It's an autoflower and I'm contemplating topping her but I'm worried about stressing it out too much. The main stem is growing so thick and rigid I dont think it will be possible to tie down or train. I was also considering trimming the very first single leaves and stem from the bottom in hope of her focusing on the 6-8 main shoots that should grow out and try to keep an even canopy. I have limited space and this plant is growing alot quicker than the one beside so also hoping it also gives it time to catch up. Is this too much for a small autoflower?
Advice on topping
- Thread starter Bjg
- Start date
MATTYMATT726
Well-Known Member
Topped multiple times. Nearing the end in next few weeks. Notice the branch all the way to the right leaning way over to the wall. Buds are pretty heavy for their thin Sativa size. Topping is not the question, it's only a matter of if you have a healthy plant and to get it done before it starts to flower.
GarageGardener69
Well-Known Member
Top it. I’ve been reading heavy about it the past few days.. people who say don’t. Do not know. Can definitely top early on and have great results from what I’ve read
GarageGardener69
Well-Known Member
Auto flower topped vs not topped
Let’s clear it up right away I’m a brand new grower this is the first grow, I’ve ever done and if you can tell I tinker with things… I know autoflowes 90% (from my research) say don’t top them, I wasn’t going against advice this plant was damaged so figured I’d try it out since it needed to be...
www.rollitup.org
Dank Bongula
Well-Known Member
I topped the 4th node of my white widow just a few mins ago. It is growing well/healthy so figured why not. I'll be trying it a few times on the next several autos I run and unless you do it yourself, you're never really going to know.
I literally had the snips out and cleaned up ready to go and then I decided not to. These plants seem to be staying low and bushy anyway. Being my first run in coco and with autos I decided some plant training might work out better. I'll see how they stretch this run and hopefully that will help make a decision for the next run.
GarageGardener69
Well-Known Member
Job done will see how it goes. I've left the small one alone, she's not growing as quick.
GarageGardener69
Well-Known Member
You could easily bend the mainstems over and get an even canopy without topping. Looks like you topped one already. Maybe bend the main stem over on the small one.
My current auto grow is 4 plants. I topped 3 of em, and bent over the main stem on the one tiny runt. The runt caught up to the topped ones, and they all have a nice even canopy. Topping does slow em down a little bit, I'll probably use the stem bend method moving forward - less stress.
I was contemplating bending the big one but the stem is so thick and solid as a rock. So I topped it and it didn't even seem to notice, it just keeps powering on. I might have better luck with the small one. If I just tie the top of it to the pot and keep tension on it, it should start to bend over yeah? It's only the top say inch of the stem that's even remotely pliable the rest is thick and solid theres just no give in it. I was hoping it would let the smaller one catch up as well so they might have similar canopy heights in the end hoping to throw a trellis net on mid stretch to try and catch everything before it gets out of hand.
Let the small one stretch out a bit more before bending. I usually start bending when I have about 3" of stem to work with. I use metal U shaped stakes, you can make em out of a wire hanger. Or buy em online as "garden stakes" or "garden staples". I use the 6" and 12". Or tie to edge of pot. Whatever works.