I am doing this with my first grow too. I have bent my plants to about 90 degrees, with some copper wire tied to screen under the plant, just below the new growth. Some of the upper stalk is actually below the top of the soil! It doesn't seem to damage the stem at all and the inner leaves are growing QuiCK. When released, the plant goes verticle within a day, its amazing. I now have about 7 mains on one plant(hopefully fem.) without cutting a thing. One was topped by a deer and is now horizontal, and seems to be doing great. For the most part, you don't have to manipulate the branches for light, as the plant does this naturally, also within a day or so. You could have a six footer, about a foot off the ground, if you wanted.