not really..this is just cutting the tips of the leaves off, not any sem or branches. However, does cutting those top stems off before flowering result in more yield?
it can
the top of the plant is known as the apical meristem, this is where the hormone auxin is produced, an essential ingredient for primary growth (which is upwards growth or makes the plant taller)
the bottom of the plant produces cytokinin, which promotes secondary growth (outward growth, makes the plant thicker)
normally these two hormones are balanced, so the plant can grow tall, but have support at the bottom. and depending on the conditions (how much light, temp, other hormones) they release these in a constant wane and wax type of deal
cutting the tops of the plant will cause the plant to have more cytokinin in its body, which will promote outwards growth as well as the production of lateral buds (thats good stuff)
so in a nut shell, cutting the plants apical meristem will theoretically give you more yield, but the plant will not get as large nor will it have as many lateral bud points (bud production spots)
so the choice is either have a smaller plant with less bud grow spots but yields more per location, or have a normal plant
personally i dont fuck with prunning or trimming, i let mother nature run its course, but in the near future i plan on doing experiments for myself
i think the next male i get i will keep isolated to practice cloning and prunning
