A trellis net is a supportive mesh structure deployed by cultivators to manage the growth and development of plants. Its primary functions are twofold: to optimize light exposure across the entire canopy and to provide necessary structural reinforcement for heavy-producing plants. Choosing the best moment to install this support depends entirely on the specific training goals the grower intends to achieve throughout the plant’s lifecycle. This decision shifts based on whether the intention is early canopy shaping or later structural load management.
Trellising for Canopy Training (Vegetative Phase)
When the aim is to create a uniform canopy, the trellis net acts as a tool for techniques such as Screen of Green (ScroG). This method requires the net to be installed early in the plant’s life cycle while the stems and branches are still pliable and actively growing. The timing for installation is typically when the plant reaches about 50 to 75 percent of the grower’s desired final canopy height.
The net is installed before the onset of the flowering stage, allowing the grower to manipulate the upper growth tips horizontally. As branches grow through the mesh openings, they are gently tucked back underneath, redirecting vertical energy into lateral growth. This deliberate weaving action promotes the development of numerous secondary branches, which ultimately leads to a level plane of growth.
By training the plants in this manner during the vegetative phase, the grower is not yet concerned with supporting weight, but rather with spatial organization. This early intervention effectively breaks apical dominance, which is the tendency of a plant to grow vertically from a single main stem. Uniformity in the canopy guarantees that light energy is distributed evenly to all potential bud sites, maximizing the light-harvesting potential.
Trellising for Branch Support (Flowering and Fruiting)
A distinct application of the trellis net is its use purely for structural integrity, which becomes a necessity as the plant transitions into the reproductive phases. During the initial transition to flowering, many plants undergo a rapid vertical growth spurt known as the “stretch” phase. The optimal time to deploy the net for support is either just prior to this period or immediately following it, as the plant begins to set its initial flowers.
Installing the net at this stage anticipates the significant increase in mass that will occur as flowers or fruits mature and gain density. The developing yields exert considerable leverage on the branches, increasing the risk of mechanical failure or snapping.
The net acts as a cradle, distributing the weight of the developing yields across a wider surface area and preventing branches from bending or breaking under their own load. Unlike canopy training, this later installation is a defensive measure against yield loss, not a proactive shaping technique. The timing is reactive, focusing on preventing stem damage when the plant is too rigid to move without risk.
Practical Placement and Height Guidelines
The physical placement of the trellis net must correspond directly with the chosen timing strategy to be effective. For canopy training (vegetative phase), the net is typically installed six to twelve inches above the top of the growing medium or container. This height range is chosen to allow the lower foliage to develop while the upper growth tips are positioned perfectly for tucking and weaving into the mesh. The exact distance within this range depends on the strain’s growth rate and the desired final plant height.
When using the net for later structural support, the placement may involve multiple layers or a single, higher net. A single support net is often positioned about twelve to eighteen inches above the canopy to catch and support the heaviest, most vulnerable upper branches.
In setups using multiple nets, the first layer is placed low for canopy management, and subsequent layers are added every eight to twelve inches vertically as the plant grows upward. The decision to install a second or third layer should be made as soon as the upper branches begin to touch the existing net, ensuring continuous support. This layered approach accommodates the plant’s vertical stretch during flowering and secures the developing yields at various heights.