Uncle Ben's Topping Technique to Get 2 or 4 Main Colas

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Cory&Sam

Cory&Sam

Member
Uncle Ben said:
Howdy!

Based on quite a few questions about topping I've received here: https://www.rollitup.org/general-marijuana-growing/13820-fimming-topping-101-a-12.html I decided to reproduce a thread on my favorite topping method published at cann.com about 10 years ago. Even though I've got much better photos from many latter grows both indoor and outdoor, I'm gonna stick with the old photos from the original thread. Lighting is HPS from start to finish with the exception of using 4' long shop fluors from germ until about 2 weeks. Some pix were taken outdoors for better resolution thanks to an old camcorder I was using.

Selecting the point for topping to get 4 main colas -

To get 4 main colas, let your seedling or cutting (clone) grow to about 5-6 nodes and pinch out (cut) the stem just above the 2nd true node. The node where the cotyledons attach doesn't count. The result will be a redistribution of the auxins and other hormones that normally collect in the tissue of the terminal leader's tip. These ho moans will be redistributed to dormant buds that reside in the nodal axis where the leaf petiole attaches to the "trunk", below the cut. The new foliar output response will be quick (within 24 hrs., see photo below) if you have a healthy growing seedling and will be your future main colas - 4 instead of the usual 1:



Here's a photo of the same plant about 8 weeks into flowering. The plant is about 42" tall, has 4 main colas with an abundance of large, healthy fan leaves.



This is an indoor shot just prior to harvest showing the colas bulking up quite nicely. Notice how the weight of the heavy colas is naturally pulling them apart, which opens the plant up so that light can penetrate the interior of the canopy. This is the same principle used by fruit orchard managers who create an open vase profile for their trees in order to increase production. This profile also has a side benefit of providing good interior air movement which reduces fungal/rot pressures.



The plant after harvest showing the branching scaffold and dominant 4 main cola "trunks", opposing nodes one right above the other. Smaller secondary branches also provided good bud production. This plant yielded over 10 oz of cured bud.



~ Topping for 2 main colas ~

Pinch out the seedling above the 1st true node to get 2 main colas:





Any questions, fire away.

Happy gardening,
Uncle Ben
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the pic of the plants leftover stems looks like charlie browns christmas tree!
 
drekoushranada

drekoushranada

Well-Known Member
So when do you top a rooted clone to get 4 main colas? It it the same process as the donor plant or do you have to count the nodes from a different spot? Bc I dont want any mother plants in my system.
 
B

buddhalover425

Member
i did it when they were clones also...i waited like a wee into veg.i wish i would of did it earlier maybe when they were in the red cups because you basically cut most the plant off, cuttting from the 2nd node. so it too longer to catch up to their already big sisters
 
drekoushranada

drekoushranada

Well-Known Member
buddhalover425 said:
i did it when they were clones also...i waited like a wee into veg.i wish i would of did it earlier maybe when they were in the red cups because you basically cut most the plant off, cuttting from the 2nd node. so it too longer to catch up to their already big sisters
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info. Why did you wish you had done it earlier?
 
xebeche

xebeche

Well-Known Member
Thanks again, UB. I do the same thing with my tomatoes, but they're always outside and in much larger pots. With my cannabis growing, currently I'm kinda restricted as to how large a pot I can use (or, more importantly, how large a plant I have the space to grow). I've been experimenting with smaller pots/larger numbers of plants lately (sog syle), since I have limited growing space and a desire to try out many (probably TOO many) different strains. But I HAVE been considering going back to scrog-type growing with one or two plants...in which case I could use bigger pots and will definitely bury that trunk as deep as I can get it. I'd really like to try a scrog on this NHH strain. Three out of the five are looking really strong and will be upcanned from these Solo cups very soon. Supposed to be some really good smoke (from what I've read)...so if I could eventually grow one of these with a trunk nearly as thick as that of my average (container-grown) outdoor tomato plant, I think I'd be a happy man, lol. Just gotta find the space for it.:mrgreen:
 
Uncle Ben

Uncle Ben

Well-Known Member
xebeche said:
Thanks again, UB. I do the same thing with my tomatoes, but they're always outside and in much larger pots. With my cannabis growing, currently I'm kinda restricted as to how large a pot I can use (or, more importantly, how large a plant I have the space to grow). I've been experimenting with smaller pots/larger numbers of plants lately (sog syle), since I have limited growing space and a desire to try out many (probably TOO many) different strains. But I HAVE been considering going back to scrog-type growing with one or two plants...in which case I could use bigger pots and will definitely bury that trunk as deep as I can get it. I'd really like to try a scrog on this NHH strain. Three out of the five are looking really strong and will be upcanned from these Solo cups very soon. Supposed to be some really good smoke (from what I've read)...so if I could eventually grow one of these with a trunk nearly as thick as that of my average (container-grown) outdoor tomato plant, I think I'd be a happy man, lol. Just gotta find the space for it.:mrgreen:
Click to expand...
I hear ya. You plan your grow and grow out your plan.

