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

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Here's my experience with this topping technique and something I learned by accident. I started 20 seeds following the directions on Fox Farm's nutrients. I planted in Natural Guard Organic soiless mix similar to Sunshine #4. The only things I added to the mix were rock dust and some worm castings. I watered using the Big Bloom only per instructions. I don't do anything to the seeds, just stick them in the mix. Well only half sprouted and they were pretty weak looking and starving to death. I left the ones that sprouted under flouros until the 5th node and then topped. Unfortunately they also got a little dried out due to being away for a few days. In the photo they are the group on the right. (Pic is under hps light so they look a little yellow)
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I fed them full strength big bloom and grow big after that to get them back on track. They have remained severely stunted ever since.

For kicks I started 10 more seeds and instead of giving just big bloom I watered with the same full strength grow big and big bloom I fed the others before the seeds even popped. I also put them under a 1000 w hps instead of flouros from day one. The difference in size is just incredible! In the photo they are the 9 on the left side and have been going for about 2 weeks (not topped yet) while the ones one the right are about a month old (topped @ second node).

The first set of leaves on the 1st node were tiny on the plants on the right maybe half inch while the plants on the left had about 2" first node leaves. What has amazed me the most is how stunted the original 9 remained. It showed me how important getting them started correctly impacts their future development.

I also have a picture of what I think would be considered a dormant bud site or "false node" on a seedling. UB can correct me of wrong.
IMG_4717.jpgIMG_4718.jpg

I write all of this to show people that you can do things in a simple way and still end up with great results. I didn't soak seeds, put them in paper towels, use domes, use flouros or anything special. Just put them in the mix and watered with nutrients and put them under a high powered hps light.

Thanks UB for the great thread I'm looking forward to seeing how these turn out.
 
i get many tops and I never TOP the plant. I may supercrop once but sometimes I don't even do that.

check out my plant
no fimming
no topping
no supercropping
no lst
veg was 4 weeks from seed with Super Foliage Spray
strain greenhouse AMS
Flowering with Roots Organics
 

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GoldenGanja13 said:
Very Nice. But how does a plant canopy like that with out some help ? LSTed?
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no lst either.
most of my plants tend to grow that way now. I start them with Super Foliage Spray which makes them bushy the first 2-3 weeks veg. So for the time being I won't be doing anything to get full canopy's.
 
stescugeorge said:
Is it ok to top the Trainwreck to get 4 main colas? Thanks!
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Never grown it, but Ive never had any strains that react negatively to topping. Some will respond quicker than others, but for the most part, I usually dont see any slow downs in growth that would be a cause for concern. I had an early Durban that was a bit slow to respond after topping, but if you look in my grow journal you can check it now. Its the one whose two tops look like a V.
 
Many tops is good but having 4 branches from the meristem has it merits, and that is what where after. Dividing the hormones into 4 equal parts, from there you can build your many tops and each branch will have for the most part equal amount of hormnes. Hormones go straight up faster than they go left right left right, that is why we get a large cola off the top.
 
i just topped one of my clones yesterday to see how it would do, it already has 2 branches coming off the main steam at the very bottom. each has like 4 sets of leaves. and 4 more branches developing out of the nodes and had 5 good fan leaves before the topping and the plant is trained to grow sideways and then up were the last of the 5 leaves is, think was ready? i know its hard without pics. sorry, im working on it.
 
well i toped mine befor i potted them m8 and for me i would say befor i have and sucsess and the r very nice try both m8 just to see for your self its not gonner hurt is it peace gl :)
 
hi folks great thread
im new to this so sorry if i ask the obvious ,i am very keen to try this method of topping on my 1st plant ,i will post a picture of the plant l8r when im in the house,

im not being lazy and have read nearlly all the thread just worried i cut at the wrong place

Q1 i just need to know if the first true node is where the two 3leafers are???
,(the first serated edge leaves) (1 of which has already fallen off and the other 3 leafers will prob fall off soon as well.)

Q2 if above is correct will new branches grow out from the first node as well ?
(ie where the 3 leafers have fallen off )

if i understand this process right i will get 4 main stems coming from 2nd node after cut due to hormones redistributing under the cut site

thanks in advance
 
daviaces said:
hi folks great thread
im new to this so sorry if i ask the obvious ,i am very keen to try this method of topping on my 1st plant ,i will post a picture of the plant l8r when im in the house,

im not being lazy and have read nearlly all the thread just worried i cut at the wrong place

Q1 i just need to know if the first true node is where the two 3leafers are???
,(the first serated edge leaves) (1 of which has already fallen off and the other 3 leafers will prob fall off soon as well.)

Q2 if above is correct will new branches grow out from the first node as well ?
(ie where the 3 leafers have fallen off )

if i understand this process right i will get 4 main stems coming from 2nd node after cut due to hormones redistributing under the cut site

thanks in advance
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omg i read it first time and understood just read ub post at page 1 m8 and all will be clear. im a newbee i got it right just just do what it say bro and you will have the same luck as all of us hope it works out well peace.
 
jayganja78 said:
omg i read it first time and understood just read ub post at page 1 m8 and all will be clear. im a newbee i got it right just just do what it say bro and you will have the same luck as all of us hope it works out well peace.
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i have reread 1st page again and i totally understand it but could u just answer question 1 then i will know which is 2nd true node and know where to cut :peace:
 
ok i have found out that the first 3 leafers are the first true node


1 more thing what to do with top after topping?
clone the whole top? or clone 2biggest leaf sections( ie 2 branches from 3rd node)

thanks in advance
 
daviaces said:
ok i have found out that the first 3 leafers are the first true node


1 more thing what to do with top after topping?
clone the whole top? or clone 2biggest leaf sections( ie 2 branches from 3rd node)

thanks in advance
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You can clone any part as long as it has leafs. Read up on cloning first and find the one you think will bring you best results. I keep trying just keep killing . It's not the method I'm using that's the problem.
I would wait too long as then you have too much veg and have to cut it into smaller units. Good Luck and much better that me.
 
daviaces said:
ok i have found out that the first 3 leafers are the first true node


1 more thing what to do with top after topping?
clone the whole top? or clone 2biggest leaf sections( ie 2 branches from 3rd node)

thanks in advance
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You must not have searched hard enough. The 3 bladed leaves are the second node.

Look at it this way, if its really tiny leaves(cotyledons) that dont look like pot leaves, then its a false node. Anything after is a true node.
 
sixstring2112 said:
I hear that, this one is diluted with sticky colas. all the info you need is on the first couple pages, if you dont get it go back to the nubie threads. these are the last pics of this girl, i'm gunna chop it in 20 mins;) peace.
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Hats off to ya!!:mrgreen:

Namaste':eyesmoke:
"A state licensed personal medical grow...Thank you":peace:
 
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