The Main-Lining Thread

[morugawelder]

I guess my main interest in growing manifolds is that it is like bonsai, as much art as it is science. Also, plants that are not mainlined have the same traits - it is just more obvious on these because they grow quicker.

Example - this is a monster-cropped clone it initially had two main sprouts and they had a natural manifold shape, so I put her in a big pot and went with it.
View attachment 4329697
On this pic you can see the scars from all the shoots I ditched
View attachment 4329696
She's 102 days old now, 42 from flip, and it might as well have been a true manifold.
View attachment 4329689 View attachment 4329698

mine is on day 56 of flower , and I'm only seeing a couple of ambers . even tho breeder says 50 to 70 , don't want to miss the window .

 

[Hempire828]

8 days from flip, will let them extend a bit more, then secure my sites to my rings. 16 total sites.. hoping for the best..with mainlining I possibly could get 2 more plants in the tent !!

 

[H.A.F.]

Just popping back in because I had an idea that might work.
Easier to see on the sativa on the right, notice the extra fan leaf on each end.

Since I am going to be doing 4-tops initially from now on, the plant is still young and doesn't have much to tie on to at that point. I let each side get one extra node then instead of topping just past my 'keepers' I kept one leaf on that next node to tie on to. On the stubby plant I actually tied on to the leaf instead of the non-existent node-space.

The red line is about where you would normally top (for any topping). by hanging on to the bottom leaf at the next node you go from keeping 4 leaves to 6. Might help out while they are this small.

 

[H.A.F.]

I just don't know if that will knuckle properly with that leaf still maintaining an "energy tube" or whatever.

If it doesn't look good in a few days, I'll snip it, but that also gives the rest a few more days to grow, and I can probably train the shoots by then.

If it works and I keep the plant healthy, those leaves should be able to stay for a while.

 

[supressed]

Hey guys. First time posting here. I'm growing Gorilla Zkittlez under a 1000w LED and a 1200w LED in soil with the full general organics line of nutes. First time mainlining as well and I'm positive I got too excited and did it too early (day 22) but they were up to 5 nodes, so I got busy. The nodes I had to tie down however were pretty darn tiny, so my wire is making node #2 on each plant that I topped look pretty uncomfortable. 4 of my 5 little girls took it like champs, but they haven't grown in days...I guess that's to be expected from what I've read. 1 girl however tore a little bit from the main stem and her leaves are all drooped right down. Does that mean that node is permanently dead? What I did was remove the tie down from on top of the node, and put it underneath the node to hold it back up tight against the stalk. Should that fix it in a few days, I hope? I wish I could take pictures, but unfortunately I have no camera. Sorry guys. I'm pretty sure I've got a handle on things, but you guys have a better handle, so I figured I'd ask. Thanks in advance for the advice.

 

[H.A.F.]

Hey guys. First time posting here. I'm growing Gorilla Zkittlez under a 1000w LED and a 1200w LED in soil with the full general organics line of nutes. First time mainlining as well and I'm positive I got too excited and did it too early (day 22) but they were up to 5 nodes, so I got busy. The nodes I had to tie down however were pretty darn tiny, so my wire is making node #2 on each plant that I topped look pretty uncomfortable. 4 of my 5 little girls took it like champs, but they haven't grown in days...I guess that's to be expected from what I've read. 1 girl however tore a little bit from the main stem and her leaves are all drooped right down. Does that mean that node is permanently dead? What I did was remove the tie down from on top of the node, and put it underneath the node to hold it back up tight against the stalk. Should that fix it in a few days, I hope? I wish I could take pictures, but unfortunately I have no camera. Sorry guys. I'm pretty sure I've got a handle on things, but you guys have a better handle, so I figured I'd ask. Thanks in advance for the advice.

The main reason for drastic bending is to expose the new nodes you want to keep to light. If they don't have those nodes yet, let them grow vertically. Take the wire off and wait a few days. Then the shoot you are trying to grab has that second node, there's a stem-space to grab onto. If they don't have that second node yet, they shouldn't be brittle enough to prevent bending by the time they do.

 

[H.A.F.]

.

I did have one strain that was really short with no stretch at all. Never did have anything to 'grab' between nodes, and trying to bend them apart by hand broke one off. But in my experience that is rare.

 

[supressed]

The main reason for drastic bending is to expose the new nodes you want to keep to light. If they don't have those nodes yet, let them grow vertically. Take the wire off and wait a few days. Then the shoot you are trying to grab has that second nude, there's a stem-space to grab onto. If they don't have that second node yet, they shouldn't be brittle enough to prevent bending by the time they do.

