ya man if you do the bending technique and bend it at a node where the buds are forming you will get a bunch of top colas and an even canopy for light penatration. As for how long it took me to get to 18inches it took aprox 4 weeks I am guessing that is an estimate. and i didn't take clones because I like to grow from seed and when you clone the plant isn't as potent as to growing from seed from what I have read. bending all the way man way better then topping and it doesn't cause as near as much plant stress and the lsd plant loves it. My buddies do the bending technique and they have all had better results then topping.