If the idea of dozens of flowering cannabis plants doesn’t sound too realistic, then it’s time to prove it with the Sea of Green (SOG) method. In this blog post, we’ll go into detail about the Sea of Green method to increase your cannabis growing efficiency.
What is the Sea of Green (SoG) method?
The Sea of Green (SOG) method is a strategy for maximizing yields in a constrained growing area. This technique comes from the Netherlands. It grows many small plants in a limited space instead of focusing on some larger plants. This confinement of the plants in a small area allows the plants to grow together and form a crown of buds, hence the name “Sea of Green”. This is particularly useful in small grow rooms or small grow tents. However, the Sea of Green method can also be used for large-scale commercial growth. In fact, the SoG method can be associated with efficient growth regardless of size or scale.
With this method, your plants can switch to the flowering stage early to keep the plants small instead of spending much time in the vegetative stage. Therefore, the plants take up less space. The compactness of the plants causes them to focus less on side flowers and instead focus on producing a central bud. Although the yield per plant will be lower than that of mature plants, the total yield per square meter may increase. This is because several small plants can use the available light and airflow more efficiently than one large plant with lots of side branches that produce minimal buds.
This strategy, which promotes vertical plant growth and makes optimum use of vertical space and lighting, is very helpful if you are growing plants in a small space. Your major objective while using SOG is to build a consistent canopy that lets light reach every plant evenly. This will cut down on energy loss and improve the overall production efficiency of your growing area.
How does the Sea of Green method work?
By switching to a 12/12 lighting pattern early (to trigger flowering), you can shorten the growing period of your cannabis life cycle. By limiting plant size, you will be able to grow more plants in your grow room or tent. As mentioned above, the yield per plant will decrease, but the total yield per square meter should go up.
In addition to space, time is also an important consideration when deciding whether to use SoG. Some cannabis varieties can remain in the vegetative growth stage for more than ten weeks. In theory, switching from the growing stage to the flowering stage after only two weeks means that harvesting can be done more frequently. If that’s what you’re after, then Sea of Green can really increase your annual production, even in a small growing space.
Advantages of the Sea of Green Method for Growing Cannabis
The SOG method works really well for growing cannabis in a grow tent or greenhouse. Here are the main advantages:
Suitable for smaller growing areas
Because of their compactness, you don’t need a lot of space to grow them. Also, instead of letting the cannabis grow too tall, you can stack the cannabis crops on top of each other with wooden boards.
Faster Harvest
The plants grow faster with the SOG method. They don’t grow as tall, so they can produce buds faster, which means faster harvesting.
Save on Energy Costs
The plants are so close together, that you don’t need as many grow lights to provide enough light coverage. And growing them also requires less energy and time since they grow faster.
Disadvantages of the Sea of Green Method for Growing Cannabis
time-consuming to maintain several plants
It’s more time-consuming to take care of more plants. It can be not easy to water the plants in the back.
Increased Risk of Mold
Plants are crowded together. If humidity is not controlled, air circulation is poor, or plants are overgrown, this can increase the risk of mold.
Need for even light distribution
When you have a lot of plants to develop and you are attempting to maintain even light, it might be difficult.
How to Grow Cannabis with the Sea of Green Method (SoG)?
After understanding the basic principles of the Sea of Green, it’s time to get into the most important aspect – how to grow cannabis with the SoG Method.
Choosing the Right Strain
Choosing the right strain plays a vital role in the SOG method. Look for cannabis strains that are short in stature and have fast vegetative growth. To help narrow down your strain selection, stick with indica or indica-dominant hybrids, their compact nature works well with the SOG method, while sativa strains will usually grow too tall, making them less suitable for SOG cultivation.
Potting & Containers
Your cannabis plant’s root system and general health are directly impacted by the container you use. Using smaller 1- to 2-gallon pots can help keep SOGs smaller and encourage a faster transition to the flowering stage. Make sure there is enough drainage in your pots to avoid waterlogging.
Growing Medium & Nutrients
A well-prepared growing medium is essential for growing your SOG crop. Options such as soil, coir, or hydroponics are available, and each method has its advantages—soil is more versatile, and hydroponics offers faster growth. To ensure ideal growing conditions, combine your medium with a balanced fertilizer schedule designed specifically for cannabis. For your clones or seedlings, starting with a milder nutrition mix can help prevent overfertilization problems. You can modify the concentration of nutrients in your plants as they grow, taking into account the unique requirements of the vegetative and blooming stages.
Spacing
The best spacing is about 4-16 plants per square meter. If you use more, you may experience problems with air circulation. Less than that and the lovely green bud will not develop.
Topping
The best practice is to top plants after four weeks so that they stay a similar size and shape. This also ties into the flowering transition. If you want to keep it simple, you don’t need to top but don’t forget to maintain an even canopy. This ties into the effectiveness of SOG.
Airflow
Plants obviously require light, water, and nutrients, and the SoG Method places a premium on airflow management. For seedlings, this isn’t too big of a problem, but when plants get larger and go through the flowering period, inadequate air circulation might result in mold growth.
If plants are placed close together, it only takes one case of bud rot for your crop to quickly become infected. It is best to maintain air circulation above and below the canopy.
Pruning
As your sea of green forms, the lower parts of your cannabis plants will struggle with light. To avoid your plants wasting any energy, prune the leaves that are hidden under the canopy. These branches and leaves are superfluous and they block the air circulation.
Training Techniques
Techniques such as pruning and training are used to direct energy to the topmost buds. Topping is effective but should be done with caution to keep the plants shorter and avoid damaging the structure of the SOG method.
Canopy Formation and Maintenance
An even canopy is essential for light efficiency. Plants can be encouraged to grow upward rather than outward by being spaced tightly together. This results in a dense canopy that makes the most of available light and space.
Lighting Strategies
Make optimal use of artificial light by maintaining a proper lighting schedule. During vegetative growth, SOGs typically require 18 hours of light, which is scaled down to 12 hours when cannabis is induced to flower. Effective light distribution ensures that all plants receive the light they need.
Watering and Fertilization
Carefully balance watering and fertilization to meet the needs of the plant and do not overdo it. Overwatering can harm plant development and yield.
Harvesting Considerations
When using the Sea of Green (SOG) method, your harvesting strategy is critical to achieving the best yields. Knowing when to harvest, proper cutting and drying techniques and the possibility of multiple harvests will greatly affect the quantity and quality of the buds.
Determining Harvest Time
You must keep a close eye on the plant’s maturity if you want the most yields. The primary sign is the trichomes, which are small structures on the buds that resemble crystals. Harvesting normally occurs when most trichomes are milky white with occasional amber colors.
Cutting and Drying Techniques
Once you have determined the time to harvest, cutting should be done efficiently to maintain the integrity of the plant. To prevent trichome damage, trim the branches with clean, sharp scissors and handle the buds gently. Care should also be taken when drying. To ensure consistent and complete drying, hang the branches upside down in a drying area with controlled humidity and temperature.
Optimize Your Sea of Green with Casyoo’s LED Grow Lights
Casyoo has been providing industry-leading LED grow light solutions for more than 17 years. Our full-spectrum lights emit less heat and can be placed closer to your canopy without causing light burns, making them perfect equipment for SOG growing compared to traditional LED grow lights.