Thanks alot for the quick reply man, much appreciated. I understand why we bend, I just think I jumped the gun a bit since my plants were growing quite beautifully and quickly, and this mainlining thing is pretty exciting after seeing alot of these beauties posted on this thread, so what I'm dealing with now is that I've tied down some VERY pliable nodes because they're just tiny tiny baby nodes. I think I'll be fine, I've just stunted their growth for a few days I'm sure. I'll work on my patience, lol. I've been reading reading reading on this thread. One thing you didn't touch on however is the broken baby node with droopy leaves....I've got it perched back up and again touching the main (not taped though, just held up by wire)...should it perk up and re-attach itself in a day or 2, or have I killed it?

 

[H.A.F.]

Thanks alot for the quick reply man, much appreciated. I understand why we bend, I just think I jumped the gun a bit since my plants were growing quite beautifully and quickly, and this mainlining thing is pretty exciting after seeing alot of these beauties posted on this thread, so what I'm dealing with now is that I've tied down some VERY pliable nodes because they're just tiny tiny baby nodes. I think I'll be fine, I've just stunted their growth for a few days I'm sure. I'll work on my patience, lol. I've been reading reading reading on this thread. One thing you didn't touch on however is the broken baby node with droopy leaves....I've got it perched back up and again touching the main (not taped though, just held up by wire)...should it perk up and re-attach itself in a day or 2, or have I killed it?

Have some grafting wax on hand. If you break or damage something it's like a pine-tar bandaid. If the leaves are already wilting, it is probably too late. If you break something and notice it - then cover it immediately, air can't get to the wet innards and dry them out. Even tape doesn't keep that air out - it is good to hold something in place that "fits" back together on it's own and "re-seals" the break, like if you bend a stem and it splits vertically.

 

[H.A.F.]

Pics of what you are looking at would be beneficial to diagnosis if you can find a way.

 

[supressed]

Pics of what you are looking at would be beneficial to diagnosis if you can find a way.

I hear ya man. I'll try and get at them with my girls camera, sorry I can't provide just yet. I don't expect you to fix my problems without pics, it's all good man. Basically though I've just busted a node right at the main, so without any tape, I've propped the floppy (seemingly dead) node back up so it's 100% touching the main. It's only been a few hours, so if I remove the wiring it flops back down again, I'm just hoping it'll repair itself in a day or 2. From what I've been reading I should be fine, I'm just being a wuss lookin for some rollitup counselling. lol

 

[JohnDee]

Hi Mainlining aficianados,
I decided to try some mainlining. I had read most of Nugs tutotial and thought I knew what I was doing. This plant I did the initial node 3 topping, but when I did the secondary topping...I did it at the second node.

This caused all 4 growing shoots to be lined up on a single plane. So I topped those 4 and ended up with an 8 cola plant. Not exactly per tutorial (or maybe it is) but it seems to get the job done.
JD

 

[H.A.F.]

Hi Mainlining aficianados,
I decided to try some mainlining. I had read most of Nugs tutotial and thought I knew what I was doing. This plant I did the initial node 3 topping, but when I did the secondary topping...I did it at the second node.

This caused all 4 growing shoots to be lined up on a single plane. So I topped those 4 and ended up with an 8 cola plant. Not exactly per tutorial (or maybe it is) but it seems to get the job done.
JD

I've been doing stuff like that on purpose just to see if it matters. It doesn't. As long as you successfully get past the initial topping, you can do whatever you want to it. For me, once I get them spread out where I want them so there's enough space in flower I just give them another week or so in veg to make sure everything is still OK, then I flip it. I don't have 2 foot tall cola, but I have no larf and 1 fat cola with some under-nugs per limb.

If you have one that is slow to flower and you get a lot of extra growth I prune it again at week 2-3, whenever the flowers are set.

 

[JohnDee]

I've been doing stuff like that on purpose just to see if it matters. It doesn't.

Thanka HAF,
That seems to be my experience. The only way I haven't done it yet is to remove node 2 and let 1 and 3 grow...per Nebula's approach. Seems like extra un-needed growing to me...though he thinks it's faster.

I have some short one's like yours flowering right now and a batch almost ready to go. I wanted to learn to control height in some Ace sativa plants I'm vegging. I'm interested to see how it works to tame some wild landrace sats.
JD

 

[H.A.F.]

