Maximum Yield Cannabis USA March/April 2019 | Page 45

SCROG
HOW TO SET UP A
by Kyle L. Ladenburger
CANNABIS GROW
If you want to grow your own cannabis but are short
on space, check out the bud-producing SCROG
(screen of green) method of marijuana cultivation.
Kyle Ladenburger lays out the process, step by step.
T
hroughout my life one major value that’s been consistently hammered
into my brain time after time is to always make the best of what
you’ve got. Growing up, we were by no means poor, but money was tight
enough that frivolous spending wasn’t a luxury. On most occasions we
were forced to make do with what we had, as well as we could, before
even considering putting money towards whatever it may be. This is
something I’ve carried with me into my adult life.
This way of approaching life can be of great benefit to cannabis
growers too, since space is often a limiting factor. This is true for home
growers who are almost always dealing with confined indoor spaces or
laws limiting the amount an individual can grow at a time. Getting the
most out of each individual plant and achieving the highest potential
yield possible is the key in a small cannabis garden. Many factors can
contribute to reaching such goals but one method that can have a huge
impact on end yields is a method called “SCROG” (screen of green).
It is ideal when growing in limited space or with limited plant numbers.
This method utilizes low-stress training to allow for better overall bud
development. Botanically speaking, cannabis plants exhibit a growth
pattern that is referred to as apical dominance. Apical dominance is the
phenomenon by which the main, central stem is the dominant growth
site in comparison to lateral side shoot development. This is evident by
just looking at a cannabis plant in the flowering stage. The main flower
(cola) is top and center, receiving the most light and, in conjunction,
more nutrients allowing it to grow larger than any other flower buds. The
flowers on the sides and lower portions of the plant receive less light
and develop into smaller buds commonly referred to as “larf.”
When using the SCROG method a grower will interrupt the plants’
natural apical dominance by cutting the top or main central stem off
the plant. This encourages more prolific side or lateral shoot develop-
ment. Instead of there being just one main cola, there will be several
separate heavy flowering points on a single plant. Using a horizontal
grid system, the plants will be lightly trained to grow through the grid
in more of a lateral fashion compared to the normal vertical growth.
The SCROG method is beneficial in several ways. It allows more light
to reach the maximum number of flowering sites which will direct more
available nutrients to these locations resulting in better flower produc-
tion. It will also help keep the plants lower to the ground and away from
the intensity and heat of powerful horticultural lighting. This can be
extremely helpful when growing sativa dominant varieties that tend
to stretch quite a bit during the first few weeks of flowering, especially
in rooms with low ceilings. SCROG also helps the grower maintain a
more uniform canopy height which comes in handy when doing regular
garden maintenance. The bottom line is the SCROG method can lead
to higher yields in situations where space is limited or plant counts are
lower, and it can be done in just a handful of steps.
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