Cannabis Training Methods – Getting Started With Sea of Green
There are many different methods of growing cannabis. One that achieves an excellent result is the Sea of Green (or SoG) method. This method uses many small plants to harvest faster than using a few large plants.
What is SOG (Sea-of Green)?
Sea of green relies on a ‘sea’ of cannabis plants grown together to form a single canopy. SOG grows put the plants into the flowering stage much earlier than other types of grows.
A SOG grow can cut harvest time by a few weeks due to using smaller plants. One downside is there are many more plants and bud sites to process. The actual processing time may be increased, but harvest and yield are the same.
Sea of green is an ideal training method for auto-flowering strains that are difficult to train using other grow methods. Because the plants choose when to flower, pruning them in a sea of green canopy can increase their yields.
- Harvesting, Drying and Curing Marijuana
- Basics of Indoor Marijuana Growing
- 10 Ways to Keep Weed Fresh and Sticky
Pros of SoG
- Even canopy for even bud growth
- Same yield as growing larger plants for longer
- Useful for training auto-flowering strains
- Even light coverage creates a flat canopy
- Faster harvest times
- Grow many different strains in one SOG grow
- Smaller plants can be grown in a micro-grow
- Multiple harvests per year
Cons of SoG
- Requires many small cannabis plants to implement
- Watering and maintenance is more time-consuming
- Not a good option for growers with plant limits
- Might increase chances of mold without good airflow
- Mixing strains makes it hard to get a flat canopy
What You Need
- Small Pots – 15 cm diameter
- LED Lights with UV
- At least 8-12 cannabis seeds for best results
- Optional: Drip system for watering
How To Start A SoG Grow
You can start implementing SoG once you have plants that are around four to six weeks old. Plants switched to their flowering phase before then may not yield as much. Allowing at least six weeks of growth is recommended for maximum yields.
Some growers also ‘top’ their seedlings to increase the number of bud sites. Topping a plant involves pinching off new growth once the plant has plenty of leaves. The trauma causes the plant to grow two main stems that are easier to train than a single stem alone. Some growers top their plants many times to create several canopies on one plant.
Sea of Green Flowering Phase
At six weeks, the plants are arranged together and switched to a 12-on, 12-off light cycle. The cycle induces the flowering phase in the plants, causing them to stretch and get bigger.
Superfluous fan leaves should be removed during the flowering phase. Removing these larger leaves can improve air circulation between the plants, helping to reduce the chance of mold occurring. Be careful, though, because if too many leaves are removed, the plant can go into shock and die. Think of it as pruning, but not removing all the leaves completely.
Maintenance and time spent watering a sea of green grow can be cut down with a drip system. A drip system ensures all plants receive the same amount of water and nutrients. This watering method prevents one plant from outgrowing its neighbors.
Best Cannabis Strains For Sea of Green
Getting a broad, flat canopy with SoG really depends on the cannabis strain you grow. The best technique is to use clones from a single parent plant. But if you must grow plants from seed, make sure they’re the same variety.
Some growers grow many different strains together, but this can cause an uneven canopy. An uneven canopy reduces the light efficiency of nearby plants, reducing their overall yield.
Popular strains that adapt well to SoG include Super Skunk, Hindu Kush, Northern Lights, and Afghani #1. Most of these are Indica strains, which tend to be heartier and grow wider anyway.
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