Colorado Old Guy
Active Member
This is for all those who grow outdoors and also top their plants, maybe once, twice or more. Topping is great, makes the Christmas tree into a much lower bush, if all goes right. However, you must remember that every topping produces a wye that is not as strong as the original tree shape. Accordingly, it is necessary to provide support for these weak junctions.....if you do not, beware the thunderstorms and their down bursts as they will demolish the plant. So, here's the deal....if you grow outside and want those big fat bushy plants you see photos of in these threads, be prepared to spend a lot of time setting support stakes and tieing up each of those wyes and, very often, the heavy buds as well. If you don't, you will become expert at mending fractures caused by Mother Nature. If you can't spend that much time doing these things, just leave the plant alone to assume its natural Christmas tree shape. My garden usually looks more like a bamboo grove than a grow and I can't seem to get that nice bushy shape without a lot of support. I'm looking for a method of support that does not require me to be out there every couple of days pounding stakes and tying off. Does anyone have a better way to deal with this problem???
