scrog during flower

[guyyug]

quick question. Has anyone used a "scrog" technique after the switch to flower? As in placing a screen over the branches, bending them like doing LST, but during flower? The branches would then try and grow through the screen giving you the same effect as a traditional scrog. I thought doing this method you could flower plants of different heights, put a screen over the top, causing some of the branches to bend, that way it is all an even canopy, at the same height. Comments?


( I know the traditional method involves doing it during veg, keeping the plant trained into the screen)

guyyug Reviewed by guyyug on 07-24-2008. scrog during flower quick question. Has anyone used a "scrog" technique after the switch to flower? As in placing a screen over the branches, bending them like doing LST, but during flower? The branches would then try and grow through the screen giving you the same effect as a traditional scrog. I thought doing this method you could flower plants of different heights, put a screen over the top, causing some of the branches to bend, that way it is all an even canopy, at the same height. Comments? ( I know Rating: 5

[stinkyattic]

Comment:
Since it's not a good idea to switch apical dominance during flower, it's better to throw a screen over your plants BEFORE switching to flower, and at the VERY latest, stop weaving new growth into the screen at the end of the stretch period- and I wouldn't even go THAT late. Once you have scrogged your canopy flat, which should be complete before you switch to 12/12, just let the buds grow up through the screen.

[guyyug]

I'm not really planing on a true scrog (weaving the branches into the screen) so much as just something to keep the canapy even and to have something to tie the branches too. it would just hold them down, keeping the branches growing more horizontal. Maybe just move the bud sites to where they will grow through the screen. I figured that will help hold the branches in place so that I wouldn't have to LST them so much. Then I could tie the branches to the screen keeping them from "sagging".

(quote) Since it's not a good idea to switch apical dominance during flower (quote)

You think bending the branches to grow horizontal would actually hurt total yeild? From what I have seen, it has increased growth for the lower bud sites, though I don't know if it "took away" from the main cola or not.

[stinkyattic]

Remember your prime buds come from high, dense colas exposed to intense light and good air movement. Google 'pistilwhipt method' for an extreme example of maximizing top and minimizing bottom. Total yield depends mostly on light, CO2, and food- aim for the DISTRIBUTION of that yield to be mostly in high-quality top buds, not low nasty popcorn.

[hudson88]

Hey,

this is something i've just done a few weeks ago, I had a white widow clone in a dwc system and put it into flower a little late as i was waiting for space. first dwc grow and i underestimated how big it was gonna get in the stretch after flicking to 12/12. In an effort to try and control the plant I built a scrog screen and put it on the plant around 7 days after going 12/12.

It's been a real pain, the shoots start getting pretty brittle in flowering, makes it hard to get them where you want them, i broke a couple too. Also as i understand scrog, part of the concept is doing it early enough so the plant grows horizontal and the lower shoots can be made use of, it's highly unlikey your plant will still be limber enough in flower. But that won't really apply as your just after an even canopy. I wouldn't advise doing it unless you really have to (i feel i had to as i only use a 250 hps and with the limited penetration they offer i think most of the budsites would of got inadequate light and LST was out of the question because the DWC gave such crazy branching.

If your just after an even canopy i'd do LST, I think it'll be less work. But if you decide to give scrog a go i'd make the screen holes pretty big so you got more room to train your tough stems through.

JMO Good luck!

[guyyug]

Thanks for the info stinky and the "real world experience" hudson. On pistilwhipt or "lollypop" plants, it would seem to be ideal with a low wattage light, but what about a 1000W HPS? How would you utilize the penetration with it? I toped my plants prior to flower and that worked great, but I also underestimated the stretch and had to tie them up, as the different strains were growing at different rates, making it hard to keep the light high enough.

Have you noticed a drop in yeild by topping and removing lower branches causing more colas instead of leaving one main stem and stripping lower branches? Thanks again

[GrowinGreen23]

it's less stress to the plant when you start SCROG from an early growth, that doens't mena you have to take the screen out when you do go to flower, just don't weave the new growth into the screen.

GG23

[guyyug]

So, would you not cause stress if you LST during flower, if you left it to grow normally during veg?

[hudson88]

So, would you not cause stress if you LST during flower, if you left it to grow normally during veg?

I would think whenever you LST or scrog you're gonna stress the plant, just the earlier you do it the better the plant adapts and the more beneficial it it. Also the stress caused in flowering will probably slow bud growth just at the time it should be kicking in, resulting in reduced yields. JMO

:rastasmoke:

e2a but a little lst started in flower isn't the same as doing it early on, the plant won't grow the same way (your not gonna get the horizontal main stem and colas from the bottom node going on, just even up the canopy a bit) and if you do as stinky suggested (leaving the main grow shoot at the top after the training) stress will be reduced

[hudson88]

sorry it wasn't this thread where stinky was talking about leavin the grow shoot at the top after training (i'm sure it was stinky tho) but i think it's what she's talking about when she talks about it not neing a good idea to "switch apical dominance during flower", sorry if it wasn't you or i've misunderstood stinky.

:rastasmoke: