Thanks for the feedback everyone. Man
@Piratemccall those are nice looking I wish I was able to achieve those sort of results without topping and losing all that time to healing...
So as far as other methods I was thinking of doing some defoliation but that actually leads me to another question - when (at what point in the veg cycle) do you think it is best to start cutting foliage?? Is earlier better? I’d ultimately like to sort of lollipop the colas eventually.
Also what other types of LST would you recommend using at this point in veg (little over 3 weeks)?
It can totally be done without ever trimming a growth shoot. It's kinda the opposite of scrogging. No lollypopping, no canopy. Scrogging accentuates the natural traits of the plant. The methods I use most, I call it fractal farming, but it's got a lot of bonsai technique to it, tries to get the plant to use the parts it wasn't planning on without ever cutting a growing part of the plant. Can get great results a dozen ways if done right way right place... I think #1 thing I'd say is most "methods" will work in the right place and right time. Things get screwy when you try to apply to bad scenarios, or pick and choose, or just do every single thing you read about. I saw some posts where guy has a 6 inch plant that's already topped, then tied down cuz he wants lst, he already cut off six of the 8 fan leaves cuz he wants to defoliate, and he's asking about lollypopping a 6 inch plant...
Defoliation: It can either be vital, or not needed at all, and it can either stunt your plants and drop yeilds, or be an irreplaceable part of shaping a muscular plant. It has to be a part of a overall plan... Doesn't have to be, the plant will fuckin' grow, but you know what I mean... I'd say #1 indicator of what pattern you want to take is 1; size of flower space 2 size of veg, 3. light 4 strain.. then you can form a plan. If you don't want a Plan, then the bare bones is when a leaf gets too big and blocking a lot beneath it... But plans are better.
Lst - at this point they are small and you just topped them. I would just let them grow out a bit, a little pressing down but really just let them fill in the space for 7-10 days. Look for the spacing between nodes and wha kind of pattern it has. Some, the bottom shoots wont come alive at all without prodding. Some, the bottom shoots are first to shoot out like christmas tree. You used to be able to tell eaisier between sativas and indicas, but now the genetics are very hybridized, so watch for it's growth pattern the next week or two, it will help you figure out lst and defoliation better when the time comes.
But plants look good, you got a good base.