drekoushranada
Well-Known Member
Hey Uncle Ben how do you think Critical Mass would respond to topping? I will love to top these plants when I start my grow.
Uncle Ben's Topping Technique to Get 2 or 4 Main Colas
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d6520
Well-Known Member
Im been vegging for f weeks now,... 2 weeks under t5s and 3 weeks under 2 600watt hps lights... I transplanted my girls into 5 gal. Buckets yesterday... Transplant went excellent... Im looking foward in having 4 main colas... I have not done any king of training... Im scared to cu
Life Goes On
Active Member
If I were you I'd top them for 4 colas once they develope the 5th or 6th node. Cut them ABOVE the 2nd node (NOT including the cotyledon site). Veg for another month then switch to 12/12. My plants usually end up finishing at 4-5 ft. tall. This is the method I use and I average 6-8 OZ. per plant dried and cured weight!
Shangeet
Active Member
Howdy!
Based on quite a few questions about topping I've received here: https://www.rollitup.org/general-marijuana-growing/13820-fimming-topping-101-a-12.html I decided to reproduce a thread on my favorite topping method published at cann.com about 10 years ago. Even though I've got much better photos from many latter grows both indoor and outdoor, I'm gonna stick with the old photos from the original thread. Lighting is HPS from start to finish with the exception of using 4' long shop fluors from germ until about 2 weeks. Some pix were taken outdoors for better resolution thanks to an old camcorder I was using.
Selecting the point for topping to get 4 main colas -
To get 4 main colas, let your seedling or cutting (clone) grow to about 5-6 nodes and pinch out (cut) the stem just above the 2nd true node. The node where the cotyledons attach doesn't count. The result will be a redistribution of the auxins and other hormones that normally collect in the tissue of the terminal leader's tip. These ho moans will be redistributed to dormant buds that reside in the nodal axis where the leaf petiole attaches to the "trunk", below the cut. The new foliar output response will be quick (within 24 hrs., see photo below) if you have a healthy growing seedling and will be your future main colas - 4 instead of the usual 1:
Here's a photo of the same plant about 8 weeks into flowering. The plant is about 42" tall, has 4 main colas with an abundance of large, healthy fan leaves.
This is an indoor shot just prior to harvest showing the colas bulking up quite nicely. Notice how the weight of the heavy colas is naturally pulling them apart, which opens the plant up so that light can penetrate the interior of the canopy. This is the same principle used by fruit orchard managers who create an open vase profile for their trees in order to increase production. This profile also has a side benefit of providing good interior air movement which reduces fungal/rot pressures.
The plant after harvest showing the branching scaffold and dominant 4 main cola "trunks", opposing nodes one right above the other. Smaller secondary branches also provided good bud production. This plant yielded over 10 oz of cured bud.
~ Topping for 2 main colas ~
Pinch out the seedling above the 1st true node to get 2 main colas:
Any questions, fire away.
Happy gardening,
Uncle Ben
Does anyone have any experience with topping for four main colas, vegging horizontally, and then flowering vertically?
Would the two colas in "back" not get sufficient light, and therefore not be worthwhile?
I'm pretty sure that two would work, but I think that four might be tough.............the issue is that veg must be horizontal.
Uncle Ben
Well-Known Member
It will work if you can continue to train hortizontally. Light should be distributed evenly across all foliage regardless of orientation.
Welcome....looking good! (but a little N deficiency showing)
UB
ndzbnln
Active Member
thankx uncle ben,really theres def showing?i started flushing the beginning of this week can that be the problem?
Life Goes On
Active Member
Oh yeah definately a N def. The yellowing leaves are a sign of a N def and yes flushing could have caused it. You want to keep those leaves nice and green till harvest time but if you plan on harvesting anytime soon (which I expect you are if your flushing) I wouldn't worry about it. It should not have any adverse effects on your final product.
OoGaNomiX
Active Member
This will be second grow im starting, Well first REAL grow, my first grow was a experimental try, but is this too advanced to try without stressing the plant out much? Im growing BF blue cheese, And read blueberry benefits from topping more than not, and this seems optimal to get a good amount.
The45King
Active Member
yes that would be it
Uncle Ben
Well-Known Member
Flushing? You have a choice - submit to erroneous popular thought or to common sense botany as it applies to plant nutrition.
Life Goes On
Active Member
The amount of "Stress" induced by topping is minimal if at all. Top them! Trust me you won't regret it!
VICTORYGARDENSHYDRO
New Member
exactly, you don't stop feeding the horse 2 weeks before the race.
duo maxwell
Member
hey UB I am at the end of my 3rd week of veg and have 8 or 9 nodes is it to late for me to get 4 main cola. I though topping happened just before you go into veg....
I hope i didn't miss out.
I hope i didn't miss out.
ChroniCDooM
Active Member
So I take it you are against flushing before harvest. Can u please elaborate on the common sense botany as it applies to plant nutrition! Would love to hear your take on flushing! I'm just a rookie trying to take it all in. Thanks UB!
Here's my two girls(lsd&blue mystic) topped and on day 14 of flower.
LSD:
Blue Mystic:
northernbandit
Active Member
What if your planning on eating the horse right after the race? lol
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