ScrOG vs SOG To Train Cannabis: Which One Is Better? 

Look up the best training methods that maximize your cannabis yields, and you’ll come across two popular methods that stand out: Screen of Green (ScrOG) and Sea of Green (SOG). 

Both techniques focus on improving your plant growth while optimizing the available space space, but they go about it in different ways. And while the two names may look similar, they are anything but. 

In this article, learn all about the two training methods along with their pros and cons, a bit of how-to’s, and what to expect from them. Let’s dive in. 

Why Train Cannabis Plants?

Before we jump into the specifics of SOG and ScrOG, let’s first discuss why training cannabis plants is good. If you’re new to the game, you might be wondering why training a cannabis plant would be helpful in how your cannabis grows. 

Well, cannabis training is all about getting the most out of your plants — whether that means boosting your yields, making the best use of your space, or simply tailoring the grow to a particular strain. 

By using different training techniques, you can change how your plant grows. Want your plant to be taller or wider? Or maybe you want to spread the canopy evenly across your space? This is where training comes in handy. 

The best part? Cannabis plants are pretty chill about it — they’ll adapt nicely if you train them right. 

Training methods generally fall into two categories: low-stress and high-stress. Low-stress training (LST) is about guiding your plant gently and bending or tying it to grow in a certain way. High-stress training (HST), like Topping, for instance, is a bit more intense — it involves cutting, breaking, or otherwise stressing the plant to change its growth pattern. 

Compared to other training methods, both ScrOG and SOG put less stress on your plants as you won’t be cutting the tips or pruning anything. You can prune the leaves a bit if they are obstructing growth but these two are typically low-stress techniques. 

What is Screen of Green (ScrOG)?

ScrOG, short for Screen of Green, is a cultivation technique where you have to place a net or screen between your grow lights and the cannabis plant. As your plant grows, you guide its branches along the screen, creating an even, widespread canopy. 

This method is designed to help you make the most of the space and light available, encouraging multiple bud sites to reach their full potential, rather than focusing on a single, dominant top bud.

Here’s how it works. In a ScrOG setup, you typically place one plant for every 30 cm square of netting, although the exact spacing depends on the strain you're growing. 

The goal is to spread the branches out across the net, allowing each bud site to get equal light exposure. As the plant grows, you’ll prune the lower leaves that aren’t getting light, so the plant can direct its energy towards the canopy.

One critical aspect of ScrOG is timing, particularly when you switch from the vegetative stage to flowering. Cannabis plants vary in how they respond to this shift. Some strains will stretch rapidly during flowering, filling out the canopy, while others grow more slowly. 

If your strain tends to stretch, you might switch to flowering a bit earlier to let the plant fill out the screen as it grows. Conversely, if the plant isn’t a big stretcher, give it a few extra weeks in the vegetative stage to develop more growth before switching.

Getting the timing right ensures you have the perfect amount of plant material to work with — too early or too late, and you could end up with a canopy that's too sparse or too dense.

Once you're about two weeks into the flowering stage, let the plants grow vertically. At this point, pull fan leaves below the screen so they don’t block any light from reaching the buds. Since your canopy should be fairly even, the buds will develop uniformly, getting equal light distribution for optimal growth.

Pros of ScrOG

There’s a reason why many growers pick this method — it has various benefits, such as the following:

1. Maximized Light Efficiency

One of the most advantageous aspects of ScrOG is that it makes it possible for light to reach all the corners of each plant. This ensures that every branch is exposed to the same amount of light, and encourages cannabis plants to grow laterally across the screen. Thus, you're using your grow light efficiently and will also have healthier plants and higher yields. This is better than growing them vertically, where the lower part of the plant might be shadowed. Also, you’re saving money since the grow lights are now producing maximum output for the bills you pay. 

2. Increased Yields

ScrOG is famously used for increasing yields by creating an even canopy of numerous colas. Instead of growing a single central cola, ScrOG trains the plant to grow several evenly placed colas along the screen. This results in a higher-yielding plant as more buds are provided access to maximum light and air, creating fuller and denser buds. 

3. Better Space Utilization

ScrOG is a great option for growers who have a small growing space. And, since you'll be training the plants to grow horizontally, you'll be able to use even a small space to its maximum potential. 