Good luck,
UB
 
GanjaLove<3

GanjaLove<3

Member
Growing 2 plants each in a 5 gallon bucket. Was wondering if it would be quicker to just top to get 2 colas each, or is it more worth the wait to top for 4 main colas ? First time with the topping, all my previous grows I just let the plant go or did a little bit of LST. I figure 16 main colas compared to 8, sounds worth it to me.
 
jzs147

jzs147

Well-Known Member
i topped a lot sooner after i seen the second node i took the 3rd out dunno if this is 2 soon i only done one plat to see how it goes.
 
ozgirl

ozgirl

Active Member
Uncle ben, I just wanted to say thanks so much for this thread. I now understand how to top for my needs, and most importantly why and how it all works. Im new to growing, and have read so much info, but nothing I have read or seen about topping has explained the topic so well.

I didn't read the whole thread, didn't need to. And I noticed someone mentioning a great thread you have on germination, im gonna do my best to find it, but if you could point me in the right direction that might help :-)
 
The45King

The45King

Active Member
Here's the 1 i topped at 14 days and flowered at 19
it was the last feminised seed i had so didnt care for it much but
am happy with the result now
n1 ubDeep Sweet Grapefruit.jpg
 
Burger Boss

Burger Boss

Well-Known Member
dlively11 said:
I was referring to a mother plant correct. Take a branch and top it like the OP is topping these plants leaving however many nodes you want on your plant. Then make your cut where you would normally take for your clone. Then put it in your medium or cloner and voila you have a 2,3 or 4 tops on it. You dont have to veg your plant this way and hack off a bunch of veg growth. Its just more efficient and I also found the plants to be much more consistant at producing more even sized buds the the other method OP uses.
Click to expand...
I would suggest that rather than bashing the OP, you start your own thread. There, you can "debunk" the UB method, and "promote" your own. Then the "market forces" kick in and the "superior/best" method wins.
Seems simple enough to me...............BB
 
D

dlively11

Well-Known Member
Burger Boss said:
I would suggest that rather than bashing the OP, you start your own thread. There, you can "debunk" the UB method, and "promote" your own. Then the "market forces" kick in and the "superior/best" method wins.
Seems simple enough to me...............BB
Click to expand...
LOL just when the dust settled. First and foremost this isnt "uncle Bens Technique" but rather UB's thread. No disrespect towards UB but this technique was discovered long before . Would be like me posting a thread on how to do a SCROG, doesnt make it my technique. He posted it up for everyone to see and that was helpful for a lot of people so kudos to him. I did actually post very relevent info for a lot of growers reading this thread . Its saves a lot of time and does give little more consisant results IMO. Cut them the way you want them before they even have roots = no wasted veg time. Just a different approach that might work better for some people. However you get your results it is pretty cool technique.

I will add though that it doesnt increase the yield 2X or 4X like you might think or hope. I get better yields per plant ,nowhere near 2X or 4X the yield but the plants do take up 2X or 4X the space. Just an observation but I still play with it.

Peace
 
potroast

potroast

Uses the Rollitup profile
Just for your information, if you want us to start a thread about SCROG, the OP and I could give you some original information, because Uncle Ben and I were part of the group that named it SCROG, a takeoff on the SOG that was all the rage back then.

Show some respect for those that know more than you, and you will always be learning.

:mrgreen:
 
Burger Boss

Burger Boss

Well-Known Member
potroast said:
Just for your information, if you want us to start a thread about SCROG, the OP and I could give you some original information, because Uncle Ben and I were part of the group that named it SCROG, a takeoff on the SOG that was all the rage back then.

Show some respect for those that know more than you, and you will always be learning.

:mrgreen:
Click to expand...
WTG Pot, that's what I call giving someone, some perspective!
It would be pretty damned hard to challenge the co-originator of a tried and true grow method!
Wishing for ALL......Good luck & good grow.......BB
 
The45King

The45King

Active Member
i topped it at 14 days and flowered at 19 so the answer is 5 days veg after topping
I am gonna veg for a few weeks after topping next time
but very happy with how things run this time
peace
 
Burger Boss

Burger Boss

Well-Known Member
Uncle Ben!: "Haven't folded yet and never will. I jest keep pullin' dem Aces.
"

Do I detect a poker player here???? Possibly an online player?
If so, please PM me, cuz POKER is my #2 major passion!.......BB
 
Burger Boss

Burger Boss

Well-Known Member
smoke n strum said:
Hello frogster, Yeah, i have started taking pics and am thinking about starting a journal soon. I can't Bogart UB's thread anymore... sorry about that UB..got a little carried away there. I am a little worried about security having a grow going.. this is the first time I have spent any time on one of these sites, so i am nervous about being found out. Cultivation laws are pretty harsh. I don't know much about internet security. Thanks for the shout out Frogster... and UB keep on growin...sns
Click to expand...
Hi sns, It isn't my intention to belittle ANYONE'S security concern's, but I notice you have been in this forum for about a month now. You might want to check out some "join date's" in here, I'm coming up on year 4 now and haven't been too stingy with my name or location. I'm thinking that a scenario with law enforcement pouring over the membership of the MANY grow forums out there would be fodder for a crappy sitcom and not much more.
It's YOUR ass, and for sure, protect it, but I think you can pretty much relax in here.
Good luck & good grow.......BB

BTW, that IS me in the avatar, some would say foolish, but I say unconcernd.
 
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