Basic pruning questions

Mexicanhedies2003

Active Member
Im doing a screen and wantin 8-10 good branches on each plant after topping them. Right now im about a month into veg. Maybe a little less. My question is will the bottom 2 branches produce good bud if I keep the plant small??? These are the barnches with 3 leaves on the fans. Should I def prune these or can they pruduce quality bud???
 

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Lowkeygardener

Well-Known Member
I would top ASAP. I’ve attached a before and after of my current grow, we are at about the same stage in growth actually. I topped this one 2 weeks ago, upon doing so you will notice those lower branches start to stretch up real nice . The second photo shows a little LST I just did to even out the canopy and might even produce more secondary shoots to pop up. I would avoid clipping off any leaves other than what you plan on topping. Tie them down and tuck any large fan leaves as best you can. Will have plenty of time for defoliation later on
 

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Mexicanhedies2003

Active Member
I would top ASAP. I’ve attached a before and after of my current grow, we are at about the same stage in growth actually. I topped this one 2 weeks ago, upon doing so you will notice those lower branches start to stretch up real nice . The second photo shows a little LST I just did to even out the canopy and might even produce more secondary shoots to pop up. I would avoid clipping off any leaves other than what you plan on topping. Tie them down and tuck any large fan leaves as best you can. Will have plenty of time for defoliation later on
So I will get quality bud out of the bottom 2 branches? I was wanting to have 8-10 good branches before topping. After topping how much longer do you veg before flipping? Someone told me the bottom needed to be pruned but they may have misundersttod what I was trying to do. My first set of fans got nute burned pretty bad so I think Im going to prune those. Do you have any advice or basic tips for a first time pruner/topper?
 

Lowkeygardener

Well-Known Member
So I will get quality bud out of the bottom 2 branches? I was wanting to have 8-10 good branches before topping. After topping how much longer do you veg before flipping? Someone told me the bottom needed to be pruned but they may have misundersttod what I was trying to do. My first set of fans got nute burned pretty bad so I think Im going to prune those. Do you have any advice or basic tips for a first time pruner/topper?
All your branches will produce quality bud if you have trained the plant to have an even canopy. You can veg as long as you’d like, just make sure you don’t flip to flower until you allow your plants to heal for at least 2 weeks. They need time to de-stress before you induce flower. You probably did hear that the bottom needed to be defoliated. Essentially, once you begin the flowering process and see where buds are going to form, you should remove any bottom growth that is not receiving a lot of light as these spots will produce weak, airy buds.. some calls this lollipoping and they will remove any growth on the lower 1/3rd of the plant or underneath the trellis net if they are scroggjng. Just remember, any time you defoliate, less is more. You can always take more later but you can’t put back what you’ve already taken off of the plant gets stressed out . For me, if I’m not overcrowded I will tuck fan leaves to allow light to bud sites before I remove them completely. You want to let the plant donuts thing naturally as much as possible
 

go go kid

Well-Known Member
Regardless if I top or LST, I remove under node 4. I believe this redirects resources to more productive bud sites, makes for better air circulation and ease of watering/training. But I grow autos. I don't know if photos could handle the stress.
WOW, those pix have nmade me see auto's in a new light
 

Mexicanhedies2003

Active Member
Regardless if I top or LST, I remove under node 4. I believe this redirects resources to more productive bud sites, makes for better air circulation and ease of watering/training. But I grow autos. I don't know if photos could handle the stress.
Wow man rlly nice work!!! They look killer!!! In the pic with the 2 in the red pots the one on the left did you top,et those 2 grow out a descent amount of branches, then top those 2??? It looks oike 2 bushes in one!!!lol So for my clones each round I was going to select the best each round and take the tops of the 8-10 branches I have. Doing this shortly before I were to flip. Does this sound like a descent idea? After taking the clones off of every top can I still flower her?
 

Mexicanhedies2003

Active Member
All your branches will produce quality bud if you have trained the plant to have an even canopy. You can veg as long as you’d like, just make sure you don’t flip to flower until you allow your plants to heal for at least 2 weeks. They need time to de-stress before you induce flower. You probably did hear that the bottom needed to be defoliated. Essentially, once you begin the flowering process and see where buds are going to form, you should remove any bottom growth that is not receiving a lot of light as these spots will produce weak, airy buds.. some calls this lollipoping and they will remove any growth on the lower 1/3rd of the plant or underneath the trellis net if they are scroggjng. Just remember, any time you defoliate, less is more. You can always take more later but you can’t put back what you’ve already taken off of the plant gets stressed out . For me, if I’m not overcrowded I will tuck fan leaves to allow light to bud sites before I remove them completely. You want to let the plant donuts thing naturally as much as possible
Cool man thx for the info.
 

Mexicanhedies2003

Active Member
Wow man rlly nice work!!! They look killer!!! In the pic with the 2 in the red pots the one on the left did you top,et those 2 grow out a descent amount of branches, then top those 2??? It looks oike 2 bushes in one!!!lol So for my clones each round I was going to select the best each round and take the tops of the 8-10 branches I have. Doing this shortly before I were to flip. Does this sound like a descent idea? After taking the clones off of every top can I still flower her?
How does thjs one look. I only toom kne branch off the bottom cu the second up looked healthty. Tucked that fan rather than cut it. Trimmed the next fan up and topped. Leaves me with q2 branches but I may cut 2 clones from the bottom when I get my propogation tray in the next cpl days. If you think taking more would be mkre bemmeficial let me know. Keep in mind Ill prolly cut the next set up. Thx.
 

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Mexicanhedies2003

Active Member
How does thjs one look. I only toom kne branch off the bottom cu the second up looked healthty. Tucked that fan rather than cut it. Trimmed the next fan up and topped. Leaves me with q2 branches but I may cut 2 clones from the bottom when I get my propogation tray in the next cpl days. If you think taking more would be mkre bemmeficial let me know. Keep in mind Ill prolly cut the next set up. Thx.
Sorry about the spelling. Leaves me with 12 branches but will probably take the bottom set for clones.
 
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