ScrOG (Screen of Green) Setup Guide for Bigger Indoor Yields

Quick answer: ScrOG (Screen of Green) is a training method that weaves cannabis branches through a horizontal screen to create a flat, even canopy. By keeping every bud site at the same height under the light, ScrOG maximizes light efficiency and can dramatically increase yield per plant — making it one of the best techniques for small indoor tents.

ScrOG turns one or two plants into a tent full of evenly lit colas. It pairs perfectly with LST and topping, and it’s the highest-yield-per-watt method for home indoor growers. Here’s how to set it up. New to indoor growing? Start with our indoor growing guide.

ScrOG vs. SOG (Sea of Green)

Step-By-Step

1. Install the screen. Mount a horizontal net or screen with roughly 5–8 cm (2–3 in) squares about 20–40 cm (8–16 in) above your pots. It should be level and securely fixed to the tent frame.
2. Veg until plants near the screen. Grow plants in veg, optionally topping once for more main branches, until they reach just below the screen.
3. Start tucking. As branches grow through the screen, gently bend and tuck them back under and sideways into the next empty square. This ‘weaving’ keeps the canopy flat and fills the whole screen.
4. Fill ~70–80% of the screen. Keep tucking through the rest of veg until branches fill most of the screen evenly — leave room for the stretch.
5. Flip to flower (12/12). Switch to a 12/12 light schedule. During the 1–2 week flower stretch, keep tucking until the screen is full and even, then stop.
6. Defoliate and let them stack. Remove leaves shading bud sites for airflow and light, then let the colas grow up through the screen and fatten into an even canopy.

ScrOG Tips and Mistakes To Avoid

• Don’t flip too early. Fill most of the screen in veg — once you switch to 12/12, the window for filling gaps is short.
• Keep the canopy flat. Any branch poking far above the screen wastes light and shades the rest.
• Photoperiod seeds are best for ScrOG because you control veg length. Browse feminized photoperiod seeds.
• Pair with defoliation for airflow — see our defoliation guide.

What You Need for a Scrog Screen of Green Setup

• Trellis net or screen: a stretchy nylon trellis net, a rigid wire or plastic screen, or a homemade grid of garden twine. Squares of about 2 to 3 inches (5 to 8 cm) work best.
• A way to fix it level: zip ties or cord tied to the tent poles, or a wooden or PVC frame that sits over the pots.
• Soft plant ties: for early low-stress training before branches reach the screen.
• Photoperiod plants: so you control how long they veg and can fill the screen before flowering.
• An even light footprint: a quality LED that covers the whole tent so the outer squares get as much light as the center.
• Clean, sharp scissors: for topping, lollipopping and defoliation.

How Many Plants for Your Screen Size

In any scrog screen of green, fewer plants means a longer veg but less work at the screen. More plants fills the screen faster but needs more careful spacing so each plant gets its own section of the net.

Week-by-Week Scrog Screen of Green Timeline

How to Tuck Branches in a Scrog Screen of Green Without Snapping Them

1. Tuck when the plant is well hydrated but not just watered, ideally a few hours after lights come on, when stems are more flexible.
2. Wait until a shoot is 2 to 3 inches above the screen, then gently bend it horizontally and guide it under the next square in the direction you want to fill.
3. Always tuck toward empty space, working from the center of the screen outward.
4. If a stem resists, do not force it. Squeeze it gently between your fingers for a few seconds to soften the inside fibers, then bend it.
5. If a branch does crack, tape it with plant tape or soft tape. Most partly split stems recover within a few days and form a strong knuckle.
6. Tuck every day or two during late veg and the stretch. Daily small adjustments are easier on the plant than big ones.

Lighting and Environment for a ScrOG Canopy

Because every cola sits at roughly the same height, a scrog screen of green lets you run a stronger, more even light level across the whole canopy. Most growers aim for about 400 to 600 PPFD at canopy level in veg and 700 to 1,000 PPFD in flower without added CO₂, with the light hung at the distance recommended by the manufacturer.

In veg, keep temperatures around 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) with 55 to 70% humidity. In flower, keep 68 to 80°F (20 to 27°C) and lower humidity to about 45 to 55%, then 40 to 50% in the last few weeks.

A full screen of green can trap moist air, so run oscillating fans both above and below the net.

Defoliation and Lollipopping Under the Screen

Anything that grows below the screen gets little light and produces small, airy buds.

About three weeks into flower, remove the small shoots and lower leaves under the net so the plant can focus on the tops. Above the screen, remove large fan leaves that completely shade bud sites, but do not strip the plant bare. A second, lighter clean-up can be done around week 5 or 6 if the canopy is very dense.

Scrog Screen of Green Troubleshooting

• Uneven canopy: one plant or one side is taller. Keep tucking the tall side and bend the shorter side toward the light; adjust the light height to the tallest point.
• Screen not filling: veg longer, top again, or add another plant next run. Do not flip a half-empty screen expecting the stretch to fill it.
• Screen filling too fast: flip a little earlier; plants usually double in height during the stretch.
• Overcrowded, humid canopy: thin weak shoots, defoliate and add air movement. Dense ScrOG canopies are more prone to powdery mildew and bud rot.
• Branches popping out after the stretch: leave them in place; tucking after week 2 or 3 of flower stresses the plant and can damage buds.
• Hard to water or reach plants: use a watering wand and leave one corner of the net loose so you can reach the pots.

Harvesting a ScrOG

To harvest a scrog screen of green, cut each cola above the screen first, then free the remaining branches by cutting the main stems below the net and pulling them out carefully. Many growers simply cut the net away at harvest. Check trichomes on several colas across the screen, because the outer and center sections may ripen a few days apart.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do you veg a plant for a ScrOG?

Most ScrOG grows veg for 4 to 8 weeks, depending on tent size and plant count. The goal is not a fixed number of weeks but a screen that is about 70 to 80% full before you flip to 12/12.

Do you need to top plants for a ScrOG?

Topping is not required, but it helps. Topping once or twice creates several main branches that spread across the screen faster and more evenly than a single main stem.

How high should a ScrOG screen be?

Place the screen roughly 20–40 cm (8–16 inches) above the top of your pots. The exact height depends on plant size and tent space, but it should sit low enough that you can train branches across it during veg.

When should I flip a ScrOG to flower?

Flip to 12/12 when branches fill about 70–80% of the screen. Plants typically stretch and fill the remaining gaps during the first 1–2 weeks of flowering.

Is ScrOG better than SOG?

ScrOG maximizes yield from a few plants by training a flat canopy and is ideal when you’re limited on plant count. SOG uses many small plants for a faster turnover. ScrOG suits home growers with limited plants; SOG suits high-volume setups.

Can you ScrOG autoflowers?

You can, but because autos have a fixed timeline, you must train gently and early. Photoperiod plants are easier to ScrOG since you control how long they veg.

Educational content for home growers.

Scrog screen of green: Further Reading

New to scrog screen of green? The sections above work from start to finish, and experienced growers can jump to the parts they need. For more on scrog screen of green, these related Seeds Here Now guides go deeper: best months to plant cannabis, protecting cannabis plants from bad weather, Blue Dream flowering time. For background reading, see Cannabis cultivation (Wikipedia).

To put this into practice, browse our feminized cannabis seeds, autoflower seeds, cannabis clones. Every listing names the breeder and lineage so you can match the genetics to your space and your goals.