topping/F.I.M.ing question

abrooks2152

Active Member
Hello everyone. A bout 4 days ago I topped my strawberry cough from dutch passion. I topped her at exactly 5 nodes high. This is the earliest I have ever topped a plant. Wich had me a bit nervous. I did the same to my Grandoggy Purp. (Pics are only of S.C.) ok so my question is did I accidentally do a F.I.M.? My 2 new tops are prevalent. Yet there appears to be a 3rd top where I made my cut. Should I remove the center one? Or just let it be?
 

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GroErr

Well-Known Member
I won't get into the FIM vs. Top argument as it's a preference, imo there is no right/wrong. That's a FIM but not a bad thing, I personally FIM instead of Top simply because I feel the plants recover faster and it stresses them out less. Typically I FIM multiple times as they recover in days, and every significant shoot, the general idea is to create more bud sites and it works well imo.
 

abrooks2152

Active Member
The only thing is, is I did it on accident. Whilst attempting a top. I usually wait longer but wanted to keep this 80% sativa 20% indica as short and busy as I can. I have no idea how to F.I.M. (im not for or against it. I just have never done it.) So I will leave it be and watch how it progresses. Ill keep updstes on here if anyones interested in the outcome. Hell, the universe it seems wants me to learn F.I.M.ing at this point. So do I do this again? And how? Or can I top the new tops that grow out of the F.I.M.? I usually top twice. To get my desired amount of tops, but I usualy grow indica dominant strains. Or use phenos with indica traits. Thanks every one for your help. May your crops be dank and your days long and prosperous upon the earth. Namaste
 

GroErr

Well-Known Member
The only thing is, is I did it on accident. Whilst attempting a top. I usually wait longer but wanted to keep this 80% sativa 20% indica as short and busy as I can. I have no idea how to F.I.M. (im not for or against it. I just have never done it.) So I will leave it be and watch how it progresses. Ill keep updstes on here if anyones interested in the outcome. Hell, the universe it seems wants me to learn F.I.M.ing at this point. So do I do this again? And how? Or can I top the new tops that grow out of the F.I.M.? I usually top twice. To get my desired amount of tops, but I usualy grow indica dominant strains. Or use phenos with indica traits. Thanks every one for your help. May your crops be dank and your days long and prosperous upon the earth. Namaste
Funny, it actually looks like a perfect FIM - lol You're trying to cut off about 80% of that top/centre shoot, which you did. In the perfect world, it leaves a little "cup" there, from which the new shoots spread in a few days. What you should see in a couple of days is that it'll split, usually into 4 small "leaves" that will spread apart and open. In about a week you'll see the results and it will have fully recovered. If you get the cut right, those 4 "leaves" will be new shoots, usually mine grow out and look like they were leaves that were cut on purpose. You can do it again, just wait for the shoots to heal/develop, or FIM any new shoots that come up in the meantime.
 

abrooks2152

Active Member
Cool. Thank you. I'm going to let it grow out. I topped a grandoggy purp at the same time and it looks perfectly topped. So ill check both methods side by side and see which I prefer. I must be meant to learn the F.I.M.ing technique on this grow. Pretty cool stuff. I really appreciate your insights and info. Ill put pics of the topped g.d.p. and the f.i.m.ed S.C. side by saide when I get home tonight. Namaste
 

GroErr

Well-Known Member
They should do well, I never do them this early but I usually veg about 6-8 weeks so let them get bigger before any training. Shold be fine though at the 5th node. Good luck, will look forward to seeing the updates. Cheers...
 

abrooks2152

Active Member
  1. Here are the new pics. First 2 are of the F.I.M.ed S.C. and the 2nd two are the topped G.D.P. and the last one or two are them together in my homemade cab. Any comment tips or pointers are welcome. Namaste all. Happy growing
  2. P.s. I also gave them both a miniscule first feeding of calmag and fox farms veg. Newts.
 

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zander19

Well-Known Member
First time we tried to F.I.M it never worked out for us so we topped instead turned out great lol but nice top dude plants are looking great will keep my eye out for your updates
 

GroErr

Well-Known Member
Looking good, those FIM's look good, amazing how fast they recover/grow out, looks like you're well on your way to some nice plants there, they look healthy...

Here's pic's of an outdoor Jack The Ripper I fimmed 10 days ago, this one's going to be monster :)
Notice how the 4 leaves/shoots that originated from the one centre shoot I fimmed, grow out with squared-off tips, like they were trimmed/cut on the ends of the leaves. Like I mentioned in my original post, I prefer this method in that they recover so fast, you can do it over and over again for plants you're vegging for a while, this is the second FIM for this plant, will do it at least two more times before it starts flowering. Cheers.
FIM2-JTR-Ourdoor-1.jpg FIM2-JTR-Ourdoor-2.jpg
 

abrooks2152

Active Member
Ill get an aerial shot of them put up tonight. But some of my nes tops exhibit that cut trait. But not as uniform as yours. However it still appears to have 4 good tops. Ok, its been about 8 days and they look like I could top or f.i.m. again already. Should I wait a couple of nodes? Or at least another week. We r starting week 4 of veg this week. My prior topping has always been week 5 then again in 7 and I let it be until switching to 12/12
 

GroErr

Well-Known Member
Ill get an aerial shot of them put up tonight. But some of my nes tops exhibit that cut trait. But not as uniform as yours. However it still appears to have 4 good tops. Ok, its been about 8 days and they look like I could top or f.i.m. again already. Should I wait a couple of nodes? Or at least another week. We r starting week 4 of veg this week. My prior topping has always been week 5 then again in 7 and I let it be until switching to 12/12
No pics so it's hard to say but if you feel they've recovered and a new shoot/top is available you can go ahead. I'm giving the one in the pic another day or two of sun and will FIM that one again, usually wait about 2 weeks but have done it before that with no issues. I have about another month outdoor before they start pre-flower so lots of time to train them, targeting a lb. off 3 plants in 7Gal fabric pots, the training should get me pretty close. Damn I wish I could replicate the power of the sun indoor :(
 

abrooks2152

Active Member
Here is an update. I know its been a while. Not a lot happend between week 4-6. But the girls are all doing fabulously. The F.I.M.ed Strawberry Caugh, from Dutch Passion has soooo many tops ;) Love it. Its the first pic. Below. The Topped, Grand Doggy Purp from Connoisseur genetics, (pic 2)is doing great. A lil smaller than the other 2, but they are supposed to stretch a bit. It has 4 tops from topping twice. I also topped the pineapple chunk from barneys farm only once so far. I will L.S.T This week. Pics will b posted as soon as I get time. The last pic is a better shot of the f.i.m.ed s.c. also there is a photo of my box. Enjoy. We go 12/12 july25
 

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GroErr

Well-Known Member
Great job with those plants, they look nice & healthy and the top/fim's look like they've produced some great bud areas. Keep them as healthy as they are and they're going to produce some nice bud for you :) Cheers
 
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