Thanka HAF,
That seems to be my experience. The only way I haven't done it yet is to remove node 2 and let 1 and 3 grow...per Nebula's approach. Seems like extra un-needed growing to me...though he thinks it's faster.

I have some short one's like yours flowering right now and a batch almost ready to go. I wanted to learn to control height in some Ace sativa plants I'm vegging. I'm interested to see how it works to tame some wild landrace sats.
JD

I have a crowded flower room, and had to veg this one longer than I like so instead of trying a 4-top like I intended, it is now this:

The one on the back right I topped again, and if I do another 8-top that is how I'll go. Doing the V-8 manifold with 4 on each side of the plant, my middle ones were always smaller than my end ones. So I topped at node 3, but then again at the very first node on each limb. Doing that again on each limb and you would have an 8-top that truly has even distribution of nutes. I let these go to the 3rd node, then I kept one pruned, left a single lower shoot on 2, and topped the last.

She's just into week 3 of 12/12 now and I have this that I need to go prune.

Since I hate "taking clones" when I'm not planting them, after I get rid of old huge shade leaves I am going to lollipop all the secondary shoots and see if that thins it out enough. Last resort I'll snip some lower shoots that just won't get light. But overall, the manifold produces as advertised in my opinion.

 

[H.A.F.]

But I only have one seed of this strain and decided not to get rid of all the lower shoots. If I have larf on this one that's fine, but I am getting in there tonight to try and make it a selection of medium to huge buds with less of the other.

 

[JohnDee]

HAF,
I'm beginning to see the approach that you take. I love the nice canopy and the great height control aspect...but I haven't grown any to completion yet. I am a little skeptical of the nutrient distribution aspect.

I have one strain, Matanuska TF, that grows huge buds...think Big Bud or some strain like that. Seems to me that 4 colas would be perfect for such a plant. Buds touching each other would be risky.

I have one plant that sent out branches early on and when I sat down with it for training...all it needed was one single topping to get a 4 cola plant. Mainline training would be wasted on such a plant. Pictures attached. Is this what you were talking about regarding branchy strains? This one is a high CDB strain called Sebrings Revenge.
JD

 

[H.A.F.]

Since I hate "taking clones" when I'm not planting them...

LOL
They were just too perfect \

HAF,
I'm beginning to see the approach that you take. I love the nice canopy and the great height control aspect...but I haven't grown any to completion yet. I am a little skeptical of the nutrient distribution aspect.

Thanks!

I have one strain, Matanuska TF, that grows huge buds...think Big Bud or some strain like that. Seems to me that 4 colas would be perfect for such a plant. Buds touching each other would be risky.

For that, lean them out. With just 4 cola you can have each one angled out a little if they get that big. If you know it's going to happen though, use a big pot, do your first topping or three to get the manifold you want, then just keep vegging.
Prune away all the excess shoots when they get big enough and just keep stretching the tops outward. When you get to the pot edge let them go north and then flip.

I have one plant that sent out branches early on and when I sat down with it for training...all it needed was one single topping to get a 4 cola plant. Mainline training would be wasted on such a plant. Pictures attached. Is this what you were talking about regarding branchy strains? This one is a high CDB strain called Sebrings Revenge.
JD

No, mine was so short and stocky that there was almost zero stretch. What was going to be a 4-top project is now the three-top (above somewhere) and I just went ahead and flipped it.

 

[H.A.F.]

I have one plant that sent out branches early on and when I sat down with it for training...all it needed was one single topping to get a 4 cola plant. Mainline training would be wasted on such a plant. Pictures attached. Is this what you were talking about regarding branchy strains? This one is a high CDB strain called Sebrings Revenge.
JD

More thought on this plant - First off, you don't have a manifold (yet) but you easily could.

For a manifold you would need to top at the red line, and then those half-ass numbers would be your nodes 1, 2, etc. The thing about the manifold is that you have no "suckers" of energy below where you top.

You could still do that. All the growth above that node is why it didn't "knuckle" into a fat knobby trunk.​

You could also prune where the bottom limbs where the two blue lines are - but if you look at the circle, you can see they have already started staggering instead of having opposing nodes. Pain to manifold.

So if I had my heart set on a manifold I would top at the red line, make sure you have something to protect that big open wound for a bit, and start figuring out which shoots to keep next as you train those two limbs.

But if it was my plant I would do what I did when I broke mine and the plan was gone - FLIP IT!

 

[JohnDee]

HAF,
I actually don't see what I'd gain by manifolding that plant. Are you saying that it's actually the healed knuckle that increases nutrient flow? I feel I'm missing something important here.
JD