Tips for Scrogging?

[Kronikal_kiwi]

Hey there everybody.

I know these questions should be easy to answer by typing SCROG into the search but I get 20 pages of scrog's and few answers. So please excuse my uselesness.

Anyway I already started a thread that got no replies. Ive got more questions so Im gonna put them in here and delete my other thread.

I started my first scrog recently. I am using a recirculating hydro setup (just trickles water over clayballs for 15 minutes an hour) plants are in 16 litre (4 gallon) buckets. I am running with Canna Nutes, and Canna's whole range of additives. I am currently at 2.2 EC and 5.8 PH. My Screen is fixed 12" above the base of the plants.

Anyway thats the low down. Time for my questions.
1) My plants are bushy as fuck. My screen has squares approximately 2" squared. How many budsites should there be in say each square or should it be more like 1 site per 2X2 squares? Or should I just leave all the sites and not worry about it being over crowded.

2) Should I remove fan leaves once the stretch is over? I cant help but feel my plants will end up heavily overcrowded with soooo many budsites and I will end up with lots of popcorn and nugs just at the top of each branch.

Anyway heres some pics for ya's. As you can see plants are healthy as fuck! Currently being fed Canna Aqua A and B with Cannazyme, Rhizotonic, and Boost.

 

[jm420]

Looks like you have overgrown your screen,Scrogs are all about timing ,Shes gonna strecth quite the bit.What I would do if I was you would be to cut the bigger fans that cant be tucked under screen and started tying all those crowns back down,Its hard to explain but dont get to crazy cutting fans but i can tell you you need to get the canapy as low as you can .Flip to 12/12 and keep canopy under control best yo can for next 7 days or so.During the 7 days remove all fans and shoots under screen .dont train or trim after 10 days flower.Hope this helps

 

[tube dude]

The most important thing to remember when doing any type of training, is to keep the canopy as level as possible.You want as many bud sites as you can get at the top of the canopy.This has very little to do with light intencity but is due to a hormone like substance that the plant produces known as auxins.Auxins settle to the lower portions of the plant. I am not sure exacly how it works but I suspect it has something to do with gravity. THe auxins act as a growth retardant.The tallest bud on any plant will always be the largest bud because it has a lower auxin level.All of the buds at the top of a level canopy should have the same auxin level and grow at the same rate. I usually trim right after the strech and trim everything under the canopy. I usually try to keep all the lower popcorn trimmed out throughout the rest of the grow.

 

[FreezerBoy]

With that much material above the screen you should be ready to harvest rather than start budding. Keep everything other than buds under the screen. Once budding starts everything under the screen is trimmed and tossed to prevent mold. In general terms: Indicas fill 1/2 the screen before the 12/12 flip, Sativas start at 12/12 and get scrogged once they hit the screen.

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

Here's one that was flowered too early. I counted on stretch that never happened.

This is how it turned out. I got some buds on the top but the middle was sparse because there were too many tops.

It turned out pretty good but yield suffered because there were too many tops for the lamp size. I probably would have done better with less tops which would give more room for the rest to fatten up.

I probably cut a thousand fans of this one plant but over a period of time. I guess it's possible to cut too many fans but air circulation is a must. Here's what the bottom looked like before the flip.

This screen is 2" square too. If you've got trouble threading the needles you might want to consider 3 or 4" squares or don't let the canopy get so busy and tall.

EDIT: I had root growth restrictions that helped contribute to a lackluster harvest. If you have scads of roots you'll do much better than I did.

 

[jm420]

"Here's one that was flowered too early. I counted on stretch that never happened."
Better to flip early than late ,like i said Timing is key when scrogging.

 

[Kronikal_kiwi]

Really sorry people. REALLY I should of mnentioned. They're 10 days into budding.

Sorry I should have mentioned that. They're also a strain that doesnt stratch much. I dont think they'll get much bigger than they are now. They're starting to form clusters at the nodes (only just) rather than vegatative growth now.

 

[Kronikal_kiwi]

Also the screen is relatively even. It ranges from around just on the screen to 4" above the screen. Ive been pulling off all those smaller shootlets still popping out at the screen now and trying to leave the branches that are sticking through properly.

Squares are 2"
Lights over those are 2X400 HPS in cooltubes. Lights are just about touching plants. Each light covers a 800X500 area.

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

Sounds better already. Hydro and 800 watts ought to fatten up those tops, even if they have to push each other out of the way, lol.

 

[GDK]

Not trying to hijack here, but should tops be tucked under the screen during the stretch?
I thought that you was supposed to fill the screen, then flip letting tops stretch thru the net and bud up nicely, then trim everything underneath the screen...am i wrong here?

Stay Safe

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

You're right, GDK. It's the timing and degree of each of those tasks.

 

[FreezerBoy]

Not trying to hijack here, but should tops be tucked under the screen during the stretch?

Only buds are allowed above the screen. Everything else stays below and is removed to prevent mold.