Secret Jardin WebIT Elastic Scrog Netting
Scrogging stretches plant branches out into a screen, creating an even canopy. Scrogging has several benefits:
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Light can hit more branches, therefore producing more buds and higher yields
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Air can flow through the plant more, helping to reduce mould and pests
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Branches get structural support, so heavy buds don’t weigh down the plant and snap branches
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It makes plants easier to work on because branches are more spread out
All branches above the screen—the canopy—will fill out with thick buds, while most of the foliage below the screen will get shaded out. You’ll want to prune the bottom branches and dead leaves below the screen because they either won’t produce buds or will produce buds that are of poor quality.
By cutting off these lower branches, the plant can focus its energies above the canopy, producing high quality buds up there.
When To Start Scrogging
Scrogging works best if you stay one step ahead of the plant—ideally, you want to set the screen so branches grow into it, as opposed to having to push branches into it after. Monitor your plants week by week and help branches through the screen as they grow.
If you do need to set a screen after the fact and put branches in it, it’s not the end of the world, just be gentle with your plants.
The branches should be in a screen after plants are done getting topped, and before flowering. If you still have to top or cut off branches, plants will take a different shape, so they shouldn’t be in a screen yet; and you want branches set in a screen before flowering so as not to disturb plants while they are producing buds.
Other considerations before you Scrog
Scrogging works best when combined with topping. Topping will help keep branches a similar length and keep the canopy even so light can hit buds sites evenly.
Height: Set the screen about 1 ft. above the base of the plants.
Size: It’s helpful to keep the same strains together as they will have a similar size and shape. If you have multiple strains, group them by height.
Spacing: Be sure to space your plants properly. The branches of one plant should slightly interlock with the branches of the plants next to it—generally speaking, this means about 1-2 ft. between pots. A better way to gauge spacing is to stretch out the longest branch of a plant toward the plant next to it—if it reaches the middle of the next plant it’s too close; it should overlap with the longest branch of the adjacent plant by 6” or so.