SCROG: Using a Screen to Build a Flat, Even Canopy
By The Budometry TeamPublished Updated
Screen of green means growing plants through a horizontal net so every bud site sits at the same height and gets the same light intensity. In a small tent, that evenness is worth more than any nutrient.
Part of our pillar guide: Plant Training, Pests and Troubleshooting
Setting up
Install a net with 4-6 inch squares about 8-12 inches above the pots. Tent poles or a simple frame work fine. Put it up before the plants reach it, not after.
Tucking
As shoots grow through the net, tuck them back under and over to the next square, spreading growth horizontally. Do this every couple of days during late veg and the first two weeks of flower.
When to stop
Stop training around week two or three of flower when the stretch ends. From that point the net's job is supporting heavy colas, not shaping the plant.
Fill the screen before you flip
Aim to have 60-80% of the screen filled at flip. The stretch will fill the rest. Flipping with an empty screen wastes light on bare canvas.
Frequently asked questions
- How many plants per screen?
- One well-trained plant can fill a 3x3 screen. Two to four plants fill a 4x4 comfortably.
The full guide on this topic
Plant Training, Pests and Troubleshooting
Topping, LST and SCROG explained, plus how to identify and stop spider mites, fungus gnats and powdery mildew, and how to read leaf symptoms correctly.