Maximum Yield Cannabis USA March/April 2019 | Page 46

“ONE OF THE trickiest parts of the SCROG
method is determining when to force the
switch to the flowering cycle.”
SETTING UP A SCREEN OF GREEN
The first step is to set up the grid (a.k.a. the “screen” in “screen of green”)
that will be used to train the growth laterally. Wire caging will be the
strongest choice, but nylon trellis netting will work as well. Just make sure
it is secured tightly on all ends. Caging or trellis netting that has squares
of around 2x2 inches is ideal for SCROG-ing. The grid should be placed
horizontally about eight to 10 inches above the top of the pots. When
growing in a tent, secure the corners of the grid tightly to the support poles
on the inside corners of the tent. If the SCROG method is being used in a
normal room, additional supports may be needed. In general, around one
square foot of grid space should be reserved per plant.
Once the seedlings or clones reach about six to eight inches tall, where
they are just about to reach the grid, the main center stem should be cut off or
topped. This will encourage more side growth that will start to grow up and
through the holes in the grid. Be sure that each branch has its own hole to
grow through and that they are not sharing.
This next step takes a little finesse but is relatively simple once you get the
hang of it. While the plant is still in the vegetative growing stage, allow the
individual branches to grow above the top of the grid by about six inches.
Then begin to weave the branches down and back up through the grid. Each
time the plant is tall enough above the grid repeat the weaving motion in
a manner that evenly spreads the branches over the screen. You may want
to use plant clips or ties to secure the branches to the grid but usually the
weaving itself will hold them in place.
One of the trickiest parts of the SCROG method is determining when to
force the switch to the flowering cycle. The best way to figure this out is to
46
Maximum Yield