Too crowded?(pic)

bravedave

bravedave

Well-Known Member
Just started flower. Most my plants are a nice bushy 24-28 inches. Have 8 plants in a grow area about 7x5.5. Ceiling is 8'. I think height-wise, while I might be pushing it, I should be fine. (Strain generally doubles in height, I am told, during flower). This question however is about crowding. I was going to do 6 (it was suggested I do 6) but after 8 clones were all looking so good I could not dump one... figuring if things got too crowded I would make a salad out of 2 later on. ;) Well, its "later on". Everyone seems happy, and my 600W MH is visiting all just fine at this point (thinking about a something auxiliary if the height begins to hamper that), but I wonder if 6 might be happier in this space and actually provide overall better production. During veg I actually have been rotating plant position twice a day giving all plants a 1 of 8 different looks every 4 days. (I went 24/0 during veg). Their size and the crowding has made the rotation a bit tedious, so at least yesterday I just spun them where they sat. This is my first grow and question most everything I do and while I have a buddy helping me get started he does not live in the area, and I think still has one phone and it has an actual dial on it. ;) His help has been great, his availability, not so. I am going to bring him a pic next week when I go help him harvest (actually harvest training for me), but I figured I would get a general feel from the people here. So, bottom line, would you reduce the plant number at this point??? Here is a pic from 7/13 after their first taste of darkness and the flawa start. 60-70 days to go.
topshot.jpg
 
IMO. You'll have a nice harvest from your cola-buds if you maintain a level canopy. However, there will be very little light under the canopy. So, if you're going to keep all 8 plants in there, I would lollipop the fuck out the ladies and send all the energy straight to the top. Nobody really loves popcorn nugs. I would also LST a bit (I use hemp twine and duct tape) to expose any strong bud-sites right under the canopy. Nice looking ladies!
 
I should add that since that picture was taken I did pull the front row forward about 10" which is about as far as I want to go in that direction as my clone/new veg cabinet stands there and I need to walk in front of it.
 
better lst. I flip to 12/12 at 12", and get 5 footers. an 8' ceiling gets small when you factor the hanging light and the pot. The less plants you have the more each plant will yield, which also means less work.
 
LST now? ...and if someone has some nice pics from here where that has been done and/or maybe a additional description (where on plant to tie off and how (just a little bowline or overhand knot or?) Its been nice to water as at least up to now I could set them on a stool, give the topsoil a little back scratch, water and rotate...this effectively eliminates that ability.

A little pic for Bugeye...backs.jpg
 
bravedave said:
LST now? ...and if someone has some nice pics from here where that has been done and/or maybe a additional description (where on plant to tie off and how (just a little bowline or overhand knot or?) Its been nice to water as at least up to now I could set them on a stool, give the topsoil a little back scratch, water and rotate...this effectively eliminates that ability.

A little pic for Bugeye...View attachment 3204118
Click to expand...
Lst every main branch to open the plants up every node will grow upwards to create another bud site it will allow what would be a popcorn bud become a real cola . I use plastic plant tape its not sticky u just use like string u get from any garden centre will not cut into your plants. Also when u lst do it for like 3 weeks to keep the canopy even they shoulda fully stopped stretching by then..also once streth is done trim the fck out any bud site thats not part of the top canopy
 
i'd leave them as they are but simply remove anything that is shaded, they shouldn't get too much taller now but they will fill out so anything that is even partially shaded now will eventually become fluffy popcorn. in my experience lst makes the plants bushier which is something that you don't need to do the canopy is already full maybe too full some would argue.

they look nice btw good job so far.
 
I would play around with a couple and experiment with some of the techniques described above. The more you can master canopy management, the better the yields you can expect.

You can LST for maybe another week and then that window will start to close when the flower stretch slows down. Lollipop one just to see what that is about. It would make your maintenance a lot easier because I think you will be unable to take them out without damaging them soon. Supercrop one just to see. Your room also looks perfect for running a corded trellis horizontally across the top near end of veg next time and then weaving and spreading out the growth shoots through all the holes. If you go down to 6 on next grow, this would still allow you to fill the same horizontal space with colas. But you won't be able to pull them out anymore.

I think you're doing an amazing job for first grow and you'll be learning lots on the second half that will give you a better sense of how to proceed on grow 2. It is easier to lollipop after you trim the bottom of a few plants and know you aren't missing out on any quality bud.
 
Wot bugeye said sounds like the most usefull and feisable way to continue u defo need to do something to give light and air(2 of the most important ingredients) a chance to b able to work their magic.:bigjoint:.
 
Bugeye said:
I would play around with a couple and experiment with some of the techniques described above. The more you can master canopy management, the better the yields you can expect.

You can LST for maybe another week and then that window will start to close when the flower stretch slows down. Lollipop one just to see what that is about. It would make your maintenance a lot easier because I think you will be unable to take them out without damaging them soon. Supercrop one just to see. Your room also looks perfect for running a corded trellis horizontally across the top near end of veg next time and then weaving and spreading out the growth shoots through all the holes. If you go down to 6 on next grow, this would still allow you to fill the same horizontal space with colas. But you won't be able to pull them out anymore.

I think you're doing an amazing job for first grow and you'll be learning lots on the second half that will give you a better sense of how to proceed on grow 2. It is easier to lollipop after you trim the bottom of a few plants and know you aren't missing out on any quality bud.
Click to expand...

Great stuff. A bit intimidating to do for me but adrenalizing at the same time. I have to think about it and bone up on the procedures.
 
Go crazy on two of them! You can spare them, it will likely get too crowded for 8 anyway. Whatever you fuck up is just tuition in the school of life.
 
I would only LST the nugs that don't make it to the top... this will be a quick task, only 10 nugs or so to do. I think the main thing would be lollipopping all of the tiny bud formations during week 3-4 (when they appear). You won't get any light down there so I think the lollipop will be a better tool for you than LSTing. And I totally agree, they look great. If you left them alone how they are you'd still get a dank harvest.
 
Man Im in the same boat, have too many plants myself! 4 chunky Diesel and 4 purple cheese still in veg tho I'm interested on how yours turns out so keep us updated.
 
bravedave said:
I should add that since that picture was taken I did pull the front row forward about 10" which is about as far as I want to go in that direction as my clone/new veg cabinet stands there and I need to walk in front of it.
Click to expand...
There is NEVER enough room, is there?
 
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