Sea of Green (SOG) – Complete Guide to Indoor Cannabis Growing

The Sea of Green (SOG) method is one of the most efficient techniques for indoor cannabis cultivation, allowing growers to maximize yield in minimal time and space. By using small pots and a high plant density, SOG creates a uniform canopy of buds, resulting in shorter growth cycles, optimized light use, and bigger harvests.

This guide covers everything you need to know about Sea of Green, including:

What SOG is and how it differs from a regular grow room
Best pot sizes and plant count for SOG
Ideal strains for fast, high-yield harvests
Vegetation times, lighting, and airflow tips
Common mistakes to avoid for beginners

Photo 1 Sog Plants — An indoor SOG using LED grow lights

What Is the Sea of Green (SOG) Method?

Sea of Green (SOG) is a growing technique where many small cannabis plants are grown closely together to create a continuous canopy of buds. Instead of growing a few large plants with long vegetative times, SOG focuses on multiple small plants with a short vegetative period (2–3 weeks).

Key Features of SOG:

Small pots: typically 7.5 liters
High plant density: 9–16 plants per square meter
Short vegetative phase: 2–3 weeks (14 days for clones)
Fast harvest cycle: 10–11 weeks from seed to harvest

SOG vs. Traditional Indoor Grow

Traditional Grow Setup:

2–4 plants in a 1m² tent
Large pots (15–20 liters)
5–6 weeks vegetation
8–10 weeks flowering
Total: 13–16 weeks

SOG Setup:

9–16 plants in a 1m² tent
Small pots (7.5 liters)
2–3 weeks vegetation (clones: 14 days)
8 weeks flowering
Total: 10–11 weeks

With SOG, your grow space is filled wall-to-wall with small, uniform plants, maximizing light efficiency, nutrients, and electricity usage.

Benefits of the Sea of Green Method

Short vegetative time (max 3 weeks)
Ideal for small spaces and grow tents
Faster crop rotation – harvest every 10 weeks
Even canopy and consistent bud quality
Higher bud-to-leaf ratio
Lower energy and nutrient consumption during veg
No plant training (topping, tying, pruning) required
Plants stay compact (max 100 cm)

Best Pot Size for Sea of Green

7.5-liter pots are optimal for SOG.

Why 7.5 liters?

Allows roots to fully occupy the pot without wasted space.
Supports plants up to 90–100 cm tall.
Larger pots waste medium and reduce plant count; smaller pots stunt growth (≈60 cm max height).

Scrog method pots to use — 3 – 7.5 litre pots will be the best pots to use for SOG

How Many Plants to Grow in SOG?

The goal is to fill the grow space completely with a uniform canopy:

Recommended Plant Count:

1m x 1m: 9 plants (3 x 3 rows)
1.2m x 1.2m: 16 plants (4 x 4 rows)
1.5m x 1.5m: 25 plants (5 x 5 rows)

Spacing ensures optimal light penetration and airflow.

Pflanzen indoor Sog — 9 plants inside a 1m x 1m grow tent

Do You Need Plant Training in SOG?

No. Unlike SCROG (Screen of Green), SOG requires minimal intervention. No topping, pruning, or tying is needed. Plants are grown naturally to form a flat, even canopy.

How Long Should SOG Plants Stay Under 18/6?

From Seed: ~21 days (18 hours light / 6 hours dark)
From Clone: ~14 days

Short vegetative times reduce energy consumption and accelerate harvest cycles.

commercial growing strains — A commercial scale grow room using the SOG method (credits Bill Sutherland)

Best Cannabis Strains for SOG

Choose fast-flowering, compact strains for best results:

Indica & Indica-Dominant Hybrids – short, bushy, high-yielding
Autoflowers – ideal for rapid turnaround (begin flowering in ~30 days, ready at ~90 cm)
Flowering Time: 50–63 days

Airflow & Ventilation

Proper air circulation is crucial during flowering to prevent mold and powdery mildew. Use oscillating fans and ensure exhaust fans maintain fresh airflow throughout the grow.

5 Common Mistakes to Avoid with SOG

Overly long vegetation times – Causes overcrowding, poor airflow, and mold risk.
Pots too close together – Maintain ~30 cm spacing between pots.
Mixing different strains – Leads to uneven canopy height and inconsistent yields.
Using oversized pots – Wastes space, medium, and resources.
Insufficient light intensity – Use at least 600W HPS or a high-powered LED; keep lights 60–75 cm above the canopy.

A room full of uniform flowering plants (credits Bill Sutherland)

Final Thoughts on Sea of Green

The Sea of Green method is perfect for small spaces, fast rotations, and high yields. By shortening vegetation time, maximizing space, and focusing on uniform growth, SOG enables growers to achieve multiple high-quality harvests per year while reducing costs.

Why not try SOG for your next grow? Many home and commercial growers rely on it for consistent, top-shelf results.