SOG vs SCROG vs Regular grow

tr1bute

Member
Hey all, long time reader, first time poster.

I'm moving into my own place in a few months (first rule, try not to grow in a house with disapproving parents, respect their turf lmao) and am planning on attempting (second rule, don't expect too much on your first shot) my very first grow. Naturally, I've done research for a very long time, and am not going into this blind. However, I have some questions that I would like clarified from the experienced growers out there.

This will be my situation:

Either a large apartment (2-3 bedroom) or a townhouse (2-4 bedroom + *glee* basement). Basically, what I mean is that this isn't going to be a stealth grow. Height is only limitted by the roof and grow lights above.

I know all the basics about lights, ventilation, nutes, mediums (going with soil), etc.

On to my questions:

What is the most efficient way of growing marijuana? I know this question is vague, so let me expand:

Here is what I (and many of you) know...

A regular indoor grow, ideally, has plants in 1-3 gallon pots to allow for maximum root growth. They are vegetated under flourescents or MH bulbs, and flowered under HPS bulbs. They can also be vegetated and flowered under only HPS bulbs if money is an issue (in this case its preferrable to use a special HPS bulb that has 30% more light in the blue spectrum, compensating decently for the fact that HPS lights are not as effective in the vegetative stage). Growers tend to rely on a "one month, or one foot" vegetative stage, as the plant will grow 3 times larger during the flowering stage (i.e. a plant that vegetated until 1 foot length, will become 3 feet long by harvest time). The longer you veg, the more bud you will get.

SOG, as I understand it, is the method of putting anywhere from 1-4 plants/sq ft. Little to no veg time, forcing flowering with a 12/12 light/dark cycle. The main cola receives all the light, and the lower leaves are cut because light will not be penetrating down there anyway. This is a good choice for high yield/quick rolling harvests.

SCROG, again, as I understand it, is like SOG, but only needs about 1 plant per sq ft. A chicken wire net goes over the plants, and accomplishes a similar effect to LST'ing. A canopy of leaves to absorb the maximum amount of light is achieved. This method is used when the grower is limitted by height restrictions. This method vegetates for a week or two more than the SOG method as the plants have to be allowed to properly grow into the netting.From what I've read, in terms of yield (and equal skill and care applied);
1) SCROG > (or equal to) SOG > REG. Is this true?

2)
a) SOG and SCROG are better adapted for use with cheaper flourescents?
b) Assuming the use of only flourescents, and that the SOG/SCROG method does not allow for (lengthy) vegetation, and forces maturation, does it affect the quality of the smoke?
c) What if one uses HPS bulbs?

Finally, any suggestions on the best options for me taking into account electricity bills, quality of bud, and quantity of bud, and start up costs would be much appreciated.

Thank you all in advance!
 

itisagift

Active Member
What is the most efficient way of growing marijuana? I know this question is vague, so let me expand:

i honestly think they are all pretty much the same. i havn't read it but like you i've been reading around for like six months... and it seems like whatever you do, if it's consistent in SOG SCROG or Reg meaning the overall environment it's gonna end up the same. you already stated that floros would be a better method for SCROG, but im damn sure that a hps over a scrog or sog would just be that much better.
 

itisagift

Active Member
1) SCROG > (or equal to) SOG > REG. Is this true?
seems to be to me.



2) a) SOG and SCROG are better adapted for use with cheaper flourescents?

looks like it too.
b) Assuming the use of only flourescents, and that the SOG/SCROG method does not allow for (lengthy) vegetation, and forces maturation, does it affect the quality of the smoke?
no. not at all.
c) What if one uses HPS bulbs?

mh and hps are the best option for modern botany growing indoors for right now. led might one day catch up

 

somebuddy

Active Member
Depends what you want to do... I would say if height is not a factor, stay away from the scrog. SOG is great for a revolving harvest, and you can grow many diff strains. You can do the same with a regular grow, or even do a semi SOG where you harvest once a month, or so. I plan to have a 12/12 flowering room thats just always there flowering what ever clones my mothers and veg room (cabinet) make.
 

jcdws602

Well-Known Member
I like to use the scrog method I yield more and have less plants,now by better suited for fluorescent I really don't understand what you mean by that but HID is the only way to go for nice juicy dense nugs,now for veg fluorescent lighting is fine,I start out all my plants under fluoros,veg for like a month or 2 ,I have a perpetual harvest every 2 months,see I don't put them under a net until they move into the flowering room,weave the shoots for like 2-3 weeks depending on strain.You are definitely gonna have to invest in a carbon filter or you can make your own they sell loose carbon at Wal-Mart and you can get shop lights(fluorescent fixtures) for like $10 and fluorescent lights for $8-$9,timer for $14 there are cheaper ones but the $14 one has a back up battery,and if you do go hid and your only growing a couple plants 250hps would be good and won't jack up your electric bill much at all.
 

tr1bute

Member
So i think as a few of you have said the 250 hps isnt too expensive, and generally agree that sog/scrog (maybe sog because height is not a problem for me) is the best yield, i think ill go with a cheap floursecent set up for a veg room, and a 250 hps to start off a perpetual 12/12 flowering room.

TY all!
 

stink hole

Active Member
So i think as a few of you have said the 250 hps isnt too expensive, and generally agree that sog/scrog (maybe sog because height is not a problem for me) is the best yield, i think ill go with a cheap floursecent set up for a veg room, and a 250 hps to start off a perpetual 12/12 flowering room.

TY all!
i am also doing a sog set up 400w mh for the veg 400w hps for flowering i am only in the first 2 months of it but it seems like a very good system..oh and i have a drip irrgation in the flower room im not sure if it helps or not
 

andyk187

Well-Known Member
+1 JCD, if you're going to put the time and effort into putting plants in that many pots and/or setting up the net for SCROG then why not spend a little bit extra and get yourself a decent HPS light. Fluoro's might be efficient but they're kind of weak to be flowering out some nice nugs. If money is an issue, then save your money and wait. My first grow was a reg. plant under floros and the nugs (weren't nugs) they were really light/feathery and i had 10 CFL's (26 watt/each) the light just has no penetration, switched myself to a home depot HPS light around 150 watts, and Bam, NUG CITY! good luck man, and think about it, You're reading for up to six months on the best way to do this, don't skimp with a cheap light, do it right! goodluck growing and hope you get what you need.
 

jcdws602

Well-Known Member
how on earth do you do perpetual with SCRoG?
I veg my plants regularly with no net in the veg room for a month or so,then a week before they go into the flowering room I remove all the lower branches that wont receive any light,then when I put them in the flowering room I start weaving them in the net for 2-3 weeks depending on strain.And thats how :mrgreen:
 

wonderblunder

Well-Known Member
go uy a 1000w switchable ballast, MH and HPS bulbs. and you will get a good yield. As far as price goes, I could get the whole light setup for 400-450 with bulbs..... a SOG has the potential for a hearty yield. I would either start with a sog or regular grow. You are going to want to learn a little more about LST and SCROGS before jumpinng in.
Go big,, or go home.... At least go into the project, knowing that it could get bigger and bigger. Is all the risk really wourth it for an ounce of herb........Maybe you are in a medical state like many of us, but in that case as well, it is not worth it to go small.
 

Whiteboyindahood

Active Member
People somehow figure out a way to flow with CFLs but I just can't see it. I'm one of those stubborn people who use MH for increased UV for max psychodelica from THC but still. CFLs dont offer UV or lumens. It is like sex with a rubber on.
 

Botanikos

Member
I veg my plants regularly with no net in the veg room for a month or so,then a week before they go into the flowering room I remove all the lower branches that wont receive any light,then when I put them in the flowering room I start weaving them in the net for 2-3 weeks depending on strain.And thats how :mrgreen:
that method will only give you decent yields!! To maximize scrog you'll have to have it in veg for a min of a week and to get the best yields until your screen is 75% filled... I did a journal on a scrog in just flower and scrog in veg and i yielded 9oz in just flower and 18 oz in veg.(filled screen 75%) Same amount of time in veg and flower, same nutes, everything. If you're gonna do it, do it in veg!
 

blacksun

New Member
that method will only give you decent yields!! To maximize scrog you'll have to have it in veg for a min of a week and to get the best yields until your screen is 75% filled... I did a journal on a scrog in just flower and scrog in veg and i yielded 9oz in just flower and 18 oz in veg.(filled screen 75%) Same amount of time in veg and flower, same nutes, everything. If you're gonna do it, do it in veg!


I wonder how dialed in he's gotten it in the three YEARS since he made that post you quoted from him.
 

King Cobra

Active Member
You can just construct individual nets to your container.
That's a great idea...

My friend used a 250w true cfl for flowering and 110w twin cuttings propagation light for veg...he vegged for 4 weeks..not including the first week of germinating.
[h=2][/h]After 4 weeks he put it under the 250w cfl--the strain was Big Bang from Green House Seeds-- He then flowered that one plant for 8 weeks!!

He got 31g after it was dryed slowly for 1 1/2 weeks.

Not bad for a cfl...some of the buds looked as fat as HPS buds.
 

mikethegrower

Active Member
If you are restricted on how many plants you can grow then SCROG is a great way to go to get a large yield from each plant. My first grow was a 60 plant scrog and it turned out great. Had a few people on this forum try to discourage me from doing such a large grow first time out but I am glad I did it. Also got a lot of good tips and advice from this site. It is a LOT of work though and you have to spend the time and money to make sure you have a good set up.
This time around I am not restricted to 60 plants so I am going to try a sog, LSTing 1/2 of them. Like one of the other posters said, don't cheap out on the lights. I use 600w mh and hps and am very happy with them.
 
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