no, people sometimes call it "yolking" i guess because it looks like a harness, but it seems to be a totally genetic thing, not caused by environmental factors. i find that if i feed 1 ml of silica per gallon for the first few waterings it makes the young stems pliable, and they stiffen up when they get older, so i can train them young and they'll "set" themselves
idk
I feed silica
for me it makes my stems turgid... stiff like an erect penis
it makes the cell walls firmer to protect against pests
its good to make your branches stronger to hold weight but not so good for bending
I was reading the thread and was thinking
(don't use silica if you want to bend and sure enough I get to the bottom and its says, use silica. lol)
some strains grow thick strong stout branches
these strains are desirable if you want a plant that can hold up its own weight without the need for tying or trellis
theyre good for SOG grows, not so much for scrog
in some cases high nitrogen (or excessive nitrogen) fertilizers can soften the branches and make them bend easier but your better of working with the genetics you have and not trying to force something that's not there