Screening 101

[OnSolomonsGrave]

So as per request here is screening 101. Easiest way I can help you understand how screening is beneficial is this, imagine all your plants bud sites at the optimal distance from the light (The Sweet Spot). This is 1 method to help you maximize your yields. So lets move on to what you need.

The screen, easily attainable at any local hardware store often sold in the garden center where the chicken wire is located. You want it flexible enough to where it will be easy to work with but thick enough to give the plant a little added support. Here is a pic of the screen I use.

Then basically you make a frame stretch the screen across it, the frame needs legs to whatever height you want to veg your plant to, mine is about 10 inches off the ground. The frame size would be based on how many watts the light is and what kind of reflector you have, basically each frame is custom per person so I cannot really give you exact dimensions. I use vertizontal hood so i can basically put my light about 10 inches above my screen and the foot print hits my frame perfectly.

Then you Veg the plant up into the screen and when a branch goes above the screen you thread it back down and through and keep doing this till the screen is about 1/2 full. I would also suggest FiM'ing to help increase branches and help fill the screen more evenly. Once the screen is 1/2 full you are going to flip it to 12/12 and make sure during the stretch you keep threading them back down otherwise you won't keep your even canopy.

That is pretty much it, if you have any questions feel free to ask. And if you know something and I left it out speak up!

 

[Seamaiden]

Oh...! Screen of green! I kind of like LST, to do essentially the same thing, right?

 

[OnSolomonsGrave]

Oh...! Screen of green! I kind of like LST, to do essentially the same thing, right?

It's very similar, the only difference is the screen ensures constant exact height. Lst branches often grow faster then others with the screen you just thread em back down to the same height

 

[IGTHY]

So as per request here is screening 101. Easiest way I can help you understand how screening is beneficial is this, imagine all your plants bud sites at the optimal distance from the light (The Sweet Spot). This is 1 method to help you maximize your yields. So lets move on to what you need.

The screen, easily attainable at any local hardware store often sold in the garden center where the chicken wire is located. You want it flexible enough to where it will be easy to work with but thick enough to give the plant a little added support. Here is a pic of the screen I use.

Then basically you make a frame stretch the screen across it, the frame needs legs to whatever height you want to veg your plant to, mine is about 10 inches off the ground. The frame size would be based on how many watts the light is and what kind of reflector you have, basically each frame is custom per person so I cannot really give you exact dimensions. I use vertizontal hood so i can basically put my light about 10 inches above my screen and the foot print hits my frame perfectly.

Then you Veg the plant up into the screen and when a branch goes above the screen you thread it back down and through and keep doing this till the screen is about 1/2 full. I would also suggest FiM'ing to help increase branches and help fill the screen more evenly. Once the screen is 1/2 full you are going to flip it to 12/12 and make sure during the stretch you keep threading them back down otherwise you won't keep your even canopy.

That is pretty much it, if you have any questions feel free to ask. And if you know something and I left it out speak up!

Nice job! If you get that screen filled with nodal branches; you'll have big tops!!!

 

[Chewwy1234]

So has anyone tried it outdoors?Not like FDD is using it,but as a S.O.G?

 

[murtymaker]

Here's my problem...I have a 36-site aeroponic 4x4 system and my room is 5x5x7. Can I make a screen that is the whole room size 5x5x7 and will it be big enough to screen 36 plants since the 36sites are only about 6 inch apart from each other? And second will I get more of a yield screening this set up or sogin' it? IYO

 

[OnSolomonsGrave]

Here's my problem...I have a 36-site aeroponic 4x4 system and my room is 5x5x7. Can I make a screen that is the whole room size 5x5x7 and will it be big enough to screen 36 plants since the 36sites are only about 6 inch apart from each other? And second will I get more of a yield screening this set up or sogin' it? IYO

Well you could cap some of the sites and only use like 4 of them and veg up into the screen that would be my suggestion, unless you have to use all the sites? Another semi point of screening I didn't mention is it cuts down the number of plants you need under each light, so if that isn't an issue I don't now if i would screen. I happen to be in a non med state, but a med user. I am moving soon if the bill in our state house doesn't pass, but thats besides the point. If you are SoGing with clones off a good mom i wouldn't worry about screening.

 

[murtymaker]

k so I could get a better yield w/ 36site s.o.g than not using all the sites and scroging?

 

[OnSolomonsGrave]

k so I could get a better yield w/ 36site s.o.g than not using all the sites and scroging?

I would say they are pretty much the same, if it did make a difference it wouldn't be worth all the time and effort making a screen etc.

 

[blackcoupe01]

Good info, Im thinkin about doing this on my next grow.

 

[RandyRocket]

I'll have to try this some time.

 

[IGTHY]

So has anyone tried it outdoors?Not like FDD is using it,but as a S.O.G?

No, but I've been thinking about doing my whole Green house floor with the S.O.G. and screening.

 

[murtymaker]

Here's a good question. Is it worth it to only use 20sites(or less) out of the 36sites and screen it if the laws in your state are you have to have under 25 plants or its a 2nd degree felony? Or should you just go for it with 36sites s.o.g? Maybe you can get 20 sites w/screen to yield the same amount as 36 sites w/o screen and be safer if you get pinched. God forbid.

 

[OnSolomonsGrave]

Here's a good question. Is it worth it to only use 20sites(or less) out of the 36sites and screen it if the laws in your state are you have to have under 25 plants or its a 2nd degree felony? Or should you just go for it with 36sites s.o.g? Maybe you can get 20 sites w/screen to yield the same amount as 36 sites w/o screen and be safer if you get pinched. God forbid.

Perfect application of screening, it is one of the very reasons I use it, anything under 5 plants, which I always maintain unless searching for a mom, which is rare, is a misdemeanor with a 500 dollar ticket, at least in my state. I would say anything you can do to protect yourself is a smart choice, it will cost you like 5 or 6 days of veg but those 5 or 6 days are worth the 1000's in fines and time in jail for bumping up in felony charges.

 

[murtymaker]

Well it would still be a felony here, just not a 2nd degree, and I guess that is a big deal right??? max 5 years for under 25plants, but max 15 years for 25 and over. So if I grow 18 in a screen it can give me the same yield as a 36 s.o.g? If so then it's no question that I should do a scrog. Can I get some advice about this decision?

 

[Vizion420]

i take you live in the south too?

 

[OnSolomonsGrave]

Well it would still be a felony here, just not a 2nd degree, and I guess that is a big deal right??? max 5 years for under 25plants, but max 15 years for 25 and over. So if I grow 18 in a screen it can give me the same yield as a 36 s.o.g? If so then it's no question that I should do a scrog. Can I get some advice about this decision?

The only diffrence you would have between the SoG and the SCroG is the veg time, it's going to take a little longer to veg 18 plants then you would veg the 36, does that make any sense. In regards to your yield, I would say you wouldn't lose anything. If you need any help lmk.

 

[superskunkxnl]

if your after less plants and larger yield then go scrog like already said, it also works good in confined areas ie. fridge/cabinet or even pc cases. Imo sog is best if you grow a few differnt "flavours" so you can dry, cure and bag seperate strains

 

[sb101]

crazy not something i would have thought of on my own, trying my first LST right now but maybe that'll be up next

 

[havocdb]

So has anyone tried it outdoors?Not like FDD is using it,but as a S.O.G?

apples and oranges. scrogs require veg time to help fill in the screen. less plants, more big buds. useful in restricted space like dressers and small closets. people also use scrog to keep plant numbers lower.