First autogrow. Can I top?

I would like to top once and then lst tie it down. That way I can have a more even canopy. I should be good if I top it right after the 3rd node right? Or no? Thanks. 5 autos under 400 watt HPS in a 4x4 tent.

imo no topping

bursto said:

imo no topping

just let it go,

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You don't even think I should LST?

bd6187 said:

You don't even think I should LST?

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i just grew a pineapple express auto which i topped, i wish i ha just left it to do its thang

I typically do low stress training on my autos and it shouldn't hurt them.

Hotrod2 said:

I typically do low stress training on my autos and it shouldn't hurt them.

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You top and LST or just LST?

LST alone should be fine.

why buy an Auto, which is supposed to just grow, and fuck with

bursto said:

why buy an Auto, which is supposed to just grow, and fuck with

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A more even canopy so I don't have the light too far away from the lower branches

bd6187 said:

You top and LST or just LST?

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Autoflowers have less time to recover from stress. I do however in early growth cut off what will later become popcorn buds. I only do this a little at a time and only after watering.

Hotrod2 said:

Autoflowers have less time to recover from stress. I do however in early growth cut off what will later become popcorn buds. I only do this a little at a time and only after watering.

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i like an auto to just finish off normally and yeah once only remove the popcorn buds

You can increase your harvest with some lst during veg and early flower. I’m not one of the experts here, but I’m actually experimenting right now a little, as I planted two seeds each of two different varieties, offering good opportunity for comparisons. All autos. I’m left with little doubt about the plus affects of lst. I had to move one of the plants, but the one in front has received the most lst, and it’s much bushier and with more cola sites, though perhaps a little behind the others in terms of development. The one back right is the same variety, same age, same everything, with much less lst. I know there are many variables, of course, but my last grow (my first indoor grow, admittedly) offered similar results, and it’s prettyclear that if all stays healthy, the plant with more lst is going to produce more also. My internet/youtube/podcast research, for whatever it’s all worth, is pretty unanimous that you can increase yield with some mild lst. Autos don’t grow that fast. These are 45 days old.

DeadHeadX said:

You can increase your harvest with some lst during veg and early flower. I’m not one of the experts here, but I’m actually experimenting right now a little, as I planted two seeds each of two different varieties, offering good opportunity for comparisons. All autos. I’m left with little doubt about the plus affects of lst. I had to move one of the plants, but the one in front has received the most lst, and it’s much bushier and with more cola sites, though perhaps a little behind the others in terms of development. The one back right is the same variety, same age, same everything, with much less lst. I know there are many variables, of course, but my last grow (my first, admittedly) offered similar results, and it’s prettyclear that if all stays healthy, the plant with more lst is going to produce more also. My internet/youtube/podcast research, for whatever it’s all worth, is pretty unanimous that you can increase yield with some mild lst. Autos don’t grow that fast. These are 45 days old.
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Very nice

DeadHeadX said:

You can increase your harvest with some lst during veg and early flower. I’m not one of the experts here, but I’m actually experimenting right now a little, as I planted two seeds each of two different varieties, offering good opportunity for comparisons. All autos. I’m left with little doubt about the plus affects of lst. I had to move one of the plants, but the one in front has received the most lst, and it’s much bushier and with more cola sites, though perhaps a little behind the others in terms of development. The one back right is the same variety, same age, same everything, with much less lst. I know there are many variables, of course, but my last grow (my first, admittedly) offered similar results, and it’s prettyclear that if all stays healthy, the plant with more lst is going to produce more also. My internet/youtube/podcast research, for whatever it’s all worth, is pretty unanimous that you can increase yield with some mild lst. Autos don’t grow that fast. These are 45 days old.
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Very nice indeed!

This is a great example that an autoflower should be treated exactly the same as a photoperiod.

It might help dispense with some of the nonsensical do's and don'ts regarding autoflowers.

I've only grown a few autos but I've topped every one and never had a problem. The key is to top as early as possible.

blah blah, treat em like photos blah blah SoG them close to the light,

doesn't anyone remember what is supposed to look like, it's been ages since i seen just a normal looking tree

i spose when i started my auto pine express, i was going for that look then after asking around on here

i topped it and played around with it

Just for clarity, I haven’t topped my autos, just some tie downs, which seem really effective at the pace these grow. Everyone should grow how they please, but I’d say topping is increasing the risk of losing productivity, whereas LST methods are just that, low stress.

The argument to “just let nature do its thing” doesn’t hold up for autos any better than it does for other plants that also benefit from a little human intervention.

DeadHeadX said:

Just for clarity, I haven’t topped my autos, just some tie downs, which seem really effective at the pace these grow. Everyone should grow how they please, but I’d say topping is increasing the risk of losing productivity, whereas LST methods are just that, low stress.

The argument to “just let nature do its thing” doesn’t hold up for autos any better than it does for other plants that also benefit from a little human intervention.

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Try topping next time as an A/B experiment

It works just fine on autos

I usually always top autos, about 4th or 5th node, then LST, never had any issues, I average 3-6 oz. trimmed bud per plant. Biggest thing with autos, and why they're not a good choice for first time growers, is that they need a good start, any mistakes can result in stunting for a couple weeks, and with the quick flowering time they just can't catch up. New growers tend to make mistakes, most common is overwatering, followed closely by too much or too little nutes. With photos you have the ability to just veg them longer if there's an early problem.