by: Awol/CoA
Created: 18/4/04
Version: 1.0
Overview:
The Screen of Green or more commonly known as ScrOG method, is a technique used mainly by
growers who have limited vertical space and also by growers with low level of lighting, such as flouro's,
small wattage HPS and HID lights. The screens are usually made in a rectangular shape,
although other shapes can also be used with good success. The ScrOG method can be used with
hydroponic or organic plants, seeds and also the more commonly used for this method, clones.
The main goal of using the ScrOG method is to have more area of lighting available to the plant or plants,
usually resulting in more potent buds and higher yields. The ScrOG method is best used by novice and
experienced growers, a good knowledge of pruning and training is required.
Materials:
Chicken wire: 2 inch poultry netting is the most common used.
8 pieces wood: 4 for the frame and 4 for the legs of the frame.
Nails: You can also use screws for extra structure stiffness.
U Nails: This will be required to fit the chicken wire to the framework.
Twist ties: Preferably plastic coated, paper coated ties could cause mold.
Clones: Approximately 1 per square foot, although 2-3 is fine but results in more work.
Plants:
First of all we need to prepare the plants we are using for the ScrOG.
Most commonly clones are used with this method, some reasons being that their growth is more predictable
and you will have more branches when compared to seed grown plants. First you will need to grow your
clones normally, when they have reached roughly 5-6 inches in height they are topped, this will help to
produce more side growth and stop vertical growth and also increase yield and even plant growth.
Please note; Always use the same/similar strain of clones or plants for the ScrOG method. If you use
multiple varied strains, it will result in more work and the plants may not
grow and flower at the same rate.
The Screen:
When the clones have been grown to the appropriate height, we need to make the screen.
The size of the screen is only determined by how big you want it and how much room you have.
With the eight pieces of wood, simply make a frame to the size you require with 4 of them, the other
4 will be used as legs. It isn't necessary to stabilize the legs all the time, but if your going to be using
a decent amount of clones, you will need to strengthen the frame so it withstands the weight.
To strengthen the frame, either use corner blocks or brackets bought from your local hardware store.
Make the screen roughly 20-30cm higher then the pots your using to grow the clones in.
Once you've finished making the framework, you now need to apply the chicken wire.
There are a few ways to fix the wire on the frame, most commonly growers just use U-nails and fix
it to the above framework. Here is an example of a well constructed frame:
Training & Pruning:
Once your clones have developed adequate branches, it's time to start training them before we move them
into the ScrOG setup. It's best to train the branches in a 'T' as apposed to the normal 'V' formation,
the reason behind this is to spread the branches over a wider area and more branch control,
we do this by using the twist ties. You will need to leave the twist ties on the branches for roughly a 2-3 week period,add another week if your clones are growing slowly or the branches are soft.
When the clones have adequate new outward and upward growth, it's time to move them into the setup
and start developing the screen of green.
When the branches have reach the length of the screen in the direction they are growing, you will need to tip
the end of the main branches, this will help upward branch growth into the screen. The next step is training
branch growth that the buds will form on which will eventually be all colas, using twist ties, tie the branches
to the screen facing upward to the light and make them as straight as possible. Without using twist ties,
the branches will grow upward on an angle and may result in less yield due to some branches not
receiving adequate lighting.
Any lower growth below the third or second nodes should be removed, due to the upper growth,
not much light will be getting to them, this bottom growth is commonly called 'suckers' because they take
nutrients away from the upper growth and can slow the upward branch growth.
After some time, the branches that the buds will form on will eventually grow to a decent height,
we now need to top these upward growing branches so we have even uniform growth.
These branches will eventually stretch when the lighting period is switched to flower (12/12),
during the flowering period, don't not perform anymore topping or tipping, but with all our previous work,
everything should grow evenly and not much more work is needed, only sparse maintenance until
the grow is completed. Here's a few examples of the training process:
Tips & Info:
When using the twist-ties or more commonly known as 'gardening wire',
do not twist them on tightly, twist them only enough to make the branch point in the direction
your wanting them to go too.
With 2 inch Chicken wire, you can fit 1-5 branches in each opening.
If your chosen strain is a good yielder, only use 1-3 per opening.
The ScrOG method can be used outdoors effectively.
It will involve more attention than an indoor ScrOG but will also produce a higher yield,
which is worth the extra attention.
Happy ScrOG'ing......
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