Is it time to start topping?

Pics attached, is it time to start? (Day #19)

Side note... what is the best tutorial on "how to" do topping. It's still a bit of a mystery to me. Just a link to your favorite resource, how you learned. I don't want anyone to have to write a full tutorial in here.

Thanks!
& Love

Me personally I only top when the geno type is stretchy. I would let them get double their current height and start bending upon branches maybe even the main over and let the lowers catch up. Topping is one of many tools in the arsenal of training but isn’t always a requirement. You could focus on growth and lst first to not slow the growing. Either way it’s entirely on what you feel is best. No right or wrong.

Check this

I am in the topping camp. That one looks like it's almost ready. You may want to wait until the uppermost central stalk is slightly more defined. A few more days. Snip the stalk below the new growth cluster while being mindful to avoid damaging the small shoots beneath and to either side of the main stalk you are cutting. They will themselves become main branches in short order and the process can be repeated on each of those after they develop. i.e. that one will become two, next two will become four, etc. Apologies for my lack of scientific phraseology. Hope it makes sense. This is stressful to the plant I understand but I haven't ever had any issues. It will tend to keep it shorter and bushier and will increase main cola count. Note. This would only be for a photoperiod. Not recommended for autos.

I'll fold those tiny top leaves down out of the way then just snip out that tiny bit in the middle to do a FIM. Why have buggered up looking leaves on top.

You could. My preference is to let them get to about the 7th node & chop off the top 4 & bottom node. Lst the remaining 2 nodes at 90 degrees. Towards the edges of the pot.
I also twist the branches to make them pop.

Big thing to remember is to leave yourself a nice nub below the cut. Maybe an inch long is doable. It will shrink as the base gets thicker. This will help prevent splitting the stems.

DrDukePHD said:

Pics attached, is it time to start? (Day #19)

Side note... what is the best tutorial on "how to" do topping. It's still a bit of a mystery to me. Just a link to your favorite resource, how you learned. I don't want anyone to have to write a full tutorial in here.

Thanks!
& Love

Click to expand...

I’d let them a bit taller first. Then cut the top off. Bigger and healthier plants will handle it better than smaller/younger plants or unhealthy ones.

HydroKid239 said:

This will help prevent splitting the stems.

Click to expand...

You mean like this?

I cut it a little close - didn't know it at the time. A day or two later, I was looking at the plant and "Oh, shit!". Nothing I could do but hope. It turned out OK, per the picture, but I wasn't too pleased with myself. Better to leave it a little long that a little short!