The beginner’s guide to the Sea of Green (SOG) growing method

Growing cannabis indoors means growing as efficiently as possible, since limited growing space and the expense of climate control systems and artificial light mean that resources must be optimized. A multitude of techniques can be used to increase the level of cannabis production indoors. And the Sea of Green (SOG) method is one of the most widely used, since its simplicity is very suitable for both professional growers and newbies in the field.

The ‘Sea of Green’ method is used to maximize yield in a reduced growing space. In this method, cuttings are used and are allowed to vegetate for a very short time before being triggered to flower. In addition to having a short vegetative time period – often as short as two weeks – inter nodes that would normally result in lateral branching are also removed from the plants, in order to encourage single, central colas which take up a small amount of space.

The goal behind all of this is to pack as many small plants into the same space as possible. With this method, it is possible to pack as many 36+ plants in an area of 1m2.

The crowding of many plants together will encourage vertical stretching, and this in combination with removal of would-be lateral branching means that each plant takes up a very small footprint within the garden. As each plant produces a single large cola, this is often how you obtain the most of the very best buds, with the biggest yield in the space you’re working with. As your plants begin to flower, you’ll see a beautiful blanket of buds start to form, which resembles an ocean of cannabis – hence the name, “Sea of Green.”

Those who use this method also enjoy a shorter overall growing cycle. As a result, the number of annual harvests can be increased. In fact, once you have gained enough experience, it is possible to get large harvests of the dankest bud every 8 – 12 weeks, so 5 harvests in a year is not impossible or unlikely.

In short, this accelerated growing process allows for higher yields by making the most of your grow lights in a smaller room and with a reduced vegetative time period.

How to set up your own Sea of Green method step by step

The number of plants you’ll fit in your space and the success of your SOG grow depends significantly on the genetics you are working with. Some genetics do very well with grow methods which promote one single cola and reduced lateral branching. On the other hand, other genetics will favour a slightly smaller number of plants in the area, and 2 or 4 main colas, as these plants really like to be bushy. This still counts as a SOG setup, so get to know the genetics that you are working with. Many growers prefer to work with hydroponic setups for SOG grows, however the SOG method works just as well for soil setups.

Basically, these are the steps to follow:

1. Germination/Cuttings: First, as with any crop, you need to germinate seeds or obtain rooted cuttings. For this method, it is more ideal to use cuttings, as seeds need a longer period of maturation during vegetative growth before they are triggered to flower (at least 4 weeks for seedlings). Also, with cuttings you can ensure that they are all identical, which is important to form a canopy of buds of uniform height. Smaller pots (around 1-6 litters) can be used to help keep the plants from overgrowing and to force them to concentrate resources on the main cola. Pots are also placed much closer together (9-25 plants per square meter is typical). Make sure they are not too tightly packed together, It is not optimal for your plants to be stressed by competing for light or bad ventilation.
2. Growing: Once you are ready to start the vegetative stage, the plants will be grown with 18 hours of light and 6 hours of total darkness. The vegetative cycle will be much shorter than a typical crop, lasting only 2 to 4 weeks. Rooted cuttings are more commonly given 2-3 weeks of time to establish roots while seeds are given at least 4 weeks. As new levels of leaves exist, the oldest nodes are cropped in order to encourage vertical growth.
3. Pruning of lower branches: As plants grow up tall, the lower branches and nodes are trimmed so that energy is not wasted in the development of lateral branches. These cuttings can be propagated and used for future crops. It is also recommended to use nets or other supports, since SOG plants produce very heavy top colas which the plant will struggle to hold up on its own.
4. Flowering: As the crop develops, make sure the plants are at a uniform height and receive the same amount of light. Once you switch to flowering phase the light regime will be 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness. Once flowering has begun, nodes and branches should no longer be removed however defoliating excessive sun leaves might be beneficial depending on the genetic.
5. Harvesting: Finally, once the plants are ready, it is time to harvest. The time they spend in flower will vary and will depend on the specific variety you grow. A good indicator is the clarity of the trichomes: if they are white and milky, they are most likely ready for harvest. In the SOG method, the plants will be smaller; however, the yield per square meter will be higher than traditional crops due to the additional plants used.

Pros and cons of the Sea of Green cultivation method

You don’t need to have any special skills for the SOG method to be effective, all you have to do is understand the concept. The lack of training techniques makes SOG one of the easiest methods of growing cannabis. But, like everything in life, it has its pros and cons:

Pros:

• Although the yield per plant is lower, the average yield per square meter is higher. Also the benefit of multiple harvests each year.
• The shorter growing time also reduces the risk of pests, diseases or bugs: there is a much better chance that a crop will grow healthily during its life cycle.
• The SOG method can be used in a small grow room because much less vertical space is needed. Shorter plants also allow for multi-level vertical growing techniques.
• This growing method can be used with soil, hydroponics, indoors or outdoors (yes, as you hear it, outdoors too).
• Once the plants are ready for harvest, they can be manicured quickly due to the high ratio of buds to leaves.

Cons:

• This technique is best when growing cuttings, not seeds, and when growing the exact same variety, in order to keep an even canopy.
• While plants are less likely to attract pests or pathogens because of the speed of cultivation, the entire crop could be wiped out if one plant gets sick, as they are all close together. You should be mindful of the humidity and heat in your indoor room, because when cannabis crops are grouped together they are more likely to accumulate moisture. Extra ventilation is optimal.
• You will also need to discard large amounts of growing medium after each harvest: more pots always means more substrate.
• Some genetics respond better to this style of growing than others, even though this technique can be adapted to most genetic variations.

The best varieties to grow with the ‘Sea of Green’ or SOG grow method

As experienced growers know, not all techniques are suitable for the different cannabis strains available in the catalogues of seed banks. But most of them claim that the best results for the SOG method are based on using cuttings, to obtain genetically identical specimens that have the same height and produce the same amount of flowers while also needing less time than seed for vegetative maturation.

Seeds can also be used, although they will probably result in plants that grow to different heights, and vegetative time should be extended.

Genetics with classic Sativa growth patterns are great candidates for the Sea of Green method. Using this method, you are usually able to get much larger harvests in the same space than you normally would from these genetics.

Indica genetics also do well in a SOG environment, however savvy cultivators know to give more space per plant with Indica dominant varieties as they to like to bush out and branch out laterally.

Here are a couple of sativa-dominant hybrid strains present in the Seedstockers catalogue that are worth considering, such as:

• Amnesia Haze
• Super Silver Haze

Here are some Indica dominant genetics to consider, also from our seed bank:

• White Widow
• Big Bud
• Super Skunk
• OG Kush

It is essential to understand that the flowering time varies from one variety to another, because each genetics can take more or less time, regardless of the SOG method. So don’t hesitate to consult our catalogue to find out which variety you are going to grow and its average flowering time, to ensure a blooming canopy of buds that will make you enter the wonderful world of the ‘sea of green’ by the front door.

Remember too, that Autoflowering genetics are not suitable for creating mothers, which means that a true SOG cutlivation with identical cuttings will require photoperiodic seeds (feminized or regular seeds) in order to find that perfect mother to supply your garden.