What is SCROG?
SCROG (Screen of Green) is an indoor growing technique in which a horizontal screen is placed above the plants and the branches are guided through it to form a flat, even canopy. With just a few plants, you can cover the whole space under the lamp.
A lamp's light is most intense close to it and loses strength the further away it gets. If all the tips of the plant are at the same height, they all get similar light and produce buds of a similar size.
SCROG takes this idea as far as it goes. Imagine a net stretched a few inches above the pots: as the branches grow through it, you tuck them back underneath and spread them out towards the empty gaps, a bit like weaving. In the end, the screen is covered by a carpet of tips.
How does it work, roughly?
- The screen is placed above the plants and the growth stage is extended while the branches gradually fill it.
- When the screen is mostly covered, the plant is switched to flowering.
- During the flowering stretch, you keep positioning the tips to keep the canopy flat.
It's often combined with other techniques, like topping and LST, so the plant has more branches to spread out.
Who is it a good option for?
It's a technique designed for people who grow a few plants indoors and want to make the most of the light. It works best with photoperiod plants, because you can extend their growth for as long as needed to fill the screen. Sativa or hybrid strains, which stretch and branch out well, usually adapt best.
It's possible with autoflowers, but they have little time to fill the screen. Also keep in mind that once the branches are woven together, you can no longer move the plants.
Related terms
Before you grow, check the laws in your country: growing cannabis is not allowed everywhere.
