2nd grow questions....

So i've just started my second closet grow. I've done a lot of research on these forums and a couple of others, so sorry if this has been answered already, but I haven't found it. Are there any negative consequences of topping the plants? I've seen lots of how to and pro's of doing it, but really no cons. Are the flowering times longer?

Also can you reuse soil, or do all the nutes linger?

Thanks for your help!

i wouldnt reuse soil ... the only con i think of for topping is your removing part of the plant like if i was to remove your arm in surgery will u die?? no ull live. will your life be the same? no but wouldnt change the life span or flower time just puts stress on it i like lst more

Topping stresses out a plant, but if not overdone, the benefits are worth it. You might also want to try pinching, supercropping or other less-stressful training (LST). Can depend a lot on your strain -- some grow better topped; some better as single-kola plants.

Some plants seem to actually like being topped. They will respond positively immediately. Some hate it and will respond negatively immediately. If it is one that responds negatively, it will get over it. Growth will slow down quite abit for a week or so after while it adjusts. For me, its been the more sativa leaning plants that didnt like being topped. Not sure if that is a sativa trait or just coincedence.

way i see it why take something off when you can just train it. im training my fire og check it out i got over 70 pics click my link

Dont reuse soil, it will get moldy and just mess everything up, but topping is only bad when done to much or when the plant is not health or to young

Reusing soil is not worth it for all the reasons Kdub pretty much said. Soil is technically reusable but takes months of reconditioning, and is likely to get pests during this storage time. Definitly not worth it unless you are doing some super large scale commercial size grow with the know how to get soil active again.

I used to do a decent amount of LST, for the effect of shaping the plant to my needs, as well as because it was fun. Eventually became too much work, and my strains don't seem to mind topping at all. I get no stunting at all, and I can see new shoots growing within a few days it seems like. It definitely is strain dependant, but my indicas react well to maniacal topping, i do it early and often personally. Don't really have the set up to grow tree, so I do giant bushes with many many bud sites.

as others have said, research the strain or learn from experience. even different phenos of the same strain may act differently from topping. LST is another option instead of topping was also stated above.


i usually buy a couple of bales of a soiless mix. i figure for 75 to 80 bucks for fresh growing medium is worth it. i have seen threads on here where people have reused theirs.