where to top?
- Thread starter millner
- Start date
mogie
Well-Known Member
ne reason to prune is to increase yield or lower plant profile by topping the plants grow tips. The traditional method involves removing the entire growth point but there are now other methods such as the FIM which can dramatically affect the appearance of the plant and perhaps increase yield by increased branch stucture.
From a post by Bud-E
This was originally published as TIP OF THE MONTH "Page 102" in the HighTimes Magazine July 2000 issue.
To increase yeilds and maximize space, many farmers "top" their plants-snip off the top bud. Tradionally, topping your plant causes two shoots to grow back in place on the one pruned off, thus increasing the number of top/main buds. Well thanks to a loyal reader, we've topped that.
This tip came to me by snail mail from South Carolina, With a diagram and a name for this technique. The letter says, "I discovered by accident a pruning technique that all growers should know about". As I read his letter, I remembered that the same thing had happened to me many times and I never took notice. I too occasionally got up to five or six new shoots growing from what I thought was a sloppy topping attempt.
Diagram A shows the tradional method of topping: cutting the whole node off cleanly, to induce the stalk to split into two. But diagram B indicates to make the cut below the center of the node, leaving about 10% intact. This is the key, because the vegetation left behind has cells that are rapidly dividing in many different directions. This can lead to as many as EIGHT tops from a single pruning.
The contributor did not give their name, but requests this be called the "FIM" technique. He also adds, "this pruning technique could revolutionize indoor gardening"
Additional image contributed by: bubbasix
Additional image contributed by: Foz
Last modified: 20:32 - Jan 26, 2001 [FONT=verdana,arial]Quicklink: http://overgrow.com/growfaq/727[/FONT]
GrowFAQ © 2000-2004 Overgrow
faq:727 "What is the FIM pruning technique?"
From a post by Bud-E
This was originally published as TIP OF THE MONTH "Page 102" in the HighTimes Magazine July 2000 issue.
To increase yeilds and maximize space, many farmers "top" their plants-snip off the top bud. Tradionally, topping your plant causes two shoots to grow back in place on the one pruned off, thus increasing the number of top/main buds. Well thanks to a loyal reader, we've topped that.
This tip came to me by snail mail from South Carolina, With a diagram and a name for this technique. The letter says, "I discovered by accident a pruning technique that all growers should know about". As I read his letter, I remembered that the same thing had happened to me many times and I never took notice. I too occasionally got up to five or six new shoots growing from what I thought was a sloppy topping attempt.
Diagram A shows the tradional method of topping: cutting the whole node off cleanly, to induce the stalk to split into two. But diagram B indicates to make the cut below the center of the node, leaving about 10% intact. This is the key, because the vegetation left behind has cells that are rapidly dividing in many different directions. This can lead to as many as EIGHT tops from a single pruning.
The contributor did not give their name, but requests this be called the "FIM" technique. He also adds, "this pruning technique could revolutionize indoor gardening"
Additional image contributed by: bubbasix
Additional image contributed by: Foz
Last modified: 20:32 - Jan 26, 2001 [FONT=verdana,arial]Quicklink: http://overgrow.com/growfaq/727[/FONT]
GrowFAQ © 2000-2004 Overgrow
faq:727 "What is the FIM pruning technique?"
mogie
Well-Known Member
I start by pruning a leaf from each node in a staircase pattern, as soon as the first 5 bladed leaf appears. This will stimulate lateral growth and open the plant to more light.
I top around the 4-5 node, using the FIM technique, leaving about 20% of the growth tip intact. Topping will create at least 2 new budding sites, and with proper use of the FIM technique I have had as many as 5, and have heard of as many as 8. Topping will allow bottom branches time to grow and catch up, making them closer to the lights.
With proper training and manipulation, you can get these giant plants to grow horizontal, effectivly reducing the overall height of your garden as much as 50%. This way you can lower the lights as close as possible to all budding sites. With many budding sites very close to the light, you will get a better yeild of grade "A" bud. As opposed to having smaller shaded buds trapped under an untrained canopy, which will never fully develop.
I top around the 4-5 node, using the FIM technique, leaving about 20% of the growth tip intact. Topping will create at least 2 new budding sites, and with proper use of the FIM technique I have had as many as 5, and have heard of as many as 8. Topping will allow bottom branches time to grow and catch up, making them closer to the lights.
With proper training and manipulation, you can get these giant plants to grow horizontal, effectivly reducing the overall height of your garden as much as 50%. This way you can lower the lights as close as possible to all budding sites. With many budding sites very close to the light, you will get a better yeild of grade "A" bud. As opposed to having smaller shaded buds trapped under an untrained canopy, which will never fully develop.
mogie
Well-Known Member
opping the plant means to remove its primary growing shoot. The plant then redirects its energy to the next two closest shoots which become primary shoots. This may be done as many times as the grower desires. Note, however, that the resulting buds will be smaller than if the plant had been left untopped. The real issue becomes "Does the mass of the two new buds exceed the mass of the otherwise untopped cola?" The answer to this question varies from strain to strain, perhaps even, from plant to plant.
