Thick Bushes Without Ever Topping(Poll on topping included)

Bushes without ever topping or cutting a growthshoot, Just supercrop/lst/defoliation.

I'm a topper and some light SC

Lucky Luke said:

I'm a topper and some light SC
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Cool man. Do you have a typical pattern or does it mix up?

Piratemccall said:

Cool man. Do you have a typical pattern or does it mix up?

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first top is usually for the 4 and then just whenever after that.

Lucky Luke said:

first top is usually for the 4 and then just whenever after that.

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That's about when I super crop + top-down defoliation.

So.....when you remove the top, two more grow to replace it ? I know - stoopid question but im as green as a weed at this.

Novabudd said:

So.....when you remove the top, two more grow to replace it ? I know - stoopid question but im as green as a weed at this.

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No worries. Yes and no. They don't "replace" it. What happens is, the branch was growing one shoot, you clip the top, now the growth is going to be from what's left, so the side shoots grow quicker than they would have, an it focuses most on the side shoots at the top/closest to where you topped, so those two shoots get the biggest growth boost and in a way "replace" the tip you clipped.

Novabudd said:

So.....when you remove the top, two more grow to replace it ? I know - stoopid question but im as green as a weed at this.

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There are other was to promote side growth without topping, by twisting, bending, snapping at trimming the fan leaves

Piratemccall said:

No worries. Yes and no. They don't "replace" it. What happens is, the branch was growing one shoot, you clip the top, now the growth is going to be from what's left, so the side shoots grow quicker than they would have, an it focuses most on the side shoots at the top/closest to where you topped, so those two shoots get the biggest growth boost and in a way "replace" the tip you clipped.

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Thanks , good stuff to know. Im seeing there are as many great growing methods as there are growers. I guess I'll do some experimenting to see what works best for my very limited knowledge of the game.

Novabudd said:

Thanks , good stuff to know. Im seeing there are as many great growing methods as there are growers. I guess I'll do some experimenting to see what works best for my very limited knowledge of the game.

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There are... and some that suck whatever method you have the most fun with, you'll get better and get better results. Find your own path.

Novabudd said:

Thanks , good stuff to know. Im seeing there are as many great growing methods as there are growers. I guess I'll do some experimenting to see what works best for my very limited knowledge of the game.

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bigger/thicker stems bigger buds no need to do anything except prune lagging parts and semi lollipop over time least amount of stress and tinker over time

Piratemccall said:

There are other was to promote side growth without topping, by twisting, bending, snapping at trimming the fan leaves

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I went from topping, to removing the top fan leaves, to just trimming them. I leave about 1/4 of the fan behind. I get a plant with a strong central stem and a menorah effect off all the side branches. When the canopy is level with the central stems top, I flower them.
I don't know that this is a specific method, just kind of made sense to me as an easy way to change where the growth hormones are with minimal stress and a very stout plant. Very curious if anyone else does it this way.

Hello, I had two plants last season. One I topped and the other I left alone. The topped plant at harvest had produced just slightly more bud. The untopped plant had far more trichomes than the topped plant. These Michoacan sativa's were grown in a greenhouse without a blackout system.
Myself I will take quality over subpar quantity an't day of the week. If a person was growing inside and left plants in vegetative growth longer. Topping may produce better trichome coverage. Using natural light cycle outdoors or in a greenhouse . Untopped plants are within 10 grams of bud production and much higher concentrations of cannabinoids.
This was done with just one strain. I won't speak for all genetics and say it holds true. I chose not to top any plants this year and they are doing great.
Peace

Hi McCall,
I used to top only when I had a height limitation. With sativas (meaning hazes in my case), I have just let them grow if possible. There's something rather astounding about those monster central colas. But with a new room comes new techniques...

On my other plants (mostly hybrids) I'll top fairly early (maybe 4 or 5 nodes) and then trim inside leaves to allow light to get to inside buds. Though I do admit that I am intrigued by the idea of bending the main stem 90 degrees...and may try that in the future.

I'm going to wax poetic for a moment...so those with low tolerance for that, please stop reading.

My only theory for this little diatribe is "form follows function".

During vegging and early flowering I like to keep my plants attractive and balanced. I have no artistic talants in any areas, but when I prune or top a plant...I try to look into the future to see how it might look then. Think of how a master bonsai grower might look at his tiny trees. He wants them to express their inner soul. I try and do that with my plants.
Cheers,
JD

I top, fim, and lst (scrog). I try to use a bit of everything lol.

ganga gurl420 said:

I top, fim, and lst (scrog). I try to use a bit of everything lol. View attachment 4160157View attachment 4160159

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Thats a thing of beauty right there!

Cocogrower420 said:

Thats a thing of beauty right there!

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Thank you