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

[Uncle Ben]

Hey Uncle Ben. I'd like to say thank you. So, thank you!

Thanks for saying thanks!

My man UB,
How is everything going? I have grown interest in getting a chlorophyl reader. What do you recommend for the price?
Best regards,
Your Pal
Elkukupanda

Don't have one. I just read my plants. If they're dark green, they're full of chlorophyll and that's a good thing!

 

[qroox]

Thanks for saying thanks!



Don't have one. I just read my plants. If they're dark green, they're full of chlorophyll and that's a good thing!

UB you're the man mate..!! remember me ? i've already topped a male succesfully for 2 colas and i've topped my auto for a little bushier structure above 4th node.It's so nice to see people thanking you after so long.Your contribution was great.Got a fix for a calcium deficiency ? I think i got one ( you could check my sig or i can just pop a pic here ). I think i should add some dolomite lime to fix it..1/2 teaspoon per gal was the reccomendation..It's not too severe but i'd like it more if it was green .I got a few strains going..aiming for the best..!! cheers man!

 

[Uncle Ben]

UB you're the man mate..!! remember me ? i've already topped a male succesfully for 2 colas and i've topped my auto for a little bushier structure above 4th node.It's so nice to see people thanking you after so long.Your contribution was great.Got a fix for a calcium deficiency ? I think i got one ( you could check my sig or i can just pop a pic here ). I think i should add some dolomite lime to fix it..1/2 teaspoon per gal was the reccomendation..It's not too severe but i'd like it more if it was green .I got a few strains going..aiming for the best..!! cheers man!

Howdy, sure I remember you. Glad to hear things are working out.

Sure you got a Ca deficiency? Are your plants getting Ca either through the soil, foods or water source? Most deficiencies are mis-diagnosed by the grower and some deficiencies mask others. It's a tough call.

 

[qroox]

Yeah a friend i've made here told me that it could be something else.I've been feeding a solution of 10-3-7 +micros from start to finish.They are autos on day 55,which is pretty normal to suck themselves up but i wanna maximize what they can do.I do have some N def as well ( which i try to fix as well ).Also some purplish stems.Got any ideas ? My fert doesn't supplement Ca ,neither does my soil.Water should have some traces but i've never had a guaranteed analysis.Got any ideas ? I can take some shots now as well

 

[Uncle Ben]

What you've been feeding them doesn't tell me enough. How much, at what frequency etc. If there is no Ca being provided then a tsp. of dolomite lime every now and then will take care of that. Actually looks like a N plus perhaps Mg deficiency. Link me to the fertilizer product. It must have a GA label. An ad does me no good.

 

[qroox]

Yeap that's totally true.Well i've been feeding full strength the last 3 waterings.They took it all,10 ml per lt as the product prescribes for summer months ( where growth on citrus gets intense ? i do not know this much ).No signs of burns.They are on a 20/4 schedule.I've been feeding some mg at 2ml per lt from bud candy (AN product - wish i knew more ) . IT SEEMS that one of the plants that i fed 1/3 teaspoon dolomite lime per lt ( which is probably 2/3 of a full dose ) got a little better in 2 days.Not so purple stems and greener at the bottom.I can't find an analysis online so i'll have to type it here.N was lacking tho they were fed pretty good..

 

[qroox]

So here's the GA :
10% N (3,9 nitrate , 2,8 ammoniac ,3,3 urinal)
3% soluble phosphorus pentoxide
7% soluble potassium oxide
Soluble Micros : B 0,01 % Barium
Cu 0,02% Copper
Fe 0,10% Iron
Mg 0,01% Magnesium
MO 0,002% Molybdenum
Zn 0,002% Zinc

That's what's included

 

[Uncle Ben]

pentoxide and oxide? For a soil food that's weird, never heard of such. Usually phosphorous is delivered in the form of a phosphate or phosphoric acid and potassium in the form of a chloride or sulphate.

 

[Miley T]

Hey UB,
First post on rollitup. Been a reader for a minute though.
Question on the topping technique. Will this work with a SOG system? Specifically, how soon can i force flower after topping, and how much space should i provide per plant to achieve a canopy without crowding plants. It seems like a great way to maximize SOG yield w/o putting out for more plants and a less extensive hydro system.
Thankx in advance

 

[qroox]

pentoxide and oxide? For a soil food that's weird, never heard of such. Usually phosphorous is delivered in the form of a phosphate or phosphoric acid and potassium in the form of a chloride or sulphate.

Well they do sell it for a soil food..I have some dyna gro foliage pro and some jack's classic all purpose food..which one should i go for ?

 

[qroox]

Hey UB,
First post on rollitup. Been a reader for a minute though.
Question on the topping technique. Will this work with a SOG system? Specifically, how soon can i force flower after topping, and how much space should i provide per plant to achieve a canopy without crowding plants. It seems like a great way to maximize SOG yield w/o putting out for more plants and a less extensive hydro system.
Thankx in advance

A week of vegging after you topped is what it takes to get them ready to switch.It's GREAT for Sog.It keeps your canopy on 4 heavy colas..what else do ya need ?It is a great way to maximize everything.You need HEALTHY plants to top and flip to flower tho.Keep them green start to finish.And read this thread.All of it.

