Newb Questions / Theoretical Methods

Hello,

NEWB ALERT:
Has anyone ever combined SCROG and SOG? I know with SOG, the idea is to focus on the main cola, more plants, staggerred yields and SCROG is more focused on getting the most out of your plants, grow em big in veg then let them flower when they have created a 'canopy'...but could you successfully combine both methods?

Here's what I was thinking... (Note: I have never grown before, this is purely theoretical based off what I have read...mostly from this forum).

Anyway:

I have a small area where I'm thinking about using (6' H x 5' W x ~2-2.5' D) for flowering. I like the idea of staggering the yields and focusing on more plants, instead of fewer bigger ones.

What if I was to create 2-4 self contained SCROG 'cages' in the flowering area and used the SCROG method for controlling growth. Each cage would be approximagely 2 square feet in area (I'm thinking 1' W x 2' deep) and whatever the appropriate height should be.

In the veg area, I would have a couple staggered cages vegging until it started to create the canopy (I would anticipate this would be longer veg than normal sog )... Then I'd move it into the 12/12 flowering area for ~8 weeks. I would load up the cages with 8 females (heard 4 x sqft). The cages would let me control their growth, etc... but I would be targeting a larger number of plants a la SOG and it's rotation.

Each cage would have it's own CFL light source (recommendations on the #s?), but all the light would be shared in the area... Maybe it would even be worth it to have different CFLs over different stages or would it matter if they are all in flowering? The space in between the cages would also allow for a little bit of additional light exposure (vs. just the top of the 'canopy').

Is this crazy talk/just retarded, or would there be any merit in such a setup?

I know it would be a bit maintenance heavy (both SCROG maintenance + more plants, etc, etc). I'm mostly concerned about creating a very efficient way to do this. I'm planning on making the cages so that I can open at least one side. Also, all the cages will probably be on a railed platform for easier pull-out access.

Feedback welcome . Let me know if this doesn't make any sense from a comprehension stand point and I can see if I can make a diagragm or something to go along with what I am thinking...

Currently I'm thinking each cage would sit on top of a self contained DWC setup, but I'm still exploring alternatives (partitioned aeroponics, etc ).

Thanks,
InsaneInTheBrain

Bump + MSPaint diagram

...bump.

Anyone? Should I try this post under the general "Indoor Growing" section? Thanks.

It will work, it will be alot of work as you said. All the methods work to some extent, try it and see what you get.

There are so many variables to how many grams per square foot that is is hard to say what works.

Thanks.

Any suggestions on the lighting? Would I be better off just going with a 400w or 600w HPS? I like the idea of growing with CFLs (if I can get comparable yields).

google modular scrog in buckets... I think that's similar to what you're thinking. you'll find a few grows using that sort of technique.

I would never pick on anyone for CFL if fact, for some stages they are the BEST answer. But, if you can deal with the heat you can not go wrong with a 600 watt. The higher the wattage the deeper in the canopy the light penetrates.

Start with cfl for the seeding/clone stage and use a HPS for flowering, but that is just my opinion.

And I think the concept you are going for would be called Perpetual Scrog

Hmmm, how well would 3 x 42w (actual) per cage work? CFLs are just so cheap (~$1 per) and each fixture would only cost ~10, that I'm tempted to try that if that would work decently... Plus, as aforementioned, the heat would be much less of a concern. Thoughts? Any idea how much the difference between each would be or is it too hard to know?

Thanks, I appreciate the feedback.