FIM Job Didn't Take, What Would You Clip Next?

jela10

jela10

Well-Known Member
Up till now I've had pretty good success with FIM'ing....at best I get a division of 4 branches, at worst I get 3 branches at the junction. I FIM'ed these two girls like I always do but maybe a little soon at 14days. I took 80% of the new growth tip but these kept right on growing with a clipped leaf "clone" look. I could wait like a mature focker and live with the results but something tells me to go back in with the scissors. Outside of topping all together, which takes longer to recover, I could cut out the lower side leaves at the junction forcing the nodes there to take over or just wait for the next new growth tip. What's your opinion as to what to do here?
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PersonalJesus said:
Why not just attempt to FIM the same shoot?
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jela10 said:
Up till now I've had pretty good success with FIM'ing....at best I get a division of 4 branches, at worst I get 3 branches at the junction. I FIM'ed these two girls like I always do but maybe a little soon at 14days. I took 80% of the new growth tip but these kept right on growing with a clipped leaf "clone" look. I could wait like a mature focker and live with the results but something tells me to go back in with the scissors. Outside of topping all together, which takes longer to recover, I could cut out the lower side leaves at the junction forcing the nodes there to take over or just wait for the next new growth tip. What's your opinion as to what to do here?
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topfuel29 said:
Pinch the meristem between the nail of your forefinger and thumb. :)
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I try to do it blindfolded to make sure I miss...lmao

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Pinch the meristem between the nail of your forefinger and thumb.
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It's vegging home, just cut it again. But mind you, lower branches will eventually become tops. Give it two weeks. Or again, just re-snip.
 
You did it mostly correct. Some leafy varieties like kushes will give you that wilted dollar look
the first week after getting FIM'd. One thing you should adjust is that I noticed you FIM'd the crown OK but
you also took the side leaves right next to the crown. Get smaller scissors and start FIM'ing with the same cut but not touching the
2 "sentinel" leaves. It takes longer to grow out when you also take the sentinel leaves with the crown.

I watch my clones when they act like that one so I know yours will be OK. I can tell you cut them 5-7 days ago by the size of the dollar.
You will be able to follow that leaf thru flowering by it's dinstinctive look. That will help you to visualize the results of your FIM job later
in the grow. All the extraneous growth above and after the folded leaf can be attributed to your pruning.

I routinely FIM all my ladies as they go thru the veg room. For ages I FIM'd after 3 weeks in dirt or about 12-14 inches tall for clones and a bit less for seedlings.
Now that I've gotten more knowledgable and have the experience to make informed choices I am FIM'ing earlier, when they are in the 6-8 inch range.
That earlier pruning means the new side branches are more developed by the time they go to 12/12. The earlier I FIM the bigger the yields! So don't be afraid to FIM them
early and (occassionally) often. (After growing out a Critical Jack that grew to 6 feet despite being FIM'd, I cloned her and will Fim the clone at 6-8 inches and again before she leaves
the veg room. FIM'ing or topping more than once will make a plant grow sideways instead of up and down.

BigSteve.
 
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