Auto flower topped vs not topped

twentyeight.threefive

Well-Known Member
So LST doesent Create more nodes. Topping Doubles the nodes available, every time you top.

For the sake of argument lets assume the following picture is your LST plant. Agreed?
for each node you get one top cola. BUT they are all along ONE single mainstem.

View attachment 5044507

Topping Doubles the Main Stem.
This allows you to LST 4, 8, 16, Mainstem branches.
View attachment 5044512

Which look like this when done properly.
View attachment 5044513



Think of an umbrella...

View attachment 5044514
LST does create new nodes like topping by breaking apical dominance. Also the photo you showed below your topping example, with the purple lighter, is an LSTed plant, I don't see any indication of where it's topped.
 

pr0fesseur

Well-Known Member
Remember, topping isnt a single event. many growers including myself top several times. but its also not mutually exclusive to LST.. You can top fist then LST.
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This plant has been topped Several times and then uses LST

Also finding good educational examples is kind of hard when you're trying to discuss something on a forum :wall:
 

pr0fesseur

Well-Known Member
Also im not trying to be argumentative in the least. I am only trying to help from many years of experience and failure. in the hopes that others can learn without too much confusion.

Despite what others post, i at least try to find and post my sources when needed so you can read for yourself.
 

twentyeight.threefive

Well-Known Member
Also im not trying to be argumentative in the least. I am only trying to help from many years of experience and failure. in the hopes that others can learn without too much confusion.

Despite what others post, i at least try to find and post my sources when needed so you can read for yourself.
That's fine. Doesn't change the fact that the stalk of the plant you gave as an example of topping is LSTed and not topped.

Also doesn't change the fact that LST creates more nodes by breaking apical dominance like topping.
 

pr0fesseur

Well-Known Member
That's fine. Doesn't change the fact that the stalk of the plant you gave as an example of topping is LSTed and not topped.

Also doesn't change the fact that LST creates more nodes by breaking apical dominance like topping.

the photo may have been the wrong one to use fine.. i was using it as an example. ive deleted it to avoid confusion.
 

twentyeight.threefive

Well-Known Member
the photo may have been the wrong one to use fine.. i was using it as an example. ive deleted it to avoid confusion.
It's a poor example when you're trying to show one thing but it's the complete opposite training method.

Fact stands that LST breaks apical dominance and creates plants with multiple main colas just like topping.
 

Bullmark

Well-Known Member
Growing weed is a curious combo of art and science. It’s really a wonderful hobby. I just started growing again after a 25yr hiatus. Believe it or not, I will be giving my harvest to several friends because I’m no longer a smoker....but that’s a long story, and I would like to be a social smoker again one day.
Things have certainly changed over the years and indoors was never something I did, I only started my plants indoors and they went outside for the rest of the cycle....had some phenomenal results too. The old timer that helped me always said “it’s just a weed, it’ll grow”. I do think the industry over complicates a simple thing in an effort to sell their many products.
So topping and all the training is also part art part science. I’ve seem main lined plants that were a work of art. Although most smokers only care about the performance when it’s rolled up or packed in a bowl.
What confounds me is you never know how the alternative would have turned out....especially with an auto...right now I feel like you get what you get, so learn to appreciate it, enjoy the process, and never be afraid to try something new.
 

Fdn2blk

Member
Let’s clear it up right away I’m a brand new grower this is the first grow, I’ve ever done and if you can tell I tinker with things… I know autoflowes 90% (from my research) say don’t top them, I wasn’t going against advice this plant was damaged so figured I’d try it out since it needed to be removed let’s just say I dropped something right on top of the plant


anyway there both planted same day same pots same soil critical purple from growers choice just a fun first grow to learn

PS forum is awesome thanks for everyone’s help
I mainlined this auto granddaddy purple. So 4 separate toppings. She has grown just fine, actually healthier then those I haven’t topped.4F8080CE-956A-4E98-826E-A543BE141741.jpeg
 

lunari

Well-Known Member
I have two wedding cake autos starting out. Guess I’m gonna top one of them and see how it compares. Best way to find out is just to try it.
Good question would be when to top since they flower after third week
I'm no expert. I am only on my second grow and it's my first auto grow. I also haven't read this thread, only this page (9). I am doing a two tent grow with one tent (3x3) being perpetual autoflowers and the other being a scrogged photoperiod plant. I am topping at the 5th node which comes quickly growing in coco and then letting them do their thing. I also just started a Barney's Farm Wedding Cake Auto and plan on giving her the same treatment.

IMG_20211231_110946267.jpg
For the auto tent on the left... Barney's LSD Auto (left), Barney's Skywalker OG Auto (back), Barney's Wedding Cake Auto (right)
The Mars tent has a Barney's Mimosa x Orange Punch.

Anyways, I'm going to go back and read the thread now. :)
 

lunari

Well-Known Member
Barney's Wedding Cake Auto taken today. If I remember I'll post an update here when I top her, and if I forget to post here it will for sure be in my journal.

IMG_20211231_201106981.jpg
 
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