Whats Topping?

Matt121791

Active Member
I read on another forum that people top plants to increase there yield, but wat is topping and when should you do it?
 

VirginHarvester

Well-Known Member
Those links bring up a question which I don't know the answer to. I have two plants right now with huge shade leaves covering a lot of the sites that will eventually be buds. I don't have to worry about it til mid to late August when they flower. It seems like Crazy Composer is implying that he takes off all the shade leaves or anything that hides buds from direct sunlight. That could be a lot of the green on a plant. So what's the limit to how much you take off without hurting the plant at that critical stage? I'll probably just be a little conservative since I really don't know better yet.
 

Pseudonym

Well-Known Member
Some people cut off up to a third of the lower growth. I don't really think so much pruning is necessary as it wounds the plant and opens it up for disease and pest problems. That's not to say that pruning shouldn't be done, because it should. But I would prune conservatively and only where necessary. Try to fold those huge fan leaves in if you can. They're the main power source for your plant and just chopping them off can cause her stress.
 

MRbudsmoker

Well-Known Member
yer i totally agree. plants need their leaves. but a coupla here and there won't hurt.just try tucking them away!
 

t0k3s

Well-Known Member
So all topping is, is cutting away leaves so the buds get more light?
no topping is removing the main growshoot to encourage lower branches to bush out rather then having one main cola you your left with like 4-6 colas.
......cutting the leafs back to give more light to shaded buds is called pruning.
hoped tht helped:joint:
 

fdd2blk

Well-Known Member
Those links bring up a question which I don't know the answer to. I have two plants right now with huge shade leaves covering a lot of the sites that will eventually be buds. I don't have to worry about it til mid to late August when they flower. It seems like Crazy Composer is implying that he takes off all the shade leaves or anything that hides buds from direct sunlight. That could be a lot of the green on a plant. So what's the limit to how much you take off without hurting the plant at that critical stage? I'll probably just be a little conservative since I really don't know better yet.

outdoors? huge shade leaves? you want to cut them? why? oh, please tell me why.

 

Matt121791

Active Member
no topping is removing the main growshoot to encourage lower branches to bush out rather then having one main cola you your left with like 4-6 colas.
......cutting the leafs back to give more light to shaded buds is called pruning.
hoped tht helped:joint:
What the hell is a growshoot?
 

t0k3s

Well-Known Member
What the hell is a growshoot?
the growshoot is the main branch tht grows up. you snip it of with clean scissors and then wait about a week or so cuase it stunts growth but will form 2 branches instead of one then when those grow strong enough you could top again if wanted to branch out some more, but the idea is to lower the upward growth and increase the lower branches to bush out and lower the overall height of the plant but then you left with a bushy plant with 5-7 colas instead of the one big one and a few small ones if it were left untoped. also mind that your plant should be as old as the one in the picture so your root system is strong and can handle the shock of topping.
also if u use any chem ferts in soil ease back on it till it gets growing again.:blsmoke:
 

Matt121791

Active Member
the growshoot is the main branch tht grows up. you snip it of with clean scissors and then wait about a week or so cuase it stunts growth but will form 2 branches instead of one then when those grow strong enough you could top again if wanted to branch out some more, but the idea is to lower the upward growth and increase the lower branches to bush out and lower the overall height of the plant but then you left with a bushy plant with 5-7 colas instead of the one big one and a few small ones if it were left untoped. also mind that your plant should be as old as the one in the picture so your root system is strong and can handle the shock of topping.
also if u use any chem ferts in soil ease back on it till it gets growing again.:blsmoke:

How old is the plant in that pic?
 
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