Question for the "Pruning" Gurus

[thelastpirate]

I hope this is clear enough....

I have a plant that I topped about 3 weeks ago. Everything was going fine until about last week, when it decided to have a growth spurt.
I have basically 2 main tops that are v'ed off from where I topped it. The problem is that the growth spurt put those 2 tops up inside my reflector. It's a good bit taller than the rest of the plants, so if I just raise the reflector for this one, it's too high for the rest of the plants
Can I top just these 2 branches? I cant find my digital cam to show pics, but I' pretty sure I've been clear about this. I'll try and post pics If I can find that cam.
It's just 2 plants that are significantly taller than the rest. Same seed stock. I guess it's a pheno. There are 2 out of 18 that did that. The rest are all about the same height.

 

[TheFaux]

Learn you some super-cropping.

All you gotta do is go down to just above the "V" where the branches split, and kinda pinch the stems until they lose the ability to support the weight of the branch. Bend them down and tie em off to the base off the meristem or maybe to the container.

 

[smppro]

Yes you can top those 2 tops also. Or you could do like suggested above. Search youtube for super cropping. Be prepared for a bush

 

[beginningbotanist420]

or just LST to the same height as all the rest

 

[TheFaux]

or just LST to the same height as all the rest

If the branches have become lignified (hard) you'll have to weaken the fibers (by super-cropping) so you can bend the branches without snapping them.

 

[thelastpirate]

Well, I searched YouTube for supercropping, and found a couple of videos that were fairly informative. It "looks" pretty straightforward, so I did the deed.
I hope I have better success than I did with "FIMming" them. Either I cut too much or not enough. A couple of them look like it might have worked, but for the most part I got some that looked like I topped them normally, and the others continued on the way they were, just with really misshapen top leaves. I got a good feeling about it tho, and I do believe that this will fly.

Thanx for all the input guys/gals!!

TLP

 

[thelastpirate]

I checked on the room about an hour ago, and I'll be damned if the "pinched" plant limbs are already turning upwards into the light!!! Too fucking cool!!! I can see where this would be really useful. I'm gonna play with it some more. Still can't find the camera, but will post pics when I do.

Thanx for the input!!!

TLP

 

[TheFaux]

I checked on the room about an hour ago, and I'll be damned if the "pinched" plant limbs are already turning upwards into the light!!! Too fucking cool!!! I can see where this would be really useful. I'm gonna play with it some more. Still can't find the camera, but will post pics when I do.

Thanx for the input!!!

TLP

You should tie em down once they are bent over. You should also think about snipping off the growing tip of the tied down branches, depending on how many nodes are on the branch and how much area you want the plant to cover.

I've tried FIMing and never had any kind of crazy node explosion. IMO it's just too rare to be used consistently. Anymore I top early at 2 or 3 nodes and super-crop, then tie em down.

Keep it green.

 

[munch box]

go with the scrog techique. top the plant several times and cut out all the undergrowth ..First pic at the end of veg. second at the end of flower

 

[thelastpirate]

I agree with ya Faux, FIMming is highly overrated, at least at my level of experience. What is cutting the growth tips on the bent branches gonna do for the plant? There are about 3 alternating nodes between the "pinch" and the top. I have 16 plants under 5 400w lights in a 7' x 8' area I really don't want them TOO bushy (wide), but I do want to get as many bud sites as possible.

Munch box, what kinda yield are you expecting from that jewel? I like the fact that all the bud sites are at the same level. Much easier to maintain even lighting. How far down thru the canopy will the light effectively cover? I am HOPING for about 1/2 lb per plant (or better). Last grow I got a QP from one nute burnt, stretched out, over watered and generally stressed out plant. It shouldn't have survived, let alone produce what it did.

FWIW, I love the avatar, but you are PROBABLY gonna catch some shit about it. We have some VERY VALUED (and knowledgeable) female members here. You oughta see the great nekkid she-pirate avatar I have, But I have enough respect for the gals not to use it. Just something for you to chew on.

Another Update. I top dressed today with both guano (10-3-1) and bone meal (6-9-0), 3 tbsp of ea per 5 gal pot. (I'm due to water again Saturday) I noticed some pre-flowers (I have a "magna-vision" head band that I wear when working with or looking at the plants) So I gave everyone a good close look. So far 9 out of 16 are definately female, the rest are undetermined. I'll keep looking for signs of staminate growth, but I doubt very seriously I'll find any. I fully expect the rest to be female as well. Every seed that I know has been grown from this stock have all been female. Out of 30 seeds started, 28 germed within 24 hrs. Looks like the Gods have smiled on me. Great genetics and feminized seed, all from the sacks we've been getting (same source, same strain). I have NEVER had this kind of luck with anything.
I really hope I get a male (or at least an Hermaphrodite), so I can fertilize a branch or 2 to get more seed from this strain.
I have kept out 2 to that end. If all 16 turn out female, I do have these for backup and can try to "stress" them into hermies.

 

[TheFaux]

I agree with ya Faux, FIMming is highly overrated, at least at my level of experience. What is cutting the growth tips on the bent branches gonna do for the plant? There are about 3 alternating nodes between the "pinch" and the top. I have 16 plants under 5 400w lights in a 7' x 8' area I really don't want them TOO bushy (wide), but I do want to get as many bud sites as possible.
.......

It's the equivalent of "topping". What it's about is cutting a branch where you want it to stop growing, simple as that. I'm just saying if you ever get to the point where you tie off a branch and it's growing tip is pointing down and it's not going to get light, or just doesn't make sense to keep it because of the other node growth.... cut it off. It's all about getting an even canopy so just don't think you can only use these techniques once or one at a time. They can all flow together endlessly, dig?