I didnt know they own GH now, that sux! Scots products are fine for lawn and garden but thats about it. Its ok to use MG when growing outdoors in soil. Ferts require biological break down by soil microbes. Thats the difference between nutes and ferts. Nutes are directly absorbable by the plant. The terminal bud is the apical or apex bud where new growth extends from. Veg growth. Flower buds and leaf buds are different buds. Idealy you want to wait until you have at least 3 nodes before topping or pinching. If im not main lining I top when the plants have 7-8 nodes. If main-lining you want to top/pinch at every 3 nodes. Can you wait for more nodes? Sure, but your veg will be a little longer. On the up side your branches will be thicker and stronger if you allow more nodes between pinches. Its a good idea to do this with strains that produce heavy thick buds. Usually indica strains and indica dominate strains. Back to topping and nodes, some strains are alternating nodes which mean it produces one leaf at each node aternately, and some produce two leafs at each node. If its a alternating strain I top at 7-8 nodes and I remove the entire meristem down to the lowest 2-4 nodes. Alternating strains can be used for main-lining but two leafs per node are better. They branch off in a perfect Y. When mainlining you want your Y at every 3rd node. Does it HAVE to be? No, but its best. You want at least 3 nodes before topping/pinching so the plants have time to mature and produce critical hormones for strength, growth, and production. Now im not saying you have to use my methods as a bible. Anyone can do whatever they like but my techniques are from a horticultural standpoint. Hormones are imparitive to proper growth, strength, and production. Like I said before, do not mistake green foliage and fast growth for strength. Plant health is resilience and resistance to environmental stress. Temp xtremes and pests. Strong cells. Silica suplements only help, health begins with hormone production, as does growth and yield. Hormones, vitamins, and micro nutrients are just as important as NPK. Just as ph is vital for nutrient uptake. If the plant has two leaves at each node I top once it has 4-5 nodes. More leaves equals more photosynthetic surface area. A plant only needs a certain amount of photosynthetic area, this is why the more leaves you have the smaller they are. The less leaves you have the bigger they will be. So once I have 7-8 total leaves ill top/pinch, whatever you wish to call it. Sorry, I know you didnt ask for all that but sometimes I cant help myself! Lol.
