Topping and LST

CannaR05!

Active Member
Below are 2 pictures of my girls the bigger one is GDP and the small taller one is Pineapple Express (Both Fem and both Photoperiods)

GDP is starting week 3 of the seedling stage and PE is half way through week 2 of Seedling stage.

Can I top or LST or both these plants at this stage or should I wait until the Veg stage actually starts?

I ask because i am seeing alot of conflicting info online some say its ok to top in the seedling stage other say don't do it.

Any and all help would be appreciated.96E747D8-FE6B-4995-A827-A3062962ABBA.jpeg193E9754-1DBC-4E8E-9278-4E9A7D917885.jpegECB84789-FCE8-4D24-A24D-B2B35107BC89.jpeg
 

Rsawr

Smoke and Mirrors
Staff member
I would wait for 1 or 2 more nodes on the bigger one, and 2 or 3 more nodes on the smaller one for topping and lst. I like lotsa branches...

GL with the pineapple express!
 

CannaR05!

Active Member
I would wait for 1 or 2 more nodes on the bigger one, and 2 or 3 more nodes on the smaller one for topping and lst. I like lotsa branches...

GL with the pineapple express!
thank you! but why wait for more nodes i think GDP already has 4-5 nodes from the first set of true leaves and PE has 3. Why do you like a lot of branches? more budsites? Also the plan is to top twice and LST inbetween each topping then put them under a Scrog. Would this be an effective way to get a good yield or would i be doing more harm than good?
 

Millo

Well-Known Member
^ this
Also by waiting to top you allow the plant to first develop more roots so she can recover faster afterwards
Regarding LST you could theoretically start in seedling stage but the plant is more fragile and is easier to break if you haven't got the hands of a surgeon lol
 

CannaR05!

Active Member
^ this
Also by waiting to top you allow the plant to first develop more roots so she can recover faster afterwards
Regarding LST you could theoretically start in seedling stage but the plant is more fragile and is easier to break if you haven't got the hands of a surgeon lol
Which I don't i shake alot. hell i shook alot transplanting them from the solo cups to the 3gal fabric pots lol! So should i LST and then top? or vice versa?
 

Rsawr

Smoke and Mirrors
Staff member
thank you! but why wait for more nodes i think GDP already has 4-5 nodes from the first set of true leaves and PE has 3. Why do you like a lot of branches? more budsites? Also the plan is to top twice and LST inbetween each topping then put them under a Scrog. Would this be an effective way to get a good yield or would i be doing more harm than good?
Yeah, I go to 5 or 6 nodes, but 4 or 5 is perfect. Its preference. Main liners often top after the first or 2nd node. It looks healthy enough to be topped whenever you like. Go for it!
 

CannaR05!

Active Member
Forget about topping and just lst away, but before bending the plant place a string in opposite direction for counter force. That way it won't bend from the soil level, but from higher up where you placed the string.
you don't think combing topping with LST will give better results than just doing one or the other?
 

Horselover fat

Well-Known Member
you don't think combing topping with LST will give better results than just doing one or the other?
I think topping is pointless if you lst, unless you want to shape the plant in a specific way or something. I never top. If you start lst early and keep the tops level they will all become mains, which is what people are trying to achieve by topping.
 

CannaR05!

Active Member
I think topping is pointless if you lst, unless you want to shape the plant in a specific way or something. I never top. If you start lst early and keep the tops level they will all become mains, which is what people are trying to achieve by topping.
how early can you start to LST and tieing branches and the stems down? looking at my pics do you think i can LST either of them?
 

Millo

Well-Known Member
You could top first and then later lst the new branches to the same level but it will become very bushy so make sure you have enough space
Otherwise just lst straight away and try to keep it at the same height throughout the grow
 

Horselover fat

Well-Known Member
how early can you start to LST and tieing branches and the stems down? looking at my pics do you think i can LST either of them?
Well you need to have a couple of nodes but other than that it doesn't matter. With young ones you just have to be careful and don't force it too much.

Starting early it's easier to break apical dominance. Here you can see how every shoot becomes a top.
 

CannaR05!

Active Member
Well you need to have a couple of nodes but other than that it doesn't matter. With young ones you just have to be careful and don't force it too much.

Starting early it's easier to break apical dominance. Here you can see how every shoot becomes a top.
so then i guess i can LST both of my plants then? or no. did you look at the pics?
 

Horselover fat

Well-Known Member
^LOL didn't look very carefully. In that picture they topped the plant when they lst'd to break apical dominance. You can do that too, but it isn't needed really if you just keep the tops level and/or start earlier..
 

Horselover fat

Well-Known Member
Your plant will be VERY bushy this way and you may need to remove some shoots, but I always think it's better to remove extra shoots than the main shoot.

These are just my opinions and how I grow. Others will disagree and many of them are excellent growers. You gotta find what suits you :)
 

CannaR05!

Active Member
You could top first and then later lst the new branches to the same level but it will become very bushy so make sure you have enough space
Otherwise just lst straight away and try to keep it at the same height throughout the grow
well the dimensions of the tent are 2.3 x 2.3 x 5.2 so do you think doing LST and topping, the plants will out grow the space? I need to LST PE because its a Sativa Dom and i want to it as short as possible.
 
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