When topped, frequently the two central growth tips will stop growing for a period, while the plant directs its energies to repairing the damage central shoot. A collateral effect of topping is that the plant bushes out, that is, all of the lower branches continue to grow when the growth of the central shoots pauses. This can be useful in a propagation technique like SCroG, in which it is desirable for all of the budsites to be on an even plane.
The slowdown in growth may be avoided by pinching,rather than cutting, the growth tip. This does not cause the resulting bushiness in the lower growth, but does cause the two secondary tips to become primary.
How, when and where to top are also matters of ongoing debate. Ultimately, it becomes a personal decision of the grower, based upon his own experiences and goals.
When topped, frequently the two central growth tips will stop growing for a period, while the plant directs its energies to repairing the damage central shoot. A collateral effect of topping is that the plant bushes out, that is, all of the lower branches continue to grow when the growth of the central shoots pauses. This can be useful in a propagation technique like SCroG, in which it is desirable for all of the budsites to be on an even plane.
The slowdown in growth may be avoided by pinching,rather than cutting, the growth tip. This does not cause the resulting bushiness in the lower growth, but does cause the two secondary tips to become primary.
How, when and where to top are also matters of ongoing debate. Ultimately, it becomes a personal decision of the grower, based upon his own experiences and goals.
le1337need
Well-Known Member
hmm very interesting. don't think i would be confident to do that currently, but sounds like a nice science project in the future.
is that the place where the branch grows out from the stem where all the leaves grow on?oh yea and im grooing outdoors and i want the plants to stay small because this old woman always comes out and cut her garden in the spring and summer and she may see the marijuana plants when they get big and tall. i was thinking about start germinating the plants in june and grow them so when the 12 12 light cycle hits they wont be huge.
loveisallyouneed
Well-Known Member
A better idea might be looking into low stress training. I've never done it myself but it sounds like something that would fit your needs. I hope this old woman is old enough to be losing her senses (I.e. sense of smell)
https://www.rollitup.org/indoor-growing/6834-how-lst-low-stress-training.html?highlight=low+stress+training
green_nobody
Well-Known Member
make that a topping sticky, the graphics are great mogiene reason to prune is to increase yield or lower plant profile by topping the plants grow tips. The traditional method involves removing the entire growth point but there are now other methods such as the FIM which can dramatically affect the appearance of the plant and perhaps increase yield by increased branch stucture.
From a post by Bud-E
This was originally published as TIP OF THE MONTH "Page 102" in the HighTimes Magazine July 2000 issue.
To increase yeilds and maximize space, many farmers "top" their plants-snip off the top bud. Tradionally, topping your plant causes two shoots to grow back in place on the one pruned off, thus increasing the number of top/main buds. Well thanks to a loyal reader, we've topped that.
This tip came to me by snail mail from South Carolina, With a diagram and a name for this technique. The letter says, "I discovered by accident a pruning technique that all growers should know about". As I read his letter, I remembered that the same thing had happened to me many times and I never took notice. I too occasionally got up to five or six new shoots growing from what I thought was a sloppy topping attempt.
Diagram A shows the tradional method of topping: cutting the whole node off cleanly, to induce the stalk to split into two. But diagram B indicates to make the cut below the center of the node, leaving about 10% intact. This is the key, because the vegetation left behind has cells that are rapidly dividing in many different directions. This can lead to as many as EIGHT tops from a single pruning.
The contributor did not give their name, but requests this be called the "FIM" technique. He also adds, "this pruning technique could revolutionize indoor gardening"
Additional image contributed by: bubbasix
Additional image contributed by: Foz
Last modified: 20:32 - Jan 26, 2001 [FONT=verdana,arial]Quicklink: http://overgrow.com/growfaq/727[/FONT]
GrowFAQ © 2000-2004 Overgrow
faq:727 "What is the FIM pruning technique?"
hydrocropper420
Active Member
i just put this video on another thread but heres my style, you sould be able to see perfectly whats gong on here[video=youtube;918O-bYNJVw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=918O-bYNJVw[/video]
hydrocropper420
Active Member
and some pics of them today so you know what to look forward toView attachment 2612958View attachment 2612960View attachment 2612963View attachment 2612964
rwbrock
Active Member
I like following Uncle Bens Technique. Look under advanced growing techniques and look at the post topping for 4 colas by uncle ben....you will learn tons. LST is good to learn about as well. What mogi is suggesting is something more advanced than what you want right now. Learn the basics first....
Po boy
Well-Known Member
this is the way to go. GL
https://www.rollitup.org/advanced-marijuana-cultivation/151706-uncle-bens-topping-technique-get.html
https://www.rollitup.org/advanced-marijuana-cultivation/151706-uncle-bens-topping-technique-get.html