lst training

[gerbo]

hi folks iam new to lst and looking for a point in the right direction i have been following tillthedayidie guide of lst ...why do you have to tie down the side branches aswell as the main stem thanks for any help

 

[deflator]

Because you are trying to keep everything at the same level, height-wise.

Naturally, the plant will produce a growth-inhibiting hormone from the topmost shoot, causing all lower branches to grow more outward that upward, forming into a christmas tree shape.

By training, you are trying to form multiple dominant shoots by keeping them all at the same height.

 

[gerbo]

I see! Thanks for the reply deflator

 

[deflator]

I like to top at the second true node then train the 4 new tops to the same height. That creates a "blown-out umbrella" shape that maximized leaf exposure and tops. Then you can train the branches from the lowest node up through the center too to join in a secondary canopy.

 

[vh13]

I'm a big fan of Uncle Ben's 4-cola topping technique combined with LST too.

 

[deflator]

Yeah, it's easy and works really well. I'm not sure what causes this, and I wish I knew because it's great, but I keep getting two-headed colas with this technique as well. They gradually split apart into two shoots, forming a Y. It's awesome...maybe someone more versed in lst could elaborate as to why and how it could be forced..

 

[stowandgrow]

I like to top at the second true node then train the 4 new tops to the same height. That creates a "blown-out umbrella" shape that maximized leaf exposure and tops. Then you can train the branches from the lowest node up through the center too to join in a secondary canopy.

Do you top "at", or slightly above the second node?