Topping HELP!!!!

NorthofEngland

NorthofEngland

Well-Known Member
I've read a few threads devoted to TOPPING
and it all sounds straight forward enough....
BUT I'm unsure of what qualifies as a NODE or a TRUE NODE....?

For one thing, I'm using CUTTING CLONES
So counting up from the COTELYDONS isn't an option.

ALSO,
when nice, neat sketched diagrams of a plant are used,
they always have a main stem with side stems branching off in identical pairs
and with perfect distances between each of the identical pairs...
NONE of my plants are EVER that symmetrical or uniformly developed.

This has led to me being unsure of where to TOP.

I will post a few pictures and, hopefully, some experienced Toppers will share the benefit of the experience?
IMG00595.jpg
 

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frizzlegooch

frizzlegooch

Well-Known Member
Those look like they are clones.. so what are you asking brotha?
I personally dont top i just pinch the new growth out and it will grow into two.. i guess it is topping, but i just mean i dont cut with scissors or anything, i try to damage the plant as little as possible.
If you want to top and take the tops as clones, then your moms gonna feel the pain anyways
 
NorthofEngland

NorthofEngland

Well-Known Member
Topping these clones is intended as the first stage of LST.

3 are potted in 6.5lt pots of Clay Pebbles (Hydroton)
2 are in 6"Cubes of Rockwool.

IMG00596.jpg

I have 5m of Soft Twist Ties
and 24 x 19mm Bulldog Clips are expected before Saturday.
 
NorthofEngland

NorthofEngland

Well-Known Member
frizzlegooch said:
Those look like they are clones.. so what are you asking brotha?
I personally dont top i just pinch the new growth out and it will grow into two.. i guess it is topping, but i just mean i dont cut with scissors or anything, i try to damage the plant as little as possible.
If you want to top and take the tops as clones, then your moms gonna feel the pain anyways
Click to expand...
They are clones
I took cuttings on the day before I flipped my plants to 12/12.

I'm asking....
Where to 'Top' or 'Pinch Out'.

Reading the TOPPING threads, they always mention '2nd true node'.....'4th True Node'....

I'm asking where my clones need Topping.
 
smokejoint

smokejoint

Active Member
you class a node as a leaf set. Ie your first 1 blade leaves that grow after the cotyledons are the 1st node. The following 3 blade set is the second node and so on. So if you want to cut above the second node , you cut the stem directly above the 2nd leaf set, effectivley removing the chance of the 3rd leaf set from growing.

I'll add, in my experience, topping does not give me more yeild as my light is on the lower end of the wattage scale. It is dependent on your light strength whether it is worth topping or not. Weaker lights don't penetrate a thick bush as well as a stronger one and better yeild is actually had by letting it grow in the natural xmas tree shape. If you have the light penetration then i believe topping does increase yeild a lot, above second node for best result.
 
frizzlegooch

frizzlegooch

Well-Known Member
Yeah basically.. you can top anywhere after true leaves develop and at least 2 nodes... just pinch the top off man the one in your most recent pic is toppable id say
 
NorthofEngland

NorthofEngland

Well-Known Member
smokejoint said:
you class a node as a leaf set. Ie your first 1 blade leaves that grow after the cotyledons are the 1st node. The following 3 blade set is the second node and so on. So if you want to cut above the second node , you cut the stem directly above the 2nd leaf set, effectivley removing the chance of the 3rd leaf set from growing.

I'll add, in my experience, topping does not give me more yeild as my light is on the lower end of the wattage scale. It is dependent on your light strength whether it is worth topping or not. Weaker lights don't penetrate a thick bush as well as a stronger one and better yeild is actually had by letting it grow in the natural xmas tree shape. If you have the light penetration then i believe topping does increase yeild a lot, above second node for best result.
Click to expand...
The "cotyledons....1 blade leaf....3 blade leaf...." are not relevant as I am growing CLONES.

Light penetration isn't an issue.
I have a Lumatek 1000w dimmable
and 3 x (budget) 600w (2xmaxibright and a Lumii).

Tomorrow I will do TOPPING for the very first time
...and I'll take pics for Journal entries.
 
E

EverythingsHazy

Well-Known Member
NorthofEngland said:
The "cotyledons....1 blade leaf....3 blade leaf...." are not relevant as I am growing CLONES.
Click to expand...
Exactly, so everywhere a leaf comes out is a node, true node, real node, whatever you want to call it. It is most beneficial top top the plant right above a node with two leaves coming out of it so you get two main tops on that branch/plant.
 
NorthofEngland

NorthofEngland

Well-Known Member
I've just topped 5 (of my 23 clones) and labelled them:
"TOPPED 13/2" so I will know which they are, no matter what.

I took off the top, just above the very last side stem (or node).

I get the impression that this (and many other) job would be easier with a seedling than a clone cutting.
 
smokejoint

smokejoint

Active Member
each new set of leaves is a node. Whether you need to listen to the usual 'which node' advice when dealing with clones is a good question. Basically I know from seed, above the 2nd node causes a specific hormone response which causes the plant to create 4 main colas, each with their own side branching, like 4 plants in 1 . I know this works from experience. ANything above node 2 just causes the plant to bush out. creating equal tops, but not with the same "4 main " structure. more like a bush. Also experience. In fact i think for clones you would really just be bushing the plant out. So I believe cutting above the 4th node is optimal for that
 
NorthofEngland

NorthofEngland

Well-Known Member
smokejoint said:
each new set of leaves is a node. Whether you need to listen to the usual 'which node' advice when dealing with clones is a good question. Basically I know from seed, above the 2nd node causes a specific hormone response which causes the plant to create 4 main colas, each with their own side branching, like 4 plants in 1 . I know this works from experience. ANything above node 2 just causes the plant to bush out. creating equal tops, but not with the same "4 main " structure. more like a bush. Also experience. In fact i think for clones you would really just be bushing the plant out. So I believe cutting above the 4th node is optimal for that
Click to expand...
I'm topping as a prelude to LST.
I've been advised to do this by Jondamon.
He's been helping me from day 1 and taught me loads!
 
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