Want to top re: Uncle Ben, but unsure exactly where -- Pics!

Hi Folks!

So my gorgeous plants are growing like weeds! They're TGA Subcool Jillybean, and the site suggests topping once for maximum growth potential. I want to use Uncle's Ben's technique of topping above the second true node for 4 main colas. However, there are a whole bunch of branches and leaves that could be mini-nodes, or maybe not, before I see the first, fully identifiable "chunky node" where there are four distinct branches coming out.

So here are photos, with arrows and descriptions. Please help me pick the right spot! I'm so nervous about cutting off all this beautiful growth, but I trust the advice from Subcool. Both have 5-6 nodes, no matter how I count them. And they're around 3.5 weeks from germination.

Plant 1:



Plant 1 has Cotyledons on the bottom, with the little tiny leaves that appeared right after. Above those are a couple of small random branches. Above those I have a good, strong branch, paired with a small leaf set (almost like a mini, juvenile node). Above that I have the first really identifiable "chunky node" where I have a thick branch paired with a strong but thinner branch. And then additional "chunky nodes" above that.

Is my "chunky node 1" the first "true node" according to Uncle Ben? Or is the strong branch with a little leaf set (the mini node) the first "true node"?

I want to cut "above the second true node."

Plant 2:



This girl's a little less complicated, but I want to get it right. I have the Cotyledons, and above that a single branch. Then I have the strong branch with a much smaller branch/little leaf set. Above that is the first "chunky node" with a thick branch and a strong but thinner branch.

Again, where to cut?

I guess what I'm trying to figure out is whether that first branch with node-like components is really a node, or just a juvenile, and the first "chunky node" is the first "true node".

Please help!

Also, when I cut, do I cut on an angle? And should I put anything on top of the cut to keep it healthy?

Thanks!
KG

The first node above the cotyledons is the first true node. Thats some tight node spacing on #1.
On #1, it almost looks difficult to cut above the 2nd node. I think for that one i would cut between chunky node 2 & 3. Looks like it may be too late for the Uncle Ben method. Pics of the whole plant?

On #2, you could cut right below "chunky node #1. Again, it looks like you should have done this sooner IMO. I wouldnt worry too much about the angle of the cut, and someone makes some sort of plant glue for wounds. But again, I wouldn't worry about that unless the hole is big enough to stick a pencil eraser in it.

Plants look very healthy though.

MyPetSkunk said:

The first node above the cotyledons is the first true node. Thats some tight node spacing on #1.
On #1, it almost looks difficult to cut above the 2nd node. I think for that one i would cut between chunky node 2 & 3. Looks like it may be too late for the Uncle Ben method. Pics of the whole plant?

On #2, you could cut right below "chunky node #1. Again, it looks like you should have done this sooner IMO. I wouldnt worry too much about the angle of the cut, and someone makes some sort of plant glue for wounds. But again, I wouldn't worry about that unless the hole is big enough to stick a pencil eraser in it.

Plants look very healthy though.

Click to expand...

Thanks, MPS! So you're saying ANYTHING above the cotyledon is a node?

The whole plants aren't much bigger. Plant 1 has a leggy stem, but there is the really tight spacing once the branching starts. She's very compact. Plant 2 is squatter, very wide and bushy.

Both plants are about 3.5 weeks and 5-6 nodes high. Uncle Ben suggested waiting for 5-6 nodes so the root system is well developed. In general they are healthy, though they started suffering from a little calcium deficiency a few days ago, but I was under-nuting on the Micro (where the calcium is) and just bumped that up. No new signs of the calcium deficiency, just the first spots and a little crisping on some fans leaves from the first indications. But I do think it's stopped. Roots are gorgeous.

Anyone else have an opinion on the topping here???????

And is it normal the first time topping to feel like I'm cutting the whole plant down? She's so lush and bushy, I feel like I'm going to be killing her.

And can I do anything with the cutting that would be ready to harvest at the same time these would be? I only have 1 grow tent, so everyone would have to go to 12/12 together...

Yes, it will feel like murder the first few times. Here is two of them that have been topped for four mains. Notice one was actually topped above the 3rd node because the very first node was a runt, and seemed unlikely to keep pace with the other.

And yes, you could clone the top you cut off. Say, if you cut plant #1 between chunky node #2 & #3, trim the branches off at node #3 and then use whatever cloning method that works for you. It will fall a little behind the mother plants as it roots. Give it at least 18hrs of light for a few weeks until you get good roots(a cfl in another room is fine if you don't want to use the tent), then flower it if you want.

MyPetSkunk said:

Yes, it will feel like murder the first few times. Here is two of them that have been topped for four mains. Notice one was actually topped above the 3rd node because the very first node was a runt, and seemed unlikely to keep pace with the other.
View attachment 2331270View attachment 2331272
And yes, you could clone the top you cut off. Say, if you cut plant #1 between chunky node #2 & #3, trim the branches off at node #3 and then use whatever cloning method that works for you. It will fall a little behind the mother plants as it roots. Give it at least 18hrs of light for a few weeks until you get good roots(a cfl in another room is fine if you don't want to use the tent), then flower it if you want.

Click to expand...

Wow, thanks for the photos. A lot of the photos in the UB thread were missing.

I'm so new at this, but I'm going to try cloning the cut tops with the original plants -- worst thing that happens is it doesn't work. But if it does, that might be a little bonus yield. I'm vegging for 8 weeks for sure, so there might be time.

If you don't really have any cloning method, use a solo cup 80-90% filled with tap water and cover the top with tinfoil or something that light can't get through. Poke a hole in the foil/whatever big enough to fit your stem in and make sure about an inch is submerged in the water. Give it 18hrs of soft light, and within 5-8 days you should have a few small roots shooting out. Transplant to some seed starting mix or your soil of choice. Careful while transplanting. Dirt cheap method of cloning and works really well on clones from young mothers.
Also does not hurt to change your water in the cup every other day. I don't mist or dome them using this method, and have never really had a wilting problem. Good luck with your grow.

Thanks! I've actually decided to skip the cloning this time around. I got enough on my plate getting the two I have all grown up. Will top tonight...

Ok, I did it! The girls are topped. Geesh, that was stressful. The one with the really tight spacing is topped above the third node, and the other above the second. It's an experiment, right? So I'll see what happens. I think if I really jammed the scissors in there I could have gotten Plant 1 above the second node, but it might have been hard avoiding nicking one of the second node branches. So I'm satisfied. If she yields two colas and the other one four, then I know what I have to do next time.

My hands smell like pot perfume. Yum!

Thanks for your help, MPS!

It probably would have been a gamble to jam the scissors in there. If it is cut really close like that it could possibly split the main stem like a wishbone if you were to accidentally pull on one of the tops. The one cut above the 3rd node will be fine. Here is one cut above the 4th node because of tight spacing, and it is doing very nice. Pay no mind to the wire tie, that branch is carrying babies. Again, good luck with your grow.

I'm excited! I topped earlier today, came home just now, and they're doing fine -- new growth already at the ends of the remaining branches.

Thanks again for all your help. I couldn't have done it without your input! I took pix, too, so I can share with other newbies if they ask a similar question. It's so counter-intuitive that cutting back that drastically would be productive, but I'm looking forward to seeing what happens!