What is the Sea of Green Growing Method?

Level up your indoor cannabis garden with the Sea of Green (SOG) method. Get the biggest yields by growing many small cannabis plants and triggering the flowering phase early for a fast harvest. Here, we’ll show you how you can set up your SOG garden.

What Is the Sea of Green Method?

The Sea of Green (SOG) method is a low-stress training (LST) technique that involves growing several small plants simultaneously in a tight space instead of a few larger plants. Growing that many plants in a limited area creates the appearance of a “sea of green.”

The SOG method requires shortening every part of the plant’s two stages of life: the vegetative and flowering stages. Shortening the vegetative cycle speeds up the time to flower and triggers the plants to flower early for a faster harvest and a large yield.

Benefits of the Sea of Green Method

The continuous and fast harvests are one of the best parts of growing the SOG method. With a bit of experience, you can run your grow like a well-oiled machine.

Here are some of the benefits of the SOG method:

• Short cultivation cycle
• May reduce risk of pests and disease with defoliation
• Short vegetative and flowering stages
• May save space
• Energy- and light-efficient
• Increased annual harvests, ideal for commercial growers
• Faster trimming due to high bud-to-leaf ratio
• Less organic waste
• Fresh smokable bud throughout the year

Drawbacks of the Sea of Green Method

The SOG method may not be for everyone, but it can provide growers with a steady and sizeable supply of cannabis buds throughout the year.

Here are some drawbacks of the SOG method:

• Only works with indicas and clones
• Does not produce a lot of leftover trim, which could be used to make edibles
• May be limited by your state’s home cultivation limit
• May use excessive growing media every cultivation cycle
• Less risk for pests and disease, but an infestation could ruin an entire crop due to proximity
• May require more time and labor than other growing methods

How Much Does a Sea of Green Plant Yield?

On average, the yield is higher per square foot than traditional growing techniques. The SOG plant yield depends on various factors, including the plant’s genetics, duration of vegetative and flowering stages, grow light efficiency, and more.

Under optimal growing conditions, you can yield about half an ounce per plant or up to an ounce. If you’re growing 10 plants per square meter, you may have a yield of about 10 ounces. You may be able to harvest every 45 days and have several harvests per year. 

How Many Plants Per Square Foot?

We recommend growing one plant per square foot or two at most. Growing more than this amount can create a crowded environment, increase the risk of pest infestations and disease, and reduce the amount of light each plant gets.

What Do I Need for the SOG Method?

Here’s what you need for a complete SOG set-up:

• Grow lights
• Grow tents (for flowering, vegetative, and drying marijuana plants)
• Nutrients
• Pots
• Soil
• Ventilation system
• Trellis net
• Extra CO2

What Size Pot for SOG?

You will use one pot throughout the growing cycle for a SOG grow, from clone to harvest. We recommend using a 2-3 gallon pot. This size is ideal for growing a plant 12 inches tall, the height when you can trigger the flowering stage.

How to Use the Sea of Green Method

The Sea of Green method can be done with seeds and clones, although clones work better in this environment because they are at the same growth stage and grow the same size.

Start with at least 4 plants for this method since it won’t work with fewer plants. Ensure your grow lights are evenly lighting the entire canopy.

Set one plant per square foot throughout your grow space and give them 18 hours of light until your clones are 10-12 inches tall. The duration of the vegetative stage depends on your growing needs. Some growers may end the vegetative stage when young plants are barely six inches tall or about 4-6 weeks old.

You decide when you want to trigger the flowering stage, which involves switching the light cycle from 18/6 to 12/12. Twelve hours of light and 12 hours of darkness make plants start growing buds. Plants are ready for harvest when most trichomes have turned from white to amber.

Best Cannabis Strains for Sea of Green

The success of your crop depends on many factors, including your plants’ genetics. We recommend growing indica strains, which have a fast flowering stage, have a single cola, and grow short. 

Sativas, on the other hand, tend to grow taller and at a slower pace than indicas. If growing sativas using the SOG method, consider topping the plants a few days before triggering them to the flowering cycle.

Should I Start with Cannabis Clones or Seeds?

Cannabis clones are the best option for the SOG method. Clones should be the same size (about 3-6 inches is ideal) and from the same mother plant. This ensures they grow at the same pace and height as they go through the same growth stage.

Seeds are usually not recommended for SOG since you must care for them during the germination and seedling phase. Clones have already been germinated. In addition, seeds may grow at different heights, forcing shorter plants below larger ones that get all the light.

SOG Growing Tips

Here are a few tips to level up your SOG grow:

• Use netting: Your plant’s colas can grow big and heavy, requiring a trellis net to support the canopy to ensure the branches don’t break and they get plenty of light.
• Add CO2: Supplementing your grow room with a carbon dioxide (CO2) tank and the regulator can improve your space’s ppm and light absorption. 
• Prune plants: Defoliation is a big preventative measure against disease. Reducing leaf-on-leaf contact can keep an infestation from spreading and destroying a crop.

Become a Better Grower at Cannabis Training University

Growing cannabis like a pro is possible at home. Learn about more cannabis growing techniques at Cannabis Training University. Our Master of Cannabis program includes indoor and outdoor cultivation training from top growers in the industry. Get industry certified today!