Ready for LST?

Critical Purple Autoflower from GCS

SOIL: fox farm ocean forest
LIGHT: 600W LED & 100W CFL
3 Gal. pot
Running continuous 20/4 light sched.
Been fed only ph’d water since sprout, will start nutes in about a week or so.


this plant is on day 20 from sprout. It is staying fairly short and stalky like you would expect an Indica auto to grow. I’ve been wanting to start LSTand a lot of people say start on around day 20 or so, and that you should be able to bend the top to where it is level with all other branches.

since this plant is fairly short, I don’t think I could bend it quite enough for it to be completely horizontal in comparison to the other stems. Is this necessary? Can I give it just a slight bend to get it started in the right direction? There are 4 nodes on the stem. Thanks for any input!!

I personally would wait a little longer maybe around the 5th node, top it and then once it recovers from topping begin lst. If you don’t want to top then you can lst now as long as the roots are pretty well established

Grow So High said:

I personally would wait a little longer maybe around the 5th node, top it and then once it recovers from topping begin lst. If you don’t want to top then you can lst now as long as the roots are pretty well established

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Awesome. Think I’m gonna start LST but I’m gonna take it slow. Pulling it over more as she gets taller. Thanks bud

I would start feeding a lil bit.

Jonboy34 said:

I would start feeding a lil bit.

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Think it looks hungry? I’ve been hesitant bc I know ocean forest is a little hot. And Ive been suspecting burn bc of the random brown spots and curling on the lower leaves... I know burn is usually on the tips but I can’t think of anything else!

I started autos in ffof I started to feed at 2 weeks. Very light though.

Use another string to give opposing force so the plant bends where the lower string is.

Jonboy34 said:

I started autos in ffof I started to feed at 2 weeks. Very light though.

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Did you have any similar issues with brown spotting or burn?

Horselover fat said:

Use another string to give opposing force so the plant bends where the lower string is.

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we’re thinking very similar. I got some of those garden staples to push down and anchor the base and wire to tie her down

bran9on said:

Did you have any similar issues with brown spotting or burn?

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No. This was her at 4 weeks. Did have some burn later.

Horselover fat said:

Use another string to give opposing force so the plant bends where the lower string is.

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I think Newton came up with this growing technique.

Is that a cracked stem?? Man you guys are bold haha I love it. Is that for creating knuckles at the branches? How bad does it stunt growth of an auto?

quirk said:

I think Newton came up with this growing technique.

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• #12

Is that a cracked stem?? Man you guys are bold haha I love it. Is that for creating knuckles at the branches? How bad does it stunt growth of an auto?

quirk said:

I think Newton came up with this growing technique.

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Counter tension to support young stalk and root zones for lst goes back pre OverGrow.

bran9on said:

• #12

Is that a cracked stem?? Man you guys are bold haha I love it. Is that for creating knuckles at the branches? How bad does it stunt growth of an auto?

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That's remnants of a removed node. I remove 1&2. I don't smoke popcorn, I don't grow popcorn.

Honestly OP, you can start LST whenever you want BUT i'd wait on this one because your girls are looking pretty stressed already. I wouldnt add anymore until it starts growing more vigorously and stops showing signs of already being stressed. The reason for this is that even in low stress environments, the plant is having to redistribute its energy to grow in places where the light reaches. Doing this while the plant is already using its energy to repair its current damage could just be the tipping point to turn hermie.