I have a single autoflower currently that is thriving but my tent isn't tall enough to contain this girl. She's about 3ft tall and the highest flower sight is only a couple of inches from the light and its still in the early stage of flowering. Should I top it and how much should I take off if so?
To top or not to top?
- Thread starter HunterH90
- Start date
UnknownRemedy
Well-Known Member
Idk about topping an auto, let alone mid flower, seems counterintuitive but if it's the only option possibly? You should've LST'd her regardless of what height the breeder says it will get. Gotta keep her low, especially when you have very little head room.
MAYBE you can supercrop it? Idk much about autos, but pictures would help.
MAYBE you can supercrop it? Idk much about autos, but pictures would help.
Phytoplankton
Well-Known Member
I have the same issue with some photo's, they're geting too tall, I do HST, pinch the stem with a pair of pliers (gently) until the stem folds over, it will recover.
Topping is a method of high stress training that's typically done when the plant is about 21 days old. When a plant is topped, the grower clips off the main ("apical") stem about 1cm above the fourth or fifth node, growers choice. If you don't remove the apical stem you will get a "Christmas tree" looking plant unless you bend the apical stem over and tie it down or weight it down.
When the apical stem is removed, the growth hormones that would have gone to the apical stem are instead sent to the stems at the fourth/fifth node so those branches grow significantly larger than they would if the plant is not topped.
If your plant is in flower and is too tall, growers will "supergroup" stems. As @Phytoplankton advises, you can uses pliers to "crush" the stem but only enough to allow the stem to be bent over. Another option is to "roll" your fingers over the place where you want to make the bend. Similar technique, same result.
Back to topping - topping removes just the apical stem. There's another HST technique named "FIMming" where the cut is made a bit higher up the stem. I don't have a picture handy to describe a FIM. Do a Google search on "images FIM" and…you'll get the picture.
I top and supergroup photos and autos. It's all cannabis.
When the apical stem is removed, the growth hormones that would have gone to the apical stem are instead sent to the stems at the fourth/fifth node so those branches grow significantly larger than they would if the plant is not topped.
If your plant is in flower and is too tall, growers will "supergroup" stems. As @Phytoplankton advises, you can uses pliers to "crush" the stem but only enough to allow the stem to be bent over. Another option is to "roll" your fingers over the place where you want to make the bend. Similar technique, same result.
Back to topping - topping removes just the apical stem. There's another HST technique named "FIMming" where the cut is made a bit higher up the stem. I don't have a picture handy to describe a FIM. Do a Google search on "images FIM" and…you'll get the picture.
I top and supergroup photos and autos. It's all cannabis.
Kola_Kreator
Well-Known Member
Do not top mid flower. You will have a big negative impact on the yield. Can you get a bigger tent?
backwood_boss
Well-Known Member
If it's 3 feet tall and in flower your way past the topping window. That needs to happen around days 15-20. Bend the top down gently and tie it down. She won't recover and your yield will be toasted because the plant puts it's energy into recovery not production
amneziaHaze
Well-Known Member
if you top it in flower you will lose buds.do an lst or supper crop it(break the branch without breaking the skin you have to squize and twist slowly from every side until the plant loseses strength)
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