what would you do?

I have 4 skunk #1s in 5 gal DWC under a 600w hps in a 1.2x1.2m tent, been veging for almost 2 weeks now, I just topped them all above the 4th node. I was originally going to lst the two tops in opposite directions around the buckets and then try and train all the side branches to keep them as equal in height as I can and then flower them in a few weeks. I have about 1.2 meters of grow height I can use. I have looked at scrog but without having a recirculating system I think its just to much of an inconvenience to access the reservoirs for changes. ive also read that most people use such training methods to ether utilize small spaces and lower wattage lights. so given the grow space how would you try to maximize the potential of the plants. lst them? let them just grow or some other method? thanks.. sorry about writing one big paragraph for some reason my return button doesn't work on riu??? ,

Train them so your are getting even coverage of light to all main tops. I would top once, the plant will split into 4 tops then after 1-2 weeks top those 4 tops. You should end up with 12-16 main tops per plant. All the while LST or tieing them down to keep the canopy even as possible. After 4-5 weeks of veg flip to 12/12 and the the fun start.

yea now you topped them, the side shoots will grow out, train/LST them to keep a even canopy

here is one from a old grow`s I did



but no matter what they will grow a lot under a 600W in the stretch (fist few week`s of flowering)



the scrog method is a nice way to control that, and I must admit I love it, but I see your problem with the DWG buckets, tho do as me and use 4 bamboo sticks in each corner of the pot and scrog each pot with some metal net/wire (a tomato cages is also useable) be creative, its amazing how fare some dutch tape can get you




as I see it, the biggest down side about indoor growing is that we don't have the Sun and its penetration, even with big HID lights and plenty of reflection the lower part of the plants wont grow in to top Bud`s so in my logic its all about keeping all them Bud site`s up under the light and as many as possible

also why I now prune a bit, not point in keeping lower grow that don't really get any useable light to do anything, better to let the plant use all its energy on the top grow

I was thinking about making some kind of rack for them individualy but again thought it might be a bit of a pain moving them around so often to change out the res or even just topping of and checking ph. how many times did you top the plant in the second pic? thanks

only once, tho I FIM (same as topping, tho you only remove 80% of the top and get 2-8 new tops if your lucky)

the fist and second pic is of the same plant, fist pic in Veg around week 7-8 and other pic is that plant 2-3 week`s in to flowering (after the stretch, so you could see what 12/12 do to em)