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

[Katatawnic]

so i have my first grow going journal and all. i decided to go with the LST method. I'am wondering will topping of each cola be to much stress on the plant? the plants already bent over and going through stress but cutting each cola off at the same time what do you think suppose? and after regrowth i wanna pintch and snap the branchs where the topping method went into effect

There are growers that do this, but I really think don't it's necessary. As a matter of fact, it may cause a lot of crowding problems, resulting in too little air circulation and simply so many bud sites that you'd end up with loads and loads of "popcorn" buds, but very few large/main (hence higher quality) colas.

The attached photos were taken after three and five weeks of LST with no topping (last day of tying down, then two weeks later), and you can see that they're extremely bushy with many bud sites. The second photo is day two of 12/12, so they're still going to grow a lot more the next couple/few weeks. I had to prune the bottom of them this afternoon (not as aggressive as "lollipopping" but still quite a decent amount of trimming), because they got so bushy that there wasn't enough air circulation in there, which is an open invitation to bugs and molds and fungi and other nasties. It breaks my heart to prune my babies, but it absolutely had to be done! If you top each cola with LST, you'll likely end up with way too much bush and end up having to lollipop the hell out of the bottom branches. (The only exceptions I can see to this is either if you're growing outdoors, or else you've got loads of room and lighting indoors.)

I've now got two in veg that are 4 weeks old. I did the "four cola" method in this thread on them earlier this week, and started tying the four new "trunks" on the larger of the two just last night. (No photo of these yet, but should have some within a couple of days from now for sure.) I'm guessing I can get pretty much the same effect from these two as I did with the ones in the photo, but in two or three weeks instead of five.

I'd personally recommend that if you combine LST with topping, you top first and then LST them. Or at the least, LST first and then top only the stalks that grow so much taller that it's difficult to keep an even canopy.... which does happen when you run out of room and can't tie branches anymore.

 

[LiquidLumen]

Yo, I got a question for anyone experienced with this topping technique and + rep for good answers. Does it matter if you're plant is already in flower when you top for the 4 main colas? This is for a SOG flowering from Seed type set up

 

[born2killspam]

Offering rep isn't a a way to grab info without perusing the pages already written..

 

[Katatawnic]

Offering rep isn't a a way to grab info without perusing the pages already written..

I'd rep you for that, but RIU won't let me since I already kissed your ass a few days or so ago.

 

[born2killspam]

If I cared about my reputation, I'd stop smoking weed, get myself a haircut, and get a real job..

 

[Katatawnic]

That's funny right there!

Yeah, rep is a handy way of saying "thanks" to other RIU members, but the big deal so many make out of it cracks me up. Especially how much it too often does not mean; if it was so valuable here, then those that give so much sound help & advice would be the ones with the high rep points. Hence my referring to it as ass-kissing.

 

[born2killspam]

I get more rep for jokes than I do for info.. I think pics/journals earn alot of rep regardless of value..

 

[captain chronizzle]

Yo, I got a question for anyone experienced with this topping technique and + rep for good answers. Does it matter if you're plant is already in flower when you top for the 4 main colas? This is for a SOG flowering from Seed type set up

i'll answer. when you top, you rely on the plants ability to vegitate. since you would be in flower, it would be counterproductive, or too late. sorry

 

[Katatawnic]

Yep, I've gotten "thank you's" for help offered, and rep for being silly. Fortunately I'm more concerned with growing healthy plants than a "great" reputation. You and UB constantly give tons of great no-nonsense advice (the best kind), yet my rep points are higher than both of yours. Yet so many people take rep points into serious account when considering help that's been offered to them.... I can't count how many have told others to pay close attention to rep before taking advice from someone.

 

[LiquidLumen]

I get more rep for jokes than I do for info.. I think pics/journals earn alot of rep regardless of value..

I find it amusing how much time you're willing to talk about how you don't care about rep and try to make yourself seem funny through an online forum, rather than actually take 30 seconds to type a simple answer....good job not looking like a dipshit

 

[born2killspam]

30sseconds*everylazynoob = fuck you

 

[Katatawnic]

I find it amusing how much time you're willing to talk about how you don't care about rep and try to make yourself seem funny through an online forum, rather than actually take 30 seconds to type a simple answer....good job not looking like a dipshit

I find it amusing how much effort people are not willing to put into learning about growing a plant, bribing others with a lousy brownie point to do their research for them.

Had you simply asked your initial question, I and many others would have simply answered it. A carrot dangled in front of the nose is insulting. Some people don't like being patronized. Get over it. You got your answer without needing to sort through information already provided (over and over and over) like others do. But instead of a "thank you" to the person who spoon-fed you the info, you had to point out what a "dipshit" someone was for having some self-respect. I've never given negative rep, but I was very tempted after reading this.

Good day.

 

[Uncle Ben]

LiquidLumen, welcome to the thread, but, that question has been answered quite a few times, you may start with the FIRST POST. You can top during flowering, done it numerous times to keep the height of unruly sativas down, but your output will not result in 4 main colas. Homework - learn plant parts, structure, and function.

"rep", Karma, mojo, etc. is quite meaningless if you're really into gardening. Finding out who are the master gardeners are takes work and a little time which most are not willing to do.

Regards,
Tio

 

[orchidboy]

so , with this species - will the nodes of a clone eventually even out? -
I am running some test and have begun to notice that they are uneven -
any thoughts?
cheers-
and tio , what type of olive trees?
I've just placed my order for 50 lbs - I cure my own each season-
but live in a climate unfriendly to olive trees....

 

[Uncle Ben]

so , with this species - will the nodes of a clone eventually even out? -
I am running some test and have begun to notice that they are uneven -
any thoughts?

Expression of alternating nodes is called "alternate phytolaxy" (sp), a flowering response. Why do you care if it evens out with opposing nodes? If you have opposing nodes, you have a vegetative state.

cheers-
and tio , what type of olive trees?
I've just placed my order for 50 lbs - I cure my own each season-
but live in a climate unfriendly to olive trees....

I have a couple that produce great oil and are used for canning.

Happy canning!

 

[LiquidLumen]

Also, there is no information in the first 3 pages of this thread that makes it clear that you will not get 4 nodes if you top during flowering...

 

[born2killspam]

Well topping is topping.. As far as UB's technique goes, its just topping with a primary focus on the 4 mains, after a substantial root formation has had a chance to grow..

 

[Richie LxP]

Uncle bens topping technique is the mutts nuts.


Giggidy giggidy....Oh yea

 

[captain chronizzle]

liquid- you carried on, the very way you claimed to infuriate you. you said all the noob talk, trash talk, etc. clutters these threads. you wanted to save some time and formality. your rants added how many pages? you even threatened physical harm. not nice.

katawanic- you engaged, or gave audience. the term is instigated.

and whoever else posted bout breakin teeth, gosh people, cool out. give the thread stater some respect, and cyberspace a break on the clutter!

just smoke up, and cool out.

p.s. i don't respond to threats or regard any comments as fact.

ub- nice method

 

[woolypudding69]

liquid- you carried on, the very way you claimed to infuriate you. you said all the noob talk, trash talk, etc. clutters these threads. you wanted to save some time and formality. your rants added how many pages? you even threatened physical harm. not nice.

katawanic- you engaged, or gave audience. the term is instigated.

and whoever else posted bout breakin teeth, gosh people, cool out. give the thread stater some respect, and cyberspace a break on the clutter!

just smoke up, and cool out.

p.s. i don't respond to threats or regard any comments as fact.

ub- nice method

Very true and very well put. I need to go smoke. This is exactly why I get high. It saves peoples lives.