The Differences Between S.O.G and S.C.R.O.G

What Is a Sea of Green?

The SOG method is a style of growing cannabis indoors that allows a grower to fill their growing space, and have a canopy that is full from wall to wall. It is basically the opposite of growing big plants, which take much more time to vegetative, train, and then flower. 

Sea of Green is an efficient way to produce uniform plants, with a fast turnaround time, whilst cutting down electric bills. The goal is to use the same strain and to only work with small pots that are systematically placed in the grow room. The growth period is limited to 10–14 days and then left to flower, reaching a final height close to 75–100 cm tall. 

There is no training required for the S.O.G method, and the total time before the room is ready to harvest is typically around 10 weeks depending on the strain being used. By harvest time and the dying period, each plant will produce between 20–30 grams of dried flower. 

When adding up the total number of plants, a grower will find their yield will be an abundance of top-quality buds, that are easy to trim, and the amount of foliage left over is far less than one or two massive plants.

What Will You Need for a Sea of Green?

• To use the same strain that produces one main cola.
• The plant count will vary from 9 up to 36.
• Pots that are between 7.5–10 litres.
• Short vegetative time under 18/6
• Fast flowering times between 7–9 weeks
• Good quality airflow and ventilation.

The Benefits of Growing With the S.O.G. Setup

1. Electricity bills are cut down thanks to a short vegetative phase.
2. There is no need to train plants, so far less maintenance is required.
3. Nutrients for the vegetative stage are minimal and used for 2 weeks.
4. A grower can have a fast turnaround time, typically around 10 weeks.
5. All the intense lighting is used efficiently without plants competing.
6. Harvesting and trimming is much easier and saves time and effort.
7. Sea of Green works great for growers with limited height indoors.

What Is a Screen of Green?

The Screen of Green method takes much more time and will require incorporating plant training methods and encouraging the plant canopy to grow through a screen. The goal behind the SCROG method is to use only one or two plants and to take the time to get them as big and productive as possible, with the time from seed to harvest taking anywhere from 12 to 14 weeks, depending on the strain being used. 

Unlike the SOG method described above, it is necessary to keep the plants in a vegetative state for 6–8 weeks, in order to grow them as big and bushy as possible, then to manipulate the growth structure using topping, tying down, super cropping, and pruning.  Growers with limited space can find growing one enormous plant at home, is more practical for them and gives them more peace of mind from a legal standpoint. 

What Will You Need for a Screen of Green?

• Start with a big pot that is at least 25 liters in size
• To promote a prolific root zone that is capable of huge yields.
• To build a screen trellis with a wooden frame and wire center.
• Long vegetative times can last up to 10 weeks.
• A high number of nutrients of both the growth and flowering stages.
• To apply low and high stress training techniques during 18/6.
• A Large sized indoor growing space to accommodate for the plants.

The Benefits of Growing With the S.C.R.O.G. Setup

1. The final yields can be very large sized.
2. Growers who prefer low plant counts will have more peace of mind.
3. SCROG is an excellent way to learn and apply plant training.
4. One plant will use all the intense lighting available.
5. SCROG screens can be homemade and customized to their space.
6. Plants will become resilient, and tough with thick woody branches.
7. There will be a large quality of leftover leaf material for making hash.
8. Hydroponic growers will often use a screen to get the maximum potential.

Which Method Is Best for a Beginner-Level Grower?

If you are new to growing indoors, and your grow space is small, then using the Sea of Green method will be a great way to produce an indoor crop in a relatively fast time frame, without needing to perform any plant training at all, and to cut electricity and nutrient usage down as much as possible.  It is best to work with genetics that stay short and do not stretch much, producing one main central cola with shorter side branches.

Screen of Green indoor grows are much more demanding and are optimal for growers who are not concerned about large-sized electricity bills and use lots of nutrients. I would also recommend SCROG to anyone who wants to be more hands-on with their plants and enjoys the idea of building and installing the frame and screen. 

Plant training methods should be frequently applied whilst giving the plants enough time to recover. Growers who prefer to use the SCROG method will get away with plants that have a tendency to stretch and treble in size, as they can manipulate the canopy back through the screen, allowing all the primary growth to remain above the screen.

My Conclusion

While these two styles of growing may sound similar on paper, they could not be much more different from one another. I love to grow plants with the SOG method due to the fact I can have a full room harvested within 70 days, whilst using the SCROG method, can take that amount of time before the plants are even ready to be flowered. 

I would recommend trying the SOG style first and then trying a SCROG the second harvest, and decide for yourself which one gave you the best experience as far as costs, time, maintenance, and total yields.

Also read on Soft Secrets:

• How to Manage Over-stretching Cannabis Plants?

• Can Cannabis Plants Survive Without Silica?

• Amino, Humic and Fulvic Acids in Cannabis Gardening