when can i top this?

robert 14617

Well-Known Member
There are no rules to where you top your plant or how old it needs to be. As long as your plant has shoots protruding further down the main stalk it is able to be topped. When topped the growth of the plant will be concentrated towards the new, younger vegative shoots.

Once you have topped your plant(s) the younger shoots will rapidly begin growing. With the removal of the main central stalk the lower braches grow more. With topping completed we keep the plants on their regular lighting and feeding schedules.

Now each new shoot tip will essentially grow as the main stalk did, however the growth is not concentrated to only one central stalk. So as each new shoot grows outward new shoots will grow from each one of them stalks as well.

Therefore topping can be done again, and again, and as each shoot becomes a growing tip with other shoots forming down its stalk, it is removed. By completing these topping or pruning tactics, a grower can acheive any desired height, or desired bushiness, they desire in their plants.


Added on: Wednesday, May 2, 2007 Viewed: 7069 times
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i think id let her get a few more nodes before i topoed looks good keep it up
 

Burns2510

Active Member
personnaly i'd wait till it's 2-3 months old, you don't want to top a plant as young as that, its only a baby :(


also, don't top 2 weeks before flowering or during flowering.
 

BigJon626

Well-Known Member
my space is not really limited kuz im only guna have one or two plants outside so i can keep it stealhy
 

GoldenGanja13

Well-Known Member
If thats the case then take Burns advice and veg her for 3 months, don't even touch her (top/fim/lst,etc) let her go natural and watch and familarize yourself with the way she grows. Then you will understand what you might want to do in next set (clones).
 

South Texas

Well-Known Member
To push the envolope, the topping issue begs the questions as to why not top the shit out of your plant, since that each "pinch" causes 2 budding branches. In a good situation, there may be 50 or more end branches that can be topped, which of course, doubles the flower yields. This takes some time & concentration.
First, lets set aside certain strains that does not clone well, or top well. Death in topping can be done in certain type strains. It's those one stalk strains, like the Master Kush that don't put out a lot of branches.. and if they don't have a bunch of branches,... WTF. There is a way, but that's another story.
The story against not topping, or waiting for months, etc. is like not using Molasses until the Flowering area. The question is, if topping doubles the yield, & molasses is great for your plants, why wait months to initiate the practice?
Here is the cons. Topping (taking fan leaves also falls into this topic.) stunts growth, it puts the plant under undue stress, she don't like being pinched, etc.
Here is a few facts. A fan blowing on your Baby 24/7 causes stress/death. Cool temps, hot temps, low & high humidity causes stress/death. Drainage, chemical abuse/use, lighting, all of the above will very much cause topping or taking fan leaves adverse problems. So what people see/believe.. Topping & fan Leaf removal is Taboo, cause this & that happened to me, bla,bla bla.
There is a way that you can "PLAY" with the plant.. lay her on her side, hang her upside down, cut her, bend, fold & mutilate, and she will not only deal with it, but will become stronger, healthier & bigger. BLT first introduced self impossed stressing, to hardy the plant. This incluses watering outside the plants canopy, to MAKE the roots stretch for water, brusing the cell structure, like the wind does, to cause the cell structure to grow back stronger. Excercising the plant is what it's called. Running 1 to 5 miles sucks, but it makes the body stronger. How many fat-assed Roofers have you ever seen? None. These people feeds their Bodies a good diet, and max's out their potential.
If your soil met the requirements of the plant, & your root system can handle the demand without hesitation (stunted growth), then you can do things that kills most growers plants, because the plant is the eye candy, when the health of the soil is where the fuel supplies lies & determines what the puppet plant does. Just my take. Grow BIG!!!


If thats the case then take Burns advice and veg her for 3 months, don't even touch her (top/fim/lst,etc) let her go natural and watch and familarize yourself with the way she grows. Then you will understand what you might want to do in next set (clones).
 

budy budman

Well-Known Member
If thats the case then take Burns advice and veg her for 3 months, don't even touch her (top/fim/lst,etc) let her go natural and watch and familarize yourself with the way she grows. Then you will understand what you might want to do in next set (clones).
bongsmilieLike South Texas says...........

Our plants do so much better, grow fuller, stronger when we top.

We try to plant clones that have been topped so they start out as mini bushes. Great stuff.
 

HappySack

Well-Known Member
Depends, just wait till the 5th true node. There is a thread here on RIU, Feming? I think that's the name of it that will give you 4 main colas. interesting thread, give it a look, might be just what your looking for. If anyone can correct my STML, go for it.
 

South Texas

Well-Known Member
The 5TH node is my thought, also, because the rooting system can't handle the needed supply earlier than that. Over extending the rooting ability is a road to hell. To begin a fast growing rooting system eary on, seaweed is a natural rooting hormone- it promotes fast, healthy rooting health, and soft rock phosphorous. And of course, always molasses. With that, you can transphere new growth to desired areas with a small pinch on the tips of the new growth. But you can't drag race without good fuel.
 

South Texas

Well-Known Member
Reps are very Material Girl sort of shit. Having the Grow room over take your house is my goal. Calling 911 cause that Bitch is trying to consume your plump ass would be cool, then reps.
 

robert 14617

Well-Known Member
i say no more than two years from now i'll be back on acreage ,and i will have horrible plants that will take over if not whipped down with a machete from time to time
 
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