Hey whats up yall. I have grew before but I've never did anything more than pruning. This year I want to test out topping, fimming, supercropping, and mainlining to see which one I like best. I transplanted them from solo cups to these 5 gallon pots and i plan on putting them in about 15 or 20 gallon pots.Any advice for me? Like which plants should I test which method on or should I use a combination of one and another? Should I start today if not when? They are on the sixth node. Thanks in advance.
First time training
- Thread starter OgGreens
- Start date
VincenzioVonHook
Well-Known Member
The easiest method is usually topping after the fourth/fifth node and training the two new shoots outwards until the lower nodes catch up height wise and breaking apical dominance. If you start early, LST is just as effective, it just gets hard when the plant is developed and risks stem damage.
I'd start with topping one or two plants (leaving one or two untouched) and doing some basic LST, so you can get a feel as to how the plants handle and react to the stress and relocation of hormones. Supercropping (pinching and bending the stems to direct growth) can be used to direct natural growth stimulant to certain branches as well. The area cropped will generally repair itself overnight and grow vigorously over the next few days. I use it to boost stubborn nodes.
Best advice is to leave one or two healthy plant as a reference, and start topping and basic LST on another to compare what the plant responds well to, especially first time. We all get a little heavy handed the first time, and are bound to make a mistake. Luckily marijuana is tough. Once you get the hang of your first few training sessions, and have decided to the plants are responding well beside the baseline, you can feel free to train all of them and go to town.
I'd love to build a manifold one day. The idea of a symmetrical plant tickles my OCD.
I'd start with topping one or two plants (leaving one or two untouched) and doing some basic LST, so you can get a feel as to how the plants handle and react to the stress and relocation of hormones. Supercropping (pinching and bending the stems to direct growth) can be used to direct natural growth stimulant to certain branches as well. The area cropped will generally repair itself overnight and grow vigorously over the next few days. I use it to boost stubborn nodes.
Best advice is to leave one or two healthy plant as a reference, and start topping and basic LST on another to compare what the plant responds well to, especially first time. We all get a little heavy handed the first time, and are bound to make a mistake. Luckily marijuana is tough. Once you get the hang of your first few training sessions, and have decided to the plants are responding well beside the baseline, you can feel free to train all of them and go to town.
I'd love to build a manifold one day. The idea of a symmetrical plant tickles my OCD.
Lol I think I want to try the mainlining because I just want to see it with my own eyes. Thanks for the advice. Also where should I make the bend when supercropping and can it be used during flowering. I have heard of people damaging the plant close to harvest to boost thc but I havent been able to find too much info online.
Creature1969
Well-Known Member
Bro-science nonsense.
We wait so long for the trics to mature for harvest, what's the point of new, clear ones that won't get you high?
Also, if that actually worked, it would be normal practice, it's not.
Dank Bongula
Well-Known Member
That is the same as topping. People need to stop getting advice from the hydro store...you get advice on how to make cheeseburgers from the people working at mcdonalds too?
But to answer your question, give them all a shot and see which you like best. Topping and fimming work great to make a bushier plant with a flat canopy...supercropping I have never done because I see it as more of an emergency technique due to space restrictions...
Mainlining however is my preferred method - adds a few weeks to the veg time, but all the training pays off in the end because you have a relatively flat canopy and 8 mains (or 16 or 32 if that's your thing) all sticking up nice and straight...no crowding, good spacing, good airflow without having to put a bunch of work in daily with readjusting, tucking, defoliating. With mainlining all the work is done up front. Once you flip to flower you are basically done. Just let it do its thing and keep it fed and watered.
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How would you go about mainlining for 16 to 32 colas
Dank Bongula
Well-Known Member
When you have 8 tops, let them grow out a node then top again for 16....let each of those grow out one more node then top each one for 32...more shaping, more work for me in the end & I ain't about that...8 is good for me.
Dank Bongula
Well-Known Member
Never heard of that.
Skunkbudz
Well-Known Member
Sweet plants.. I've always used LST ( slight bend and train ) crushing stems later right during stretch is pretty cool, leaves a knot ( knuckle ) in the stem.
I don't really see a wrong way, guess it's between the grower and the plant and what works for the individual situation.
I don't really see a wrong way, guess it's between the grower and the plant and what works for the individual situation.
Taking out the bulb and toping are not the same.
The bottom branches of a tipped (cut bulb) plant will grow the same as a topped plant with lower growth but you'll still have two symmetrical tops to tie down a week later.
Cutting the bulb is the pro way of fimming imo, you get all of the benefits of fimming without all the cut leaves of typical fimming it's not a problem just unsightly.
The bottom branches of a tipped (cut bulb) plant will grow the same as a topped plant with lower growth but you'll still have two symmetrical tops to tie down a week later.
Cutting the bulb is the pro way of fimming imo, you get all of the benefits of fimming without all the cut leaves of typical fimming it's not a problem just unsightly.
Dank Bongula
Well-Known Member
If they are blocking bud sites lower into the canopy, then yes, you can clip them or bend them out of the way.
