PERPETUAL VERT ADVICE

[AlexTrebek]

I've read a lot of vert threads but havent found this answer. Is it better to hang the screen in front or behind the plants? In front allows the plant to grow into the screen. In back you would have to secure the plant to the screen. I am not sure which is a better method.

Both achieve the same purpose.

With the screen behind the plant, your goal is to spread the plant like a banana peel to allow more light to get inside the plant. This method usually goes hand in hand with lower plant numbers but various degrees of pre-veg are sometimes required.

With the screen between bulb and plant, your goal is to get the canopy in the most optimal range to receive the best luminous levels on plant. Some sacrifice a few branches growing too close to the bulb so that the rest of the buds are in the best possible spot to get the most out of the bulb.
This method usually goes hand in with smaller plants with very little veg and higher plant numbers.

*Disclaimer*: That's my opinion and what I've noticed from various grows.

So I don't think there's a "better" technique, just which technique is better suited for you.

Props on dope outdoor plants by the way!
Females must have a better way with female plants to get nugs like that!
Good luck on your endeavors.
Grow on!

 

[Scrappy-doo]

I've read a lot of vert threads but havent found this answer. Is it better to hang the screen in front or behind the plants? In front allows the plant to grow into the screen. In back you would have to secure the plant to the screen. I am not sure which is a better method.

Either way you're gonna have to either weave or tie the plants to the screen.

I've done both ways but personally I prefer to put the screen in front and let the plant grow through.

My goal is to keep most of the foliage in front of the screen but tied (I used twisty ties. Very easy on and off) close to it. The plants are all gonna want to grow towards the light. I want as much foliage as possible equally distant from the light so the whole plant gets good coverage.

I started off with 6 scrogged plants per light with a fan underneath, but it really bothered me that the fan was taking up a space for a plant, so I toyed around and found a setup that worked very well which allowed me to put a 7th horizontal scrogged plant underneath. I was very pleased because it ended up yielding 3 zips!

If you are interested I can go into more detail. It's fun I'm always looking for ways to increase my gpw.

 

[gOurd^jr.]

Hey all thought I would chime in some of my experience with vert scroggin and blumats. For the screens I have mine fixed around the perimeter of the room and tie the plants back so they are close to it, but in front for the most part. When I trained the plants through from behind it didn't work as well for me.That's just my situation though like the others have said it's just a preference or a room specific thing. In my room with fixed screens lining the walls(~12 inches off the walls). anything behind the screen were just too far away and shaded, all larfy and hard to inspect for troubles. keeping the shoots in good light zone is just easier if they're in front of the screen to begin with.
As for blumats I LOVE them. occasionally they have hiccups but have been reliable for me through several harvests. They save me loads of time and energy, I couldn't possibly pack in all my plants if I had to get to the back and water every other day. Plus the plants really love getting consistent watering, basically water on demand once they're dialed in. never better growth. As for feeding I start 2-3 wks after the flip with feeding by hand about once a week, ACT & FPE's mostly plus some guano/chicken poop. Gotta do it by hand (blumats would clog about the same as a dripper I would imagine), but I need to get to the back of the jungle for regular inspections anyway. Kinda helps keep me honest in that regard.
But if I don't have the juice ready for 'em and they need some food to tide them over until next feeding its real easy to just plop a spoonfull of guano(0-12-1 i got), or EWC, usually both, right under the blumat dripper and then it just gets distributed when the plant drinks. Spoonfull of each x2 drippers that usually keeps my ladies in 10gal smart pots jamming for a couple days, but then it seems to run out and they need some more. One might be able to just apply more and do it less often, but It seems my plants prefer less food more often. And again keeps me poking my head around the back corners...
Like the idea of a nice efficient perpetual setup and I think your on the right track with a 400w veg (or just 250 if that suffices, gotta love dimmables) and then 2x 600w flower tents.

 

[Ichabod Crane]

Whether you use twist ties or pipe cleaners to tie your plants off, get bright colors. This makes it easier to find when you harvest. I use white ones and still miss some when I harvest and snap a few branches.