MrFishy
Well-Known Member
I hope this little tute will help some of ya'll with your shaping/LST worries.
The object is to have something like this (pic1) when you go to 12/12. This plant is 30+"'s across and less than a foot tall.
I called her Henry. She's dead, but sacrificed her life so I could ensure a thriving WRhino strain.
I use these tools, plus duct tape
Using too thin a material around a branch can cause contusions, abrasions, etc . . . open bark skin invites disease.
This is the plant we'll shape/train. See how the lower growth wouldn't be getting enough light to be productive?
Your indica plants would almost always be bushier than the sativa pictured, thus even less light would reach bottom.
Note the tallest branch and bring it into the general area it will be. This will be your tallest point (ideally). Common sense should dictate how far down you can make your initial tie without breaking the branch at the stalk or causing it to crease.
The plant doesn't mind, in fact, appreciates the new space. Be firm, but gentle.
Get your tie and tape ready. Tying anything around a bushy branch can be tough. Tape allows one handed secured loop.
Back to the plant, bring your tallest branch into position.
Note strip(s) of tape handy on container.
OK, Now let's take that tape, wrap the string loose around the stem to make a loop then the tape around the string to hold it together. See that most of the branch is still in my hand, behind my thumb. I'll be holding it in position to gauge my tie length needs.
Now pull the branch down and fix it to the planter w/tape.
It'll look like this when you release the branch, perhaps
Ok, now . . . let's grab the biggest branch on the other side and line it up with the height of the already tied-down branch.
The closest hand is on the secured branch, the other sizing up the next target.
Now, simply do this too all branches long enough to matter in the canopy. The smaller stuff will catch up now that they have light. You'll end up with something like these next pics. First, right after finishing. 2nd next day.
Here's a closer shot from above . . . see the ties? I even duct taped the junction (see?) so the plant might not split down the middle if it gets too laden with goodies!
and finally, here's a day later and a few days after that . . . see how the need for light causes the branches to start reaching to eventually become a even-ish canopy? As growth continues, you can adjust the ties to keep things as you wish.
That's it! With a little practice, you too can do this anytime you want.
Fred42days . . . same plant as one at top, before 100 gm cured harvest, under plain fluros.
The object is to have something like this (pic1) when you go to 12/12. This plant is 30+"'s across and less than a foot tall.
I called her Henry. She's dead, but sacrificed her life so I could ensure a thriving WRhino strain.
I use these tools, plus duct tape
Using too thin a material around a branch can cause contusions, abrasions, etc . . . open bark skin invites disease.
This is the plant we'll shape/train. See how the lower growth wouldn't be getting enough light to be productive?
Your indica plants would almost always be bushier than the sativa pictured, thus even less light would reach bottom.
Note the tallest branch and bring it into the general area it will be. This will be your tallest point (ideally). Common sense should dictate how far down you can make your initial tie without breaking the branch at the stalk or causing it to crease.
The plant doesn't mind, in fact, appreciates the new space. Be firm, but gentle.
Get your tie and tape ready. Tying anything around a bushy branch can be tough. Tape allows one handed secured loop.
Back to the plant, bring your tallest branch into position.
Note strip(s) of tape handy on container.
OK, Now let's take that tape, wrap the string loose around the stem to make a loop then the tape around the string to hold it together. See that most of the branch is still in my hand, behind my thumb. I'll be holding it in position to gauge my tie length needs.
Now pull the branch down and fix it to the planter w/tape.
It'll look like this when you release the branch, perhaps
Ok, now . . . let's grab the biggest branch on the other side and line it up with the height of the already tied-down branch.
The closest hand is on the secured branch, the other sizing up the next target.
Now, simply do this too all branches long enough to matter in the canopy. The smaller stuff will catch up now that they have light. You'll end up with something like these next pics. First, right after finishing. 2nd next day.
Here's a closer shot from above . . . see the ties? I even duct taped the junction (see?) so the plant might not split down the middle if it gets too laden with goodies!
and finally, here's a day later and a few days after that . . . see how the need for light causes the branches to start reaching to eventually become a even-ish canopy? As growth continues, you can adjust the ties to keep things as you wish.
That's it! With a little practice, you too can do this anytime you want.
Fred42days . . . same plant as one at top, before 100 gm cured harvest, under plain fluros.
Thanx
