These are bushy and need to be trimmed up a bit.
No don't touch them. They look healthy and beautiful. Wait till flower to clean the bottoms for air flow if thats your choice. Somer of those bottom branches will make their way to the top to mid level of budding sites. again trim the water line and maybe a little more in flower for air flow under the canopy. The key to all this talk about under the canopy lower branching horse shit is not over crowding ones garden. Go look at members sixstrings plants, and then ask yourself, "Do i want that much cannabis?" I think you do friend!!!!!!
No, it makes the tops grow more....because it doesn't have to waste energy on those weaker bottom branches.So will trimming the bottom growth off stunt the planet like topping does?
How much longer should I veg these three? This is my first time topping and the top is getting thick so not much light hits the bottom 1/3
Right now I have 6 four ft T5s. Which are about 375 watt total. I still have 3 to 4 ft of height but width might be a problem. The three in the picture are stretching way more and faster then the other three. They may be males I dunno.
the benefit in doing in veg is you didn't leave that lower growth on the stem taking up nutes for however many weeks you had the plant in veg. leaves not efficiently contributing to photosynthesis are definitely taking part in respiration and using atp/glucose.I normally do it during flower but is there any benefit doing it during veg? Besides right before I flip them. And yes I've topped several times and done some LST. I actually fimmed a couple just to see the difference.
I'm looking to get an hps light before I flip.More importably what are you using for light?
So 3 plants under a 600? 1000?I'm looking to get an hps light before I flip.
No I have 7 plants and I plan on getting a dimmable ballast so I can control the wattage.So 3 plants under a 600? 1000?
Ya those are very healthy. Your doing a good job at nursing them along. I would take off everything except the top 1/3. Your plants are going to look sad for a day or two but it is worth it. I've never had this defoliating technique fail or stunt. I still use it and I also top during the first week or two in flower. Yes the lower branches will give you nug and it's still very much smokable herb but doing these techniques will increase the quality and quantity of your overall harvest.