The Sea of Green (SOG) Method for Massive Yields

Indoor farming of cannabis has led to the invention of the sea of green or, in simpler terms, the SOG method. It’s a technique of growing several smaller marijuana plants in comparatively less time than a fully grown one takes. By adopting this method, you’ll be able to harvest early on, considering the plant doesn’t need to grow to its full potential to get cannabis.

What is the SOG Method

Rather than spending several weeks on growing a few huge cannabis plants, in that same spot, you can grow several small ones. 

They take up less space and produce cannabis in a shorter amount of time. This eventually leads to an increase in output as more can be sprouted.

This technique is not unknown in the community. It strikes against the traditional outdoor method of growing cannabis plants. With the correct use of artificial light, nutrients, and a firm grip over variables, the SOG method does not need an expert to yield marijuana. 

Below you’ll find our guide on how to go about the sea of green method. But first, we need to understand the basics.

How The Sea of Green Method Works 

In the SOG method, the cannabis plant buds are manipulated to mature early, leading to an early harvest. The time span between crops shortens, so in that same restricted space, you’ll witness an increase in yields. 

The plant takes around 3-4 months to transform from germination to ripe buds, with harvests every 45-60 days.

Sea of green technique is especially advantageous for those who have limited space to grow plants. One plant per square foot is the ideal number that we would advise. It depends on what is more comfortable for you.

However, if the space you hold is entirely restricted, two plants per square foot would be possible as well, but not more than that.

If the tightly packed plants were to grow uniformly, they would create a green canopy, where the sea of green method received its name. From this, we can conclude that canopies absorb most of the light, and the branches below survive in the darkness. 

These branches do not necessarily need to be trimmed; however, if you want to produce uniform, high-quality SOG method plants, cloning may be an option. You can use the clippings of the branches below the canopy to form clones. But make sure that the plant is about two to three months old.

Moreover, clearing the branches also leads to ventilation as well as rise in the airflow below the green canopy. Trimming also prevents the spread of disease. 

Method of Growing 

With a watchful eye and utmost supervision, the SOG plant in your grow room will thrive. 

Seedling or cloning

The first step of growing cannabis plants using the sea of green method is to germinate your seeds or create clones from a previous yield. We recommend using clones, as this ensures that the crops grown are similar, and the quality remains consistent. You can choose whichever method suits you best.

As stated above, ensure that there are 1-2 plants per square foot, not more. Crowding them together in a grow space can cause an intense battle regarding the absorption of light, which causes stress. In scientific terms, stress conserves biomass, which holds back the production of bud sites.

Light 

Now we move on to the topic of artificial light. It’s an essential factor in the sea of green technique. 

First of all, you need to make sure that your grow room is well lit with your growing light. Every plant must receive equal amounts of light; otherwise, there will be inconsistencies. 

For example, there could be some hot spots, or the yield might vary, which may lead to failure in getting the most output.

Light Requirements for Different Stages

Below we have gathered the amount of light and darkness that a seedling, or a cloned plant requires. Moreover, we’ll discuss how much light and darkness a cannabis plant needs during vegetative and flowering stages.

The seedling requires 16 hours of light with eight hours of darkness, while the clone requires 18 hours of light and six hours of darkness. 

Once the plant reaches the vegetative state, it needs 18 hours of light and at least six hours of darkness to ensure that they grow up to 10 to 12 inches in height.

When it’s time to force flowering, the lighting regimen must be shifted to 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness. The plant will abide by this schedule and will begin to flower gradually.

The light regimen mentioned above must be taken as a guide and not as a staunch deal. Every plant grown is different, so cultivators add or subtract the hours of light and darkness according to their needs. This comes from experience; thus, this should not demotivate you. 

When to Flower

Flowering is perhaps the most exciting part of growing your marijuana. After all, this is the part where all your hard work starts taking its shape.

However, another note to take into account is that the plant must remain in the vegetative state for a minimum of 3-5 weeks before it is forced to flower. To produce maximum yield, consider waiting an extra week or so as it might be worth it.

There are some cultivators who flower when the plant has spent only 2-3 weeks in a vegetative state, and are only 6-7 inches tall. But we recommend allowing the plant to grow around 10-12 inches before you force it to flower. This is to ensure that the yield is to the most considerable degree.

When to Harvest

Harvesting depends on your choice. You can choose when you want to harvest once you are satisfied with your plants. 

A good indicator of that is when the plants form a thick, green canopy. Another visual indicator is the clarity of trichomes, which is the white hair present on the plant’s surface. 

These cannabis trichomes must exhibit a white-cloudish color. When that happens, you can be sure to start harvesting your plant.

Remember, every crop is different, and there are a lot of variables that bring about changes; thus, we cannot give you the exact number of weeks on when to harvest. Keep in mind the indicators, and surely you’ll end up with a satisfying outcome.

Below you will find a quick recap on all that you have read so far.

1. Whether you choose to germinate seeds or plant clones, make sure you strictly follow the light regimen during all stages of growth.
2. One plant per square foot is the ideal number we advise. Grow them until they reach 10-12 inches in height, which can take up to 3-4 months.
3. Once you see a dense canopy of buds, force flowering by using a 12 hour light and darkness regimen. You can take this opportunity to cut off trimmings and save them for cloning.
4. Harvest when you think your plants are ready.  
5. Repeat this process.

Cons of Sea of Green Method

As easy and advantageous as the sea of green method sounds, there are a few cons as well. The purpose is to give each and every detail so that you take necessary precautions throughout the SOG process and come out successful.

• Electric bills can skyrocket. Indoor planting leads to the use of specific lighting, which needs to be switched on for hours. This can cause your bills to increase dramatically, but keep in mind that this may prove to be a worthwhile investment, as you’ll get tons of marijuana in the end.
• Cloning, taking cuttings and potting the plants take up a lot of time. 
• Unawareness of the state law can get you in trouble. So, check your state’s law and abide by it. Otherwise, you have to deal with the law enforcement authorities upon exceeding the cannabis growing limit.
• The variety of cannabis also plays a significant role. You can grow certain types of cannabis plants for e.g Indicas are known to perform better than Sativa.

Conclusion

Reached here? That’s about all the necessary information for first-timers and those who haven’t heard about the SOG method before.  

Although this method serves several benefits for the average cultivator, it requires plenty of attention. This should not hold you back from giving it a go as there are no shortcuts, and hard work is always known to pay off.

All you require is patience and a little practice. The sea of green technique is easy to get the hang of, provides several advantages, and even a novice can get the hang of it in no time. So go ahead and give it a try.