Uncle Ben's Topping Technique to Get 2 or 4 Main Colas

Status
Not open for further replies.

lefreq

Active Member
love my fifth node topping. id add a pic but im having tech difficulties. love this thread. 12 clones all topped. feel me ? :D love the greens.
im finding the one i topped at 5th node is rather random growth not the equal uniformity you get from 2nd node 4 cola method
 

atomicronick

Active Member
nicely.jpg I am starting to wonder how strain dependant topping is.....or, in other words.....what strains react to a early, or a late top......trail and error sounds perfect to me :) That is a pic of my mother in veg a little while ago :)
 

atomicronick

Active Member
I wouldn't do that SpeedDevil. I've done it but with autos it's a big trade off. Yes, you will get 4 colas but *any* stress on an auto and it stunts their growth. Normal plants, yeah you never even notice the plant being stunted if you blink twice. I grew off about 50 autos this spring/summer and I got more by not topping. The rest of my plants, the full season ones, are another story; I'm totally sold on topping - just not for autos. BTW, welcome to the forum.

Thank you for the info.....sorry to thread jack, but that has been on my mind as of recent developments.........
 

Uncle Ben

Well-Known Member
After reading your stuff I switched to the two harvest method and it really does work as long as I keep them healthy.
Thanks UB for all you do for us Newbs.
You're welcome. Harvest as they become "ripe", like an apple.

im finding the one i topped at 5th node is rather random growth not the equal uniformity you get from 2nd node 4 cola method
5th node topping is not what this thread is all about. It produces random growth, not 4 main colas.

The last two outside grows were on auto-flowering plants. Here's a great example of one that autoflowered right after topping at the 6th node (produced alternate nodes just after topping).

Upcanned and then topped:

Seedling upcannedSend.jpg

Week or so later:

FullViewMay14.jpg

Same plant only 2 weeks later:


FullViewMay22send.jpg

4 colas falling over under their own weight 2 weeks prior to harvest:

FullViewAug19send.jpg

UB

.
 

MeJuana

Well-Known Member
Uncle Ben I was hoping to get your input on the chop. My Platinum OG clones are 12 inches tall Aero-NFT and I am wondering how to best sculpt the 2 nodes, I have 12 basically look like below.. Would it be better to trim the first few nodes off, then pick two nice stout ones, then hack the rest of the plant off? None of this plant is needed, it was grown to top and then I found your thread right before cutting so lucky me. You're a genius sir!!, thanks in advance.

(I am not time critical, she is 3 weeks before 12/12 still)
 

smeemee

Member
IMG_0307.jpgIMG_0308.jpg I topped these clones yesterday but couldnt find much info on topping clones with alternating nodes. Just wondering if they appear ok and if I will still get 2 main colas even though they have alternating nodes? thanks
 

Danielsgb

Well-Known Member
View attachment 1195972View attachment 1195973 I topped these clones yesterday but couldnt find much info on topping clones with alternating nodes. Just wondering if they appear ok and if I will still get 2 main colas even though they have alternating nodes? thanks
I top clones alot and it looks good to me. You should get 2 Mains from it.

what happens if you top above the 3rd or even 4th true node?
You get a bush, but no clear 6 or 8 tops. Too many points for auxins to re-distribute.
 

Uncle Ben

Well-Known Member
Uncle Ben I was hoping to get your input on the chop. My Platinum OG clones are 12 inches tall Aero-NFT and I am wondering how to best sculpt the 2 nodes, I have 12 basically look like below.. Would it be better to trim the first few nodes off, then pick two nice stout ones, then hack the rest of the plant off? None of this plant is needed, it was grown to top and then I found your thread right before cutting so lucky me. You're a genius sir!!, thanks in advance.

(I am not time critical, she is 3 weeks before 12/12 still)
Just follow the drill on the first post. Cut and be done with it.

UB
 

slikhik

Active Member
Uncle ben, first and foremost I just want to say that I enjoy reading all of your threads. You really do know what you are talking about...

My question is if I were to use this method for topping in 3 gallon buckets under 1000 watt lights, how far should I space my pots if I'm going for yield?

Can I pack 15-20 plants under a light or should I space them out a bit with 9-12? Thanks!
 

Uncle Ben

Well-Known Member
Uncle ben, first and foremost I just want to say that I enjoy reading all of your threads. You really do know what you are talking about...

My question is if I were to use this method for topping in 3 gallon buckets under 1000 watt lights, how far should I space my pots if I'm going for yield?

Can I pack 15-20 plants under a light or should I space them out a bit with 9-12? Thanks!
I dont' have a crystal ball. Just do it, develop your own program and go fromt here.
 
I love growing, its like I have my own little science experiment in my backyard. Uncle Ben I've read a lot of your posts and thank you for all the great advice!
 

board boy

Member
hey man, how long did you veg these for? i usually veg till my plants get to about 4ft then flower for 8 weeks, but my mate tried it another way, topped em very early like this thread says, then got them to 1 ft tall and flowered them they ended up about 3ft tall when done with 3-4 main colas on each and he got 7-8 oz per plant, he used the edd and flow system where as i do my in coco. i may try his way next (but in coco) it save time meaning a quicker turnaround...
any info would be great,
peace brothers
 

researchkitty

Well-Known Member
2,761 posts on a simple topic as using a pair of scissors to chop after the second node. Such a simple task creates such a long thread. :) I now top all of my plants after 9 full months of experimenting with it.
 

researchkitty

Well-Known Member
Uncle ben, first and foremost I just want to say that I enjoy reading all of your threads. You really do know what you are talking about...

My question is if I were to use this method for topping in 3 gallon buckets under 1000 watt lights, how far should I space my pots if I'm going for yield?

Can I pack 15-20 plants under a light or should I space them out a bit with 9-12? Thanks!
See my grow journal. I use 3.5 gallon buckets, so same thing really. Easily fit 16 plants under one 1000w lamp if you like, but I like to veg them a little longer and currently have some lights with 9 some lights with 12 under them. If your strain is bushy, go with 9 or 12, if your strain likes to stick nug itself, go with 12 or 16. With 16 pots, you wont really be able to move them around, its full capacity, so do try 12 first to make sure its manageable ;)
 
Thanks a great deal, UB. I'm growing some bagseed that is evidently a highly sativa dominant variety. (Very thin leaves, very strong head high.) I read the tutorial quite thoroughly and have had excellent success. (Even as a total novice) My yields are up and they don't grow into the lights anymore. Found some random comments in this thread regarding alfalfa meal. Can you direct me to your tutorial regarding your thoughts on soil composition? Thanks again!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top