Sea of Green (SOG) marijuana growing

Sea of Green, usually abbreviated “SOG,” is a method of growing marijuana that forces flowering at a young age.

The plants will have only been in a vegetative state for about two weeks. This method allows you to harvest much earlier than growing your plants normally.

Benefits of Sea of Green (SOG)

So, what are the benefits of the SOG technique? It’s really used when space is limited in a grow room. It allows you to maximize your space without sacrificing yield.

When you put the plants into flowering stage with a 12/12 light regimen, you can fit more flowering plants into more space.

The yield of a single plant might be smaller, but the Sea of Green yield you get cumulatively will be larger.

Better harvests and more marijuana

SOG growers generally have time constraints, as well. Certain marijuana varieties take longer than 10 weeks to complete their vegetative cycle. With the SOG method, you get more harvests and more marijuana. This is a method employed by larger operations where a consistent supply is required.

Download my free Grow Bible for more information about Sea of Green marijuana growing, as well as other advanced methods!

Growing cannabis under artificial light means that you need to make use of that light more efficiently. This is because you’re paying the electricity bill, but also because you want to get the most out of your plants.

Many grow rooms are set up to light plants from above. With this system, the upper leaves and branches cast a shadow on the lower sections, meaning that there is always part of the plant that’s not receiving as much light.

When you pack the plants in close proximity, you create a canopy of buds that makes the most out of your light. One big HPS light will only give you one option for lighting, but multiple HPS grow lights will give you greater light coverage across your entire crop.

The SOG technique is especially useful with large quantities of cuttings from a cloned marijuana plant.

It saves you from having to buy seeds and also ensures that your plants will be female and of high quality.

Also read How To Make Marijuana Clones

SOG grows typically don’t require pruning, but some growers like to tidy up the lower branches below the canopy.

This helps the plant put its focus on the main bud and improve the overall flow of air underneath the canopy. You can also clone these cuttings and provide another bunch of SOG plants to keep the system on repeat.

How to use the Sea of Green method

You don’t need to have any special skills for the SOG method to be effective. All you really have to do is understand the concept. The lack of a need for training and pruning makes SOG one of the easiest methods for growing weed.

Step-by-step guide to SOG

Some growers start a 12/12 lighting regimen when the marijuana plants are only about 6 inches tall. Likewise, some growers may pack the plants more or less densely depending on their preference.

‘You can pack short plants tightly together in a “sea of green” (SOG) or a “screen of green” (SCROG) to maximize yield.’ ~ Jorge Cervantes

Requirements will change depending on the variety and the grow room. Use this guide as a base, but make adjustments as necessary for your particular situation.

SOG systems generally work better with indica varieties because of their short stature and single primary cola. Sativas can work, but they are typically too “leggy” for the SOG system to work well. Best is to top sativa strains a few days before changing the light cycle to 12/12.

Sea of Green grow guide

SoG Grow Guide	Propagation (Early-Stage)	Vegetative Growth	Flowering
Avg. Light Intensity	150-200	200 increasing gradually to 450-500	450-550 Increasing to 700-800
Photoperiod	18	18	18
Ambient Room Temp (Day)	70-72 0F 21-23 0C	80-85 0F 26-29 0C	80-85 0F 26-29 0C
Ambient Room Temp (Night)	60-20 0F 16-21 0C	70-75 0F 21-24 0C	70-75 0F 21-24 0C
Ambient Relative Humidity (Day)	100% until rooted, within 4-7 days, then vent to 80%	75-80% (early) 55-67% (mid/late veg)	55-67% (early) 60-62% (mid/late veg)
Ambient Relative Humidity (Night)	Same as daytime, see Propagation section below fro more information.	75-80% (early) 55-67% (mid/late veg)	55-67% (early) 42-57% (mid/late veg)
Vapor Pressure Deficit (Day)	0	.67-1.00 (early) 1.11-1.80 (late)	1.11-1.80 (early) 1.28-2.00 (late)
Vapor Pressure Deficit (Night)	0	.50-.75 (day) .82-1.34 (night)	.82-1.34 (night) 1.07-1.73 (late)
CO2 Enrichment	–	1200-1500	1200-1500

Strains for SOG growing

Indicas that are good for Sea of Green method

Sativas that are also good options when topped

Have you tried the Sea of Green technique? Please feel free to share your experience in the comments!

Happy growing!

Robert

FAQs about the Sea of Green (SOG) method