When & How do I "pinch" my outdoor plant?

[flyboybgs]

My new outdoor plant is probably around 5 weeks old and is looking good. I haven't done anything yet to Mary, except keep her watered and in the SoCal desert sun. She's a good 12" tall.
Question: When is it time to pinch her? What am I looking for & what's the best way to pinch or clip her?

Thanks, folks!

 

[Islander5000]

Now is the time. The plant should be strong enough and you still have a few weeks for the new "twin" tops to grow strong. Definitely within the next two weeks.

I'm sure you've noticed that new leaves sprout from the top in pairs. Slowly each leaf fans out and grows into 3 leaves. By the time it gets to 5 a newer set of leaves should have sprouted above them. Use you fingers, hold the newest set of leaves at their base, and pluck/pinch it out... or use a sharp small (clean) blade; razor blades let you get close and cut clean.

Youtube it, plenty of grow vids available.

 

[roundplanet]

Can you multiple pinch the plant, like if it has a really nice ass. lol

 

[veggiegardener]

Can you multiple pinch the plant, like if it has a really nice ass. lol

Please read up on "Supercropping" and Low Stress Training before pinching.

The two techniques I mentioned inflict little or no stress compared to pinching.

Also, if you MUST pinch, read up on FIMing(Fuck, I Missed). This is a way to encourage more even growth among multiple tops.

As many as eight.

The plant pictured was FIMed about ten days ago. Note how the upper branches are growing.

 

[fdd2blk]

it's outside, why not just let it do it's own thing?

 

[Robzilla]

Is just letting it go naturally the best bet, cuz I have a few small plants outside, I've lst'd one and it looks very nice although it's small, Texas weather sucks At the moment

 

[fdd2blk]

Is just letting it go naturally the best bet, cuz I have a few small plants outside, I've lst'd one and it looks very nice although it's small, Texas weather sucks At the moment

i guess it doesn't hurt, and now would be the best time to do it. maybe try a bunch of different things.

hint: if you want to bend a branch try twisting it first to soften the area you want to bend.

 

[Robzilla]

Well when I lst'd it wad young so the stem wasn't bad. But after I lst'd I could tell the next day It was strengthening the stem.

The plant is like diagnal / and now it's cuving toward the like a v turned to the side lol. I can't take any pictures right now

 

[SCARHOLE]

I use topping an Lst very early on (feb, march)to make em bushes, after that if i cut it im taking a clone.
Then super crop em about 2 weeks before flowering, july-ish to level the canapy out an keep lower for stealth.