Quick answer: ScrOG (Screen of Green) trains branches horizontally through a net or screen so more bud sites share even light. It works best with photoperiod plants you can veg long enough to fill the net, a manageable plant count, and time to tuck daily. Skip ScrOG for tiny micro-grows, neglected gardens, or genetics you refuse to train.

ScrOG is a canopy method, not a substitute for basics like light intensity, environment, and watering. For topping, LST, or late defoliation timing, use Kind Seed Co’s dedicated guides and keep this page focused on the screen.

What ScrOG Is (and Isn’t)

Without a screen, upper tops hog light and lower sites lag. ScrOG spreads the canopy into a flatter “table” of colas. You install a horizontal screen above the pots, weave growing tips through the holes during late veg and early stretch, and prune under-canopy fluff that will never see strong light.

Not the same as: SOG (Sea of Green, many small plants, minimal veg), pure LST without a net, or uncontrolled trellis sprawl outdoors.

When ScrOG Helps, and When It Doesn’t

Good fit

• Photoperiods you can veg until the net is ~70-90% full before flip
• Tents/rooms where even PPFD across a flat canopy matters
• Growers willing to tuck/weave for 1-3 weeks through stretch

Skip or delay ScrOG

• Autoflowers with very short veg (possible with gentle early nets, but less forgiving)
• One neglected plant in a huge room (fill with more plants or a different method)
• Extreme stretch sativa-leaners if you flip too late and run out of headroom above the screen
• Anyone who can’t access the garden daily during fill

Strain, Pot, and Spacing Planning Table

Example starting ranges. Adjust to your tent footprint and cultivar notes:

Setup style	Plants / m2 (example)	Pot size (example)	Screen height above medium	Notes
Multi-plant ScrOG	~4 in <=11 L pots	3-11 L	~20 cm / ~8 in (often 0.7-1.3 ft range)	Classic even fill
Single-plant ScrOG	1	~25 L class	Similar height, wider screen	Longer veg to fill
Compact tent	1-4	Match tent	Leave stretch room above net	Measure light distance

Hole size often lands around a few inches across so tips pass easily but still get support. Nylon/hemp nets or rigid screens both work if secured to tent poles or a frame.

ScrOG Setup Procedure

1. Veg healthy plants first

Start with strong roots. Top or apical-prune early if you want multiple mains. ScrOG loves several strong tops. Link out to topping/LST articles for those techniques. Do not duplicate full tutorials here.

2. Install the screen

Mount level. Height should leave room for flower stretch above the net without burning on lights. Confirm you can still reach edges for weaving.

3. Tuck and weave on a rhythm

As tips rise ~5 cm / a couple inches above the net, gently weave them to open holes. Work from center outward for even fill. During stretch after flip, continue tucking until the canopy is set. Then stop aggressive weaving so flowers can stack.

4. Clean the undercarriage

Remove lower growth that will stay in darkness (lollipopping-style cleanup). Keep airflow under the table. Full lollipop SOPs can live on a sibling post. Here it’s ScrOG maintenance.

5. Feed, water, and support

A flat canopy drinks more evenly when healthy. Watch edge pots vs center microclimates. Add yo-yos/stakes only if heavy colas need help later.

Simple Weave Calendar (Example)

Phase	Focus
Early-mid veg	Build structure, optional topping, no rush to net
Late veg	Install net, begin tucking as tips reach screen
Flip to flower	Continue weaving through stretch
Post-stretch	Stop heavy training, maintain clean under-canopy
Mid-late flower	Support only, avoid high-stress bending on brittle stems

Combining ScrOG With Other Training

Combo	Role with ScrOG	Caution
LST	Shapes branches toward empty holes	Don’t snap stems
Topping / FIM	Creates multiple mains to fill net	Top early enough to heal before flip
Lollipopping	Clears weak lowers under the screen	Don’t strip too hard at once
Mainlining	Symmetric mains into a ScrOG table	Time-intensive, advanced
Supercropping	Emergency height control	High stress, sparingly

Link Kind Seed Co guides for LST, topping, and late-flower defoliation. Do not retitle this into an all-training hub.

What to Expect

A filled ScrOG often looks like a sea of evenly lit tops rather than Christmas-tree plants. Yield potential depends on light, genetics, and grower skill. ScrOG is a tool, not a guarantee. Expect more daily interaction during fill weeks.

Want cultivars that respond well to training? Explore vigorous photoperiod feminized lines and read each strain’s stretch notes before you commit the net.

Gear Checklist

• Screen or net with openings large enough for tops
• Zip ties or clips to secure the net to poles
• Soft plant ties for stubborn branches
• Clean scissors for under-canopy cleanup
• Notebook or phone notes for tuck dates and flip date

Cheap nets work if they stay tight. A sagging screen creates an uneven canopy and defeats the purpose.

Common ScrOG Mistakes

Flipping before the net is filled. You will stretch into empty holes and finish with a patchy table.

Mounting the screen too high. Plants waste veg energy reaching it. You lose training time.

Mounting too low under a strong light. Tops bake during stretch.

Ignoring edge plants. Corners dry differently and lag. Rotate or hand-water edges.

Heavy supercropping every day. ScrOG is mostly gentle tucks. Save high-stress moves for emergencies.

Indoor vs Outdoor ScrOG Notes

Indoors, ScrOG shines under even LED or HID footprints in tents and rooms. Outdoors, horizontal nets can still support branches in wind, but true ScrOG fill is harder with moving sun angles. Many outdoor growers use trellis more for support than classic indoor ScrOG tables. Keep outdoor trellis deep-dives on trellising articles. Link rather than absorb.

Aftercare Through Harvest

Once weaving stops, your job is environment and irrigation. Watch for larfy lowers that appear after stretch and clean thoughtfully without stripping the plant bald overnight. Support colas that lean into walkways. At harvest, cut section by section if the net is in the way. Some growers cut the net away carefully rather than untangling every cola.

Measuring Success Without Hype

Judge ScrOG by canopy evenness and how few popcorn sites remain in darkness, not by social-media yield claims. Genetics, pot size, and light intensity still dominate outcomes. A perfect net under a weak light remains a weak garden.

FAQ

Is ScrOG better than SOG?

Different goals. ScrOG uses fewer plants and more training. SOG uses many small plants and short veg. Choose based on plant count limits and time.

Can I ScrOG autoflowers?

Sometimes, with early gentle nets and realistic fill expectations. Short autos may finish before a full table forms.

How high should the screen be?

Often around ~8 inches / ~20 cm above the medium as a starting point, with enough room above for stretch under your lights. Measure your tent.

When should I stop weaving?

After stretch, when the canopy is even. Continued hard bending of flowering stems risks damage.

Will ScrOG replace good lighting?

No. Even canopies still need adequate light, environment, and irrigation.