 

[simisimis]

A week of vegging after you topped is what it takes to get them ready to switch.It's GREAT for Sog.It keeps your canopy on 4 heavy colas..what else do ya need ?It is a great way to maximize everything.You need HEALTHY plants to top and flip to flower tho.Keep them green start to finish.And read this thread.All of it.

Well it's a bit more than that.. Depends on what strain you're growing. How much space you've got. e.g. 2 days ago I topped upcanned and flipped all at the same time. Plant was pushing side shoots right away with no stress signs. I had to flip, cause I grow Kali Mist, which is a 14 weeks flowering sativa, and with my 150W + 70W CMH HID it will take even longer. Also I have only 2 feet of max vertical growth so I had no choice but to flip it.
You are forming your plant to fit your space. I top for 4, but not to get 4 colas, but to get even growth on four different directions as I train them low.

I'd say flip time and other actions depend on how your girl have to look in your grow room at her harvest day
Cheers!

 

[Alexander Supertramp]

Well they do sell it for a soil food..I have some dyna gro foliage pro and some jack's classic all purpose food..which one should i go for ?

Foliage Pro grows nice plants for sure.

 

[qroox]

Well it's a bit more than that.. Depends on what strain you're growing. How much space you've got. e.g. 2 days ago I topped upcanned and flipped all at the same time. Plant was pushing side shoots right away with no stress signs. I had to flip, cause I grow Kali Mist, which is a 14 weeks flowering sativa, and with my 150W + 70W CMH HID it will take even longer. Also I have only 2 feet of max vertical growth so I had no choice but to flip it.
You are forming your plant to fit your space. I top for 4, but not to get 4 colas, but to get even growth on four different directions as I train them low.

I'd say flip time and other actions depend on how your girl have to look in your grow room at her harvest day
Cheers!

Well there is no schedule .You adjust to your needs.I grow by that rule.I just gave him a foolproof way.

 

[simisimis]

Yeah man, not saying your way is wrong. Cause it would work for most cases. It's just when I remember myself blindly following the procedure. I just wanted to point that "stress from which plants needs to recover" or "one week of veg after topping" is more something that fits your grow plan, not something that is really needed. ppl here say plant triples in size when flipped. Well yeah, but some plants get to 3' when flipped at 3".. Just saying

 

[Uncle Ben]

Hey UB,
First post on rollitup. Been a reader for a minute though.
Question on the topping technique. Will this work with a SOG system? Specifically, how soon can i force flower after topping, and how much space should i provide per plant to achieve a canopy without crowding plants. It seems like a great way to maximize SOG yield w/o putting out for more plants and a less extensive hydro system.
Thankx in advance

You're trying to put gardening in a box, one size fits all. Just try to best guess and go with the results.

 

[SirGreenThumb]

Hey Ben, can you tell me why one plant is thriving off this soil but my auto isn't?



I flushed it and it started getting better with no more clawing and the new growth was looking nice and then:


Buds look great though and I have 14 tops.
View attachment 3017216

 

[thecannacove]

A seedling is foolproof, a clone that shows alternating nodes (phytollaxy) will not work. Go long days, hit 'em with N, veg and when they return to opposing nodes, you can top to get 2 or 4 main colas instead the usual one.

UB

Hey UB, first off, great thread; you rarely see a forum member so dedicated to helping others to the extent you do and especially keeping a thread alive and continuing to answer questions of the save topic for over 5 years!

That said, I have a question based on the above quoted reply regarding alternating nodes (for topping a clone that already exhibits phytollaxy). Above you say to bring the clone back into a vegetative state by way of higher nitrogen levels and obviously longer light schedule. My question is once the nodes are opposing again do I still pinch (cut) just above the 2nd node, or just above the second opposing node? I know this is probably a stupid question and assume the latter but would like to get your guidance rather than assume.

Thanks Ben!

 

[SirGreenThumb]

Hey UB, first off, great thread; you rarely see a forum member so dedicated to helping others to the extent you do and especially keeping a thread alive and continuing to answer questions of the save topic for over 5 years!

That said, I have a question based on the above quoted reply regarding alternating nodes (for topping a clone that already exhibits phytollaxy). Above you say to bring the clone back into a vegetative state by way of higher nitrogen levels and obviously longer light schedule. My question is once the nodes are opposing again do I still pinch (cut) just above the 2nd node, or just above the second opposing node? I know this is probably a stupid question and assume the latter but would like to get your guidance rather than assume.

Thanks Ben!

It should be the same as the plant you had taken clones from. Once the clone develops a good root system and the nodes are alternating again you would let it grow like you would a non clone and top.

Edit: the only stupid question is the one not asked.

 

[rollyouron]

I've done the seeds it's easy to tell where the second node is. Works very well! With my clones there's so many new branches that it hard to tell where second node is. Could I top and trim off all the branches but 4 and get the Uncle Ben's 4 colas?