s time to amplify the results by incorporating additional methods, such as:
- LST (Low-stress training)
- Mainlining
- Topping/FIM
Whether you choose to incorporate additional cannabis training techniques or not — you’ll be beyond impressed by the results of your ScrOG harvest.
Learn About More Cannabis Training Methods: