Topping/LST question

Hey guys, i have a few quick questions about LST/Topping.
1. When is an appropriate time to top

2.Are the first set of true leaves viable for a main stalk?

3. After reading/watching a bunch of tutorials, no one is very clear on how many mains i will get off of one topping. So please correct me if I’m wrong. But if i cut the main, i will get two stalks. If i cut those two i will have four total. If i cut those i will have 8 total?

sorry for the noob questions, i would just like some clarity before i start giving hair cuts so i can prepare for what’s to come.

also, any advice for topping/LST in a hydro grow is much appreciated. This isn’t my first grow. But, this is my first round in hydro, and my first time topping and using LST.
My plants are 12 days old with a strong root system that’s already touching the bottom of the 5 gallon buckets.

thanks in advance! I’ve got a lot of good help from this site!

I’ve been topping at the 4th node AFTER the 5th or 6th one grows out. Then LST all branches to make the canopy flat and even as the plant grows.

Should i consider its first set of true leaves inadequate, or should i consider them a node? Most of the pictures I’ve seen it looks like the true leaves are trimmed off. But most pictures are low quality and you can’t zoom in to get a good look

I trim the first two nodes. The 3rd and 4th node you should LST the branches as they grow.

I don’t do anything until there at least 5 showing. Then top after the 4th node. Leave some extra when you top or it could split on you.

So nodes 1 and 2 i will cut completely off. Nodes 3 and 4 i will LST. And node 5 will be my “top” cut.

Glocksamillion said:

So nodes 1 and 2 i will cut completely off. Nodes 3 and 4 i will LST. And node 5 will be my “top” cut.

Click to expand...

After you reach the 5 the node. You can try and keep the bottom two but they’re normally so close to the soil I get rid of them for room to water.

Don’t forget leave your “topped” area long. I cut mine too short one time and broke the branch off

I dont top anymore.
Just lst no stress more and fester growth

But it Dependance how you grow.
If you vegi for weecks or month, topping is the Option.
But if they get less vegi then this, i just use Lst

Greennner said:

I dont top anymore.
Just lst no stress more and fester growth

But it Dependance how you grow.
If you vegi for weecks or month, topping is the Option.
But if they get less vegi then this, i just use Lst

Click to expand...

For How long you veg? Preflowers ussually appears around 6th week, untopped plant would be around 3-4ft tall (before stretch). If you veg shorter than your plants are not matured yet and your yields are lower..

Greennner said:

I dont top anymore.
Just lst no stress more and fester growth

But it Dependance how you grow.
If you vegi for weecks or month, topping is the Option.
But if they get less vegi then this, i just use Lst

Click to expand...

I’m growing in hydro (5 gallon bucket bubbleponics, with GH nutrients), indoors, in a climate controlled tent. Time is not a very big concern of mine, especially since I’m learning. Once i get the hang of everything I’ll work on what i can get away with. I’d like to just see the plant and how it grows with the topping and LST method. I’m about to start it’s second week of veg, and was going to veg them until i get 6-10 main colas using the topping method. But i know time is of the essence when using these training methods. Trying to web search some topics is like trying to take a drink from a fire hydrant. Which is why I’m just trying to find clarity now.

Bukvičák said:

For How long you veg? Preflowers ussually appears around 6th week, untopped plant would be around 3-4ft tall (before stretch). If you veg shorter than your plants are not matured yet and your yields are lower..

Click to expand...

I dont work with seeds
I just use clones , so my genetic is allways grown up (old enough) ))

My Oldest genetik is a clone from 90s.


My clone get maximum 2-3 week vegi and that is a lot for me
But i grow at least 16 plants on 1m2



You can have 2 plants , 1 toppen one not,
If you train the not toppen plant well it wont grow higher then the topping plant. And it goes fester without toppen, but its a bit more work

Glocksamillion said:

I’m growing in hydro (5 gallon bucket bubbleponics, with GH nutrients), indoors, in a climate controlled tent. Time is not a very big concern of mine, especially since I’m learning. Once i get the hang of everything I’ll work on what i can get away with. I’d like to just see the plant and how it grows with the topping and LST method. I’m about to start it’s second week of veg, and was going to veg them until i get 6-10 main colas using the topping method. But i know time is of the essence when using these training methods. Trying to web search some topics is like trying to take a drink from a fire hydrant. Which is why I’m just trying to find clarity now.

Click to expand...

I growing in hydro too.
2 gal Pots filles with hydroton on a ebb and flow table.

If time Dosnt matter ,just try
Youtube have some nice videos

Wattzzup said:

I trim the first two nodes. The 3rd and 4th node you should LST the branches as they grow.

I don’t do anything until there at least 5 showing. Then top after the 4th node. Leave some extra when you top or it could split on you.

Click to expand...

I can testify to that split. I didn't know wtf I was doing so I topped way late in the game, and did LST. She cam out ok.. but where I topped.. one branch stretched 18" to the right, and the other went to the left. When the buds started gettin a little girthy I needed to space them more.... but they were in a net.. My stalk split about 3/4" down the center. Nothing a zip tie and electric tape couldn't fix lol. But it was scary.

Greennner said:

I dont work with seeds
I just use clones , so my genetic is allways grown up (old enough) ))

My Oldest genetik is a clone from 90s.