4. Regular Canopy and Even Growth

Scrog helps you maintain an even canopy level, allowing all the buds to get the same amount of light. This uniform growth throughout the plant leads to buds that develop at the same pace and size, as all areas are able to easily uptake necessary nutrients. In addition, you'll be able to manage harvests easily as your plants will be much easier to take care of.

5. Reduced Vertical Growth

Even if you have plenty of vertical room, growing a full-size cannabis plant will make stripping the lower buds both awkward and time-consuming. Training the plants to grow level across the screen also controls plant height & keeps them from growing up out of your vertical space. This is particularly advantageous for indoor cultivators, especially those using grow tents or short-ceiling rooms.

Cons of ScrOG

However, it’s not really a bed of roses when it comes to ScrOG. Here are a few cons of this method:

1. Time-Consuming 

Compared to other techniques, ScrOG takes considerable labor, not to mention how much time it takes to set it all up. Once you get the screen up, you'll have to train the plants to grow sideways as the screen requires that you regularly adjust branches, tuck shoots back under the net, and then prune them. The process is labor-intensive and can take some time, depending on how your plant grows. So, in exchange for good yields, you'll have to be patient, which means that it might not be a great technique for those looking for quick harvests. 

2. Limited Plant Mobility

Once the plants grow upwards through the screen, it’s nearly impossible to move them, which makes it super challenging to inspect them when required. It also becomes difficult to train them for this very reason. To avoid this, you should leave some space around the plants to allow you to inspect them as you want. It might still be a headache to reach the plants that are in the middle, but you'll have to get a little creative with that. 

3. Highest Level of Skill and Accuracy

The only challenge for new growers is that ScrOG requires significant training, pruning, and plant manipulation. The bottom line is that a miscalculation of when or how to use this tool can mean poor growth, lower yields, or heightened stress in your plants. And if you fail to properly train them, this will certainly result in overcrowding which can directly affect light penetration and airflow amongst the buds. Therefore, ScrOG is more suitable for veteran growers with a good plant training sense.

4. Risk of Plant Stress

As you're constantly bending and tucking branches beneath the screen when the plant grows downward, it can stress or even harm the plant if you don't do it carefully. Under stressful conditions, the plant’s growth can get stunted. Sometimes, the plant can even develop into a hermie and you'll have reduced yields that also compromise the quality of the buds. 

5. Vulnerable to Mold and Pests

Since the plants will be right next to each other with little space between them, they will be more susceptible to mold. If you don’t control the humidity and increase the air circulation, the plants will be exposed to mildew and mold that occurs particularly in the flowering stage. To prevent this, maintain the right temperatures and humidity at all times. 

ScrOG is an excellent technique if you're looking to boost your yield in small spaces while maximizing light exposure. However, it does require careful monitoring and maintenance to ensure your plants stay healthy.

How to ScrOG Cannabis Plants?

Are you ready to try ScrOG on your cannabis plant? Here’s a short guide to help you get started.

1. Set Up the Trellis Net 

First, place your trellis net about 18 to 20 inches above the base of your pots. The net’s holes should be between 2-4 inches wide — this will give your plants enough room to grow while also providing structure to guide them.

2. Plant Your Seeds or Clones 

Once the net is in place, plant your cannabis seeds or clones and let them go through the vegetative phase as they normally would. Unlike the Sea of Green (SOG) method, you won’t be speeding up this phase, so just let your plants grow at their usual pace.

3. Prune the Lower Branches 

As the plants start to grow, consistently trim away the lower branches — especially the ones that aren’t getting any light. Your goal here is to encourage a wide, even canopy up top, so don’t be afraid to snip away anything unnecessary.

4. Train the Branches Through the Screen 

Once the plants start hitting the net, it’s time to get hands-on. Gently tuck the branches under the net or weave them through the holes to spread them out. This will help create that nice, even canopy. Keep doing this as the plant grows until the screen is fully covered.

5. Switch to Flowering 

When the net is completely filled out, it’s time to switch your plants into the flowering stage. At this point, the plants will continue to grow vertically, and you’ll want to make sure to pull the fan leaves down below the net to maximize light exposure to the budding sites. That’s it. 

What is Sea of Green (SOG)?

Image Credit - FatNeil

The Sea of Green (SOG) technique takes a different approach from ScrOG, focusing on speed and space efficiency. Instead of spreading the canopy over multiple bud sites, SOG directs all the plant's energy into one main cola. This method is perfect if you're working with limited space or need quick harvests.

SOG is all about growing many small plants rather than a few large ones. By packing your grow space with tightly spaced plants, each focusing on a single cola, you can yield dense, high-quality buds faster. 

The key here is switching the plants to the flowering stage early, which keeps them short and encourages fast bud development. Unlike ScrOG, SOG doesn’t aim for a wide canopy but maximizes the number of plants that can fit in the space.

Since your plant’s goal is to concentrate its energy on one big cola, SOG works best with clones, not seeds. Clones respond to the early switch to flowering by kicking into overdrive, growing strong stems and branches before focusing on developing that top cola. 

To implement SOG, you must pack around 40 clones per square meter. After a week or two to settle, switch them to a flowering light cycle. While it might seem like you’d get small, weak plants, most clones will rapidly grow upwards before focusing all their energy on the main cola.

You must invest in strong grow lights, though — they are crucial. Uneven or weak lighting can cause some of your plants to overshadow others, reducing yield. Because the plants are packed closely, good air circulation is also important to prevent heat buildup and mold issues.

In short, SOG is ideal for those seeking fast harvests in small spaces, provided you're working with clones and have the right lighting and airflow.

Pros of SOG

As with ScrOG, SOG has various benefits that appeal to many growers. Here are a few of them:

1. Faster Harvests

Faster turnaround is one of the most important advantages of the SOG method. Unlike ScrOG which takes a long time in the vegetative stage, SOG involves growing a lot of plants and flipping them to their flowering stage quickly, which means that the time you spend in the vegetative period is very short. In addition, this will reduce a lot of time from the entire life cycle of the plant. So, with shorter harvest times, SOG is appealing to those who want to pack in the most harvests per year.

2. More Yields Per Square Foot

SOG is used to help you use your growing space to the maximum extent possible. By packing numerous plants together and focusing on one main cola per plant, there's no need to train the plant using other techniques at all. The plants will fill out the area nicely and you'll enjoy a huge yield per square foot, which is why SOG is so popular with small-space growers and folks who have strict plant counts or limits on their growing area.

However, you should also be aware that since the plants have only one cola per plant, the overall yield will not be as good as ScrOG, for instance. ScrOG helps you train the plants in such a way that the bud sites increase but SOG dictates that you have only one cola, which means that although the yields per square foot is more, it falls short compared to ScrOG. 

3. Minimal Training Required

In other methods like ScrOG, you manipulate the growth of your plants, but SOG requires almost no intervention. You can skip pruning, topping, and manipulating branches as the goal is to grow one massive cola from each plant. Due to this, SOG is a simpler approach and perfect for beginners or those wanting an easy process.

4. Efficient Use of Light

The SOG method keeps all of the plants at a similar height, thereby forming an even canopy. Due to this, each plant gets enough light, which encourages uniform bud development and healthy plants due to minimum light loss over the growing area. Since the main goal is for the colas to grow big, you don't have a risk of the top branches shading and preventing light from reaching the lower branches.

5. Harvests are Reliable and Steady

It is a very good method if you are looking at growing a large number of plants that grow all the same and give predictable results. All the plants have a similar-sized main cola, which makes it easier to predict yields for the grower. This is useful for the commercial grower or anyone wanting to schedule harvests and product availability with certainty.

6. Simplified Harvest Process

SOG makes harvesting a breeze because the plants are shorter and each produces a single large cola. They are easier to cut down and trim during harvest. This simplicity decreases the time and effort needed at harvest — perfect for those having too many plants. 

7. Versatility for Indoor and Commercial Grows

SOG is popular with indoor and commercial growers because of its scalability and effectiveness. In a commercial environment, time and space are the two most valuable things you have and SOG lends itself perfectly to increasing profit margins by both decreasing the length of the plant’s life cycle and increasing yields. You can replicate the same even in indoor environments, so it's a pretty cool technique. 

Cons of SOG

1. High Plant Count

SOG requires a lot of plants to ensure that you're using your growing area properly. Sure, each plant may be small but you’ll still have many plants to maximize the yield per square foot. This might not be feasible for many growers that have a strict rule of growing only a specific number of plants legally. 

2. More Plants, More Management

You will have to devote a lot of your time to SOG. Whether it's inspecting the plants for pests, diseases, or deficiencies, having so many plants can get hectic too soon. Also, since the plants are all so close together, it can be a nightmare to navigate around them. As a result, you might miss some problems if you don't observe the plants closely frequently. It's best to take some time every week and check the plants one by one thoroughly to prevent issues. 

3. Prone to Overcrowding

As you have many plants growing together, sometimes it can get too overcrowded when a few plants decide to outcompete the others. This can reduce the airflow and make the plants vulnerable to a lot of issues including mold. 

4. Higher Initial Investment

Since SOG involves growing multiple plants in a small space, you may have to spend a bit more initially on clones. Even if you use seeds, you’ll have to shell out a bit more. Either way, the initial investment will be slightly higher than other training techniques. 

How to SOG Cannabis Plants?

Let’s dive into the Sea of Green (SOG) technique. Here's a quick and simple breakdown of how you can pull it off.

1. Start with Clones for Consistency

The best way you can nail the SOG method is by using clones from the same plant. This ensures all your plants grow at the same pace, keeping things nice and even. 

If you're working with seedlings, it's not the end of the world, but keep in mind each seed has a different phenotype. That means some might grow faster or slower, which could lead to an uneven canopy — definitely not what you want in a tight space!

2. Choose the Right Containers

For SOG, you're going to need a large container or a bunch of containers that can fit close together. In this method, plants are packed tightly, with each plant usually getting about one square foot of space. Think of it as cramming them in like you're trying to get the most out of every inch.

3. Keep Veg Time Short

Unlike some other growing techniques, you don’t want to let these precious plants veg out for too long. In SOG, you’ll only allow them to vegetate for about three weeks before flipping the switch to flowering mode. This means changing the light cycle to 12/12 to kickstart the flowering process.

4. Stick to the Basics

Once you’re in the flowering stage, treat the plants like you normally would — nothing too fancy here. Just make sure they get enough light, water, nutrients, and airflow to keep them happy and healthy. 

Since they’re packed together, keep an eye on airflow to avoid mold or overheating issues, too. That’s it! Follow these steps, and you’ll be well on your way to nailing the SOG method.

ScrOG Vs. SOG: Which One is Better?

Both ScrOG (Screen of Green) and SOG (Sea of Green) techniques have one main goal: boosting your yield come harvest day. But they go about it in totally different ways. So, what’s the difference, and which method is right for you?

Let’s break it down. In SOG, the goal is to grow many small plants, each focusing its energy on one main cola — the topmost bud site. The idea is simple: pack as many plants as possible into your grow space, keep them small, and switch to flowering early for a fast, efficient harvest.

ScrOG, on the other hand, is all about training fewer plants to grow horizontally, using a screen to encourage multiple colas and a wide canopy. This method takes more time but can lead to larger plants and bigger individual yields.

Both methods can lead to impressive results, but they do it differently: SOG focuses on yield per square foot, while ScrOG emphasizes yield per plant. And when done right, both can lead to very similar harvests.

Key Points of Comparison

While the results are the same, let’s look at some more ways the two training methods differ.

• Cycle Length

SOG is the faster option, with shorter cycles thanks to minimal time in the vegetative phase. ScrOG requires patience, as you’ll spend extra time in veg before flowering.

• Number of Plants

SOG is all about cramming in as many plants as possible — up to 16 per square meter! ScrOG takes the opposite approach, with only 1 to 4 plants per square meter.

• Plant Size

In SOG, plants stay small and compact. With ScrOG, you’ll let them branch out, training them horizontally to fill the screen.

• Yield per Plant

SOG aims for small yields per plant but makes up for it with lots of plants. ScrOG, on the other hand, targets a high yield per plant, thanks to the extended vegetative period and training.

• Setup and Maintenance

SOG is easier to set up, but you’ll need to watch the environment closely — plants packed tightly together need solid air circulation and regular pruning. 

ScrOG requires some initial effort to set up the screen and train the plants, but once it's in place, it’s mostly about tucking and weaving the branches through the screen as the plants grow. However, you’ll have to be careful with the environment with this one too as the buds will be close to each other and the humidity can rise pretty quickly. 

The Vegetative Phase

The veg phase is where the two methods really show their differences. With SOG, you’re keeping things small. Most growers use small containers, often around 4 to 6 liters, and some don’t even bother with much of a veg phase at all. 

In fact, some growers go straight to a 12/12 light cycle right from the start. This quick switch to flowering is part of what makes SOG so fast.

ScrOG, on the other hand, is a long game. You’ll likely veg your plants for 1–2 months, letting them grow big and develop a strong root system. ScrOG growers typically use larger containers, anywhere from 50 to 100 liters, to support the extended vegetative growth and the heavy feeding the plants will need as they fill out the screen.

The Flowering Phase

In SOG, your plant will flower almost immediately, with many growers flipping to a 12/12 light cycle just a week or two after planting. Because of the tight space and small containers, you won’t see much side growth. Instead, most of the yield will come from the main cola. 

With ScrOG, you’ll finally get to see the fruits of your extended veg period. Once flowering begins, you can expect some seriously hefty buds. Each plant will yield far more than in SOG, with experienced ScrOG growers harvesting several hundred grams per plant.

What’s the Best Time to Try These Techniques?

If you’ve been growing cannabis for a while without any specific training methods, you probably already have a solid grasp of the basics. That means you know how to manage nutrition, set up your grow room, handle lighting, and ensure good airflow. 

Once you’ve nailed those essentials, you might be ready to take your growing game to the next level by experimenting with more advanced techniques like SOG or ScrOG.

In terms of cost, neither method should be a major financial burden for home growers. The investments needed for these setups are generally minimal compared to the potential value of your crop.

SOG, in particular, offers some serious advantages if you’re looking for faster results. With shorter crop cycles, you can significantly boost the productivity of your grow room, allowing you to harvest more frequently. 

ScrOG, while slower, offers the potential for massive yields per plant if you’re patient enough to let your plants fully develop. Ultimately, both techniques are worth trying, especially if you’re looking to push your grow room’s productivity to the next level.

Lastly, What About Potency and Yield Differences?

When it comes to the potency of your final harvest, whether you choose SOG or ScrOG doesn’t play a deciding factor. Potency is largely determined by the genetics of your cannabis strain and how well you manage your grow room conditions.

The key to high-potency buds lies in starting with top-tier cannabis seeds or quality clones, using high-quality LED grow lights, providing balanced nutrition (without over or underfeeding), and maintaining a stable environment. 

On the other hand, when it comes to yield, there’s room for debate. 

Both methods aim to maximize your grow room’s output, but exceeding yields of 600 grams per square meter is challenging no matter which technique you choose. SOG and ScrOG are both designed to boost yield potential, but neither can claim superiority when it comes to potency or overall output.

Ultimately, your choice of cannabis genetics will influence which method might work better for you. Indica or Indica-dominant hybrids often thrive in an SOG setup because of their shorter, stockier growth patterns. 

On the other hand, Sativa or Sativa-dominant strains tend to do better with ScrOG, thanks to their natural tendency to stretch and develop more side branches.

That said, what truly determines which method to use is your plant’s growth pattern and bud structure. Experimenting with different strains will help you figure out which technique works best in your growing space.

Summary: ScrOG vs SOG To Train Cannabis: Which One Is Better? 

So, which is better for you? If you’re looking for a faster grow cycle and have space for multiple plants, SOG might be your best bet. It’s efficient, easy to set up, and great for small grows where you want to maximize space. 

But if you’re limited in the number of plants you can grow and have the time to invest, ScrOG offers the potential for bigger yields per plant.

No matter which route you choose, make sure you follow good grow room practices — consistent light, good air circulation, and the right feeding schedule are key to growing cannabis successfully.