Topping

[DutchmasterCC]

Could someone school me in topping please?
I dont have much height room. Maybe 4.5Ft.
When is a good time to top?
I've attached a few pics. They are about 16days old now.
Do they look good? Any suggestions?
I know it looks like a pretty low budget space. It is and has to be for now.
Thanks.

 

[unlucky]

start now and give her a day or 2 then do it again if ya want

 

[DutchmasterCC]

Hey thanks. Just to confirm, ur saying top it twice?

start now and give her a day or 2 then do it again if ya want

 

[DrKingGreen]

Have you considered trying an lst? If you tie down the tops it will be less stressful to the plant than hacking on it all the time. Also you won't be stunting your plants growth by having them recover all the time. Just an idea, but if you're set on cutting check out the fim method and see which you like better.

 

[unlucky]

Hey thanks. Just to confirm, ur saying top it twice?

​lol no not just twice as many times as you want and then lollipop her.....top her now and then you will get 2 where there was 1 and let the 2 grow and you can top them and now you have 4, you with me ?

 

[DutchmasterCC]

Hmmm. I will look into. Thanks.
My only problem with tying down is my limited lighting. Not sure if it's enough to reach out and touch the plant.

Have you considered trying an lst? If you tie down the tops it will be less stressful to the plant than hacking on it all the time. Also you won't be stunting your plants growth by having them recover all the time. Just an idea, but if you're set on cutting check out the fim method and see which you like better.

 

[DutchmasterCC]

I'm with ya. Thanks. I'll post back soon with pics of the progress.

​lol no not just twice as many times as you want and then lollipop her.....top her now and then you will get 2 where there was 1 and let the 2 grow and you can top them and now you have 4, you with me ?

 

[Bumbaclat]

If height is an issue have you considered a scrog?

 

[DutchmasterCC]

I havent only because of my limited lighting. i believe I am only putting out 8,000 lumens.

If height is an issue have you considered a scrog?

 

[RCgrowerman]

Have you considered trying an lst? If you tie down the tops it will be less stressful to the plant than hacking on it all the time. Also you won't be stunting your plants growth by having them recover all the time. Just an idea, but if you're set on cutting check out the fim method and see which you like better.

I recommend using both topping and later once it recovers THEN doing LST. They are both great methods and when used together create a very leveled out canopy giving you tons of colas and much less popcorn. I personally top my girls very early on so I can work with 4 main tops once it recovers and it stays nice and bushy. Hope this helps happy growing to you!

 

[DutchmasterCC]

Nice. Thanks. I will look into this as well. LST?

I recommend using both topping and later once it recovers THEN doing LST. They are both great methods and when used together create a very leveled out canopy giving you tons of colas and much less popcorn. I personally top my girls very early on so I can work with 4 main tops once it recovers and it stays nice and bushy. Hope this helps happy growing to you!

 

[DrKingGreen]

Cuts = recovery time & leaves = producer of the necessary carbs and release toxins. I've ready the Rosenthal growers handbook, but I really just don't believe cutting the producer of carbs off your plant is going to make it produce more bud. My next run I'm going to do this lollipoop idea side by side with an untouched plant. I do not believe it will produce more or as much. And I'm fine with those "popcorn nugs" everyone says I'll get on the bottom.. All of my top colas (from lst) have direct light so they should still be just as big as long as she's getting the proper nutes and as for the popcorn, I'll smoke it and/or give it to a friend for a steal

 

[DrKingGreen]

I recommend using both topping and later once it recovers THEN doing LST. They are both great methods and when used together create a very leveled out canopy giving you tons of colas and much less popcorn. I personally top my girls very early on so I can work with 4 main tops once it recovers and it stays nice and bushy. Hope this helps happy growing to you!

How many top colas do you usually aim for? I only tied my top cola the first week of 12/12 and now have 9. How many more could I really get and with already having 9 do you think it would be worth it? Maybe I'll run one like that next run too so I can compare all 3

 

[RCgrowerman]

You sound like me when I first started man. You may be ok with popcorn buds at first but they are worthless and the smoke is just not good enough for myself anymore. BTW you tying them down is a form of LST so it seems you already see the importance of that one. You will have to wait until they crown to know how many real tops you have and by that I mean the top nodes with fill in with pistils and for the first time resemble a bud. I have been tricked many times by Mazar Kush and its vigorous growth which would make giant fan leave that covered my tops and before you know it they are no longer prized colas. IMO some cases of counting your tops before mid flower is similar to counting your eggs before they hatch. I cant honestly give you a number because I only grow for my personal stash and for that reason I have gone through many harvests not caring about my end yields/tops. When I first started growing those things were very important to me but now I have enough skill to keep a constant flow of top shelf meds. I'm not saying they are not important details, I just don't obsess over them. Your plants look nice and healthy though so regardless of the training techniques you choose to employ I think thing will turn out good for you. Sorry if this is a little long winded.

 

[DutchmasterCC]

Hey thanks for advice. Since then, I got a 400w HPS. Now into day 10 of 12/12. Have a good one!

start now and give her a day or 2 then do it again if ya want

 

[Bong Wizard]

Very nice, you will love the light upgrade. or should I say your girls will!!

 

[DutchmasterCC]

They do indeed!! What a difference.

 

[NoBarriers]

Cuts = recovery time & leaves = producer of the necessary carbs and release toxins. I've ready the Rosenthal growers handbook, but I really just don't believe cutting the producer of carbs off your plant is going to make it produce more bud.

You would be wrong in your belief. Topping over and over gives you more tops which are all close to the light vs. one cola close to the light and the rest getting less. I top every two nodes throughout veg and stop two weeks prior to flower. About 6 times = 64 tops which i spread out with stakes so it looks like a 3 foot wide taple top and then two to three weeks into flower I trim the plant up to about the top third and get rid of all the straggly branches and all the popcorn. Leaving all the bottom crap costs yeild. I've tried it not just read about it...