Uncle Ben
Well-Known Member
Topping does not stress plants any more than tieing them up with "balls and chains". Topping will not turn a plant hermie, there is no stress involved except to the noob who's never done it before. If you have any scientific evidence of such, I'd be interested. A stress situation is underwatering as opposed to re-directing hormones.I prefer not to top my plants due to the stress it puts on them. Dont get me wrong topping can be a great method, but it can also turn a plant hermie. I prefer not to take this risk, but topping a plant, and then LSTing the two new shoots can work and turn out amazing plants.
"LST" is an oxymoron, a loose (but mind engrossing term) made up in a cannabis forum. I run bi-lateral cordons on grapevines in which the fruiting wood comes off the prostrate cordon. Same thing, it's all about training.
BTW, I top almost all my plants and the only time I might get hermies is with equatorial stock like Dalat Vietnames or Mex.....that's just what they do many times.
FWIW, I'll not be a slave to my plants with such training methods as SCROG or LST, but to each his own.
Thanks,
UB