My clone get maximum 2-3 week vegi and that is a lot for me
But i grow at least 16 plants on 1m2



You can have 2 plants , 1 toppen one not,
If you train the not toppen plant well it wont grow higher then the topping plant. And it goes fester without toppen, but its a bit more work

Click to expand...

But how are you getting 16 mains in 3-4 weeks? That seems crazy to me. I know they are resilient, but that means you’re topping the plant once a week for 4 weeks, and the n heading straight to flower. I’m not questioning your method, just trying to understand.
Also, with your topping experience, how did it increase your yield?

Glocksamillion said:

So nodes 1 and 2 i will cut completely off. Nodes 3 and 4 i will LST. And node 5 will be my “top” cut.

Click to expand...

This is sometimes also known as "Uncle Ben's" topping method, though people have been topping plants like this as long as they've grown cannabis indoors. I highly suggest researching "mainlining" and comparing it to this traditional topping technique. In your example, you will start with node 3 and 4 which gives you 4 total bud sites-you can then top these again (later on in veg) and you will have 8 bud sites, top those again (if you want) and you get 16 bud sites. You can do the same thing with mainlining, but you start with just two bud sites instead of four. Why even consider that? Well, mainlining gives you more control over the final canopy shape, that's pretty much the only reason to choose it over the "uncle ben's" topping technique. Topping and training are some of the best parts of this hobby of ours! You will do great, you seem to have a good grasp of what to do next.

Rurumo said:

This is sometimes also known as "Uncle Ben's" topping method, though people have been topping plants like this as long as they've grown cannabis indoors. I highly suggest researching "mainlining" and comparing it to this traditional topping technique. In your example, you will start with node 3 and 4 which gives you 4 total bud sites-you can then top these again (later on in veg) and you will have 8 bud sites, top those again (if you want) and you get 16 bud sites. You can do the same thing with mainlining, but you start with just two bud sites instead of four. Why even consider that? Well, mainlining gives you more control over the final canopy shape, that's pretty much the only reason to choose it over the "uncle ben's" topping technique. Topping and training are some of the best parts of this hobby of ours! You will do great, you seem to have a good grasp of what to do next.

Click to expand...

So, if i do main lining. I can start topping now while I’m beginning to grow node 4?
Right now i have my cotyledon leaves, first set of true leaves. And then 2 nodes above that with a third sprouting from the stalk.

so i can use mainline, cut down to my first main node, and start training from there?

Glocksamillion said:

So, if i do main lining. I can start topping now while I’m beginning to grow node 4?
Right now i have my cotyledon leaves, first set of true leaves. And then 2 nodes above that with a third sprouting from the stalk.

so i can use mainline, cut down to my first main node, and start training from there?

Click to expand...

It's always better to start topping or mainlining once the plant has 5-6 nodes, it recovers faster and you lose less time, so I would wait until then.

Glocksamillion said:

So, if i do main lining. I can start topping now while I’m beginning to grow node 4?
Right now i have my cotyledon leaves, first set of true leaves. And then 2 nodes above that with a third sprouting from the stalk.

so i can use mainline, cut down to my first main node, and start training from there?

Click to expand...

No you still want to wait until it’s to the 5th node. Some people wait until 6.

Glocksamillion said:

But how are you getting 16 mains in 3-4 weeks? That seems crazy to me. I know they are resilient, but that means you’re topping the plant once a week for 4 weeks, and the n heading straight to flower. I’m not questioning your method, just trying to understand.
Also, with your topping experience, how did it increase your yield?

Click to expand...

Do you know what a clone is ,
I think , you dont understand me :/

I get at least 16 tops, sometime tripple or even mor tops , if i do Lst.

you cut or buy clones( cut a clone need 1-2 weeks to root)
clones with root put in 2 gal. Pots
and vegi for 3-15 days (i do 7 days , because they startet slow in my system)

my harvest isnt Bad at all , 350-400w led gets me 550-700g



You can grow 1 plant with 500g but it needs mutch more time money and Energie (needs at least 13-16 weeks) screen of Green (scrog)
Cheeper fester and more effektiv is growing more plants with short vegi .you can grow 25 plants with 0-3 days vegi and get 500g in 9weeks. See of green (sog)

Greennner said:

I dont work with seeds
I just use clones , so my genetic is allways grown up (old enough) ))

My Oldest genetik is a clone from 90s.


My clone get maximum 2-3 week vegi and that is a lot for me
But i grow at least 16 plants on 1m2



You can have 2 plants , 1 toppen one not,
If you train the not toppen plant well it wont grow higher then the topping plant. And it goes fester without toppen, but its a bit more work

Click to expand...

I have tried it multipotted and agree with you that its more work, but at the end they both ended up yielding the same. Also noticed that rippening was faster and overally timed better all over the colas on topped plant since the untopped plant needed to be harvested gradualy. But I ran seeds so it was different than clones and can not say it was comaparable grow since quality of seeds varies from shit to kill...

Bukvičák said:

I have tried it multipotted and agree with you that its more work, but at the end they both ended up yielding the same. Also noticed that rippening was faster and overally timed better all over the colas on topped plant since the untopped plant needed to be harvested gradualy. But I ran seeds so it was different than clones and can not say it was comaparable grow since quality of seeds varies from shit to kill...

Click to expand...

That is what i dont like with seeds,
And the Extra time and Energie .
I have some diffrent strains at the moment, that is luxury for me and i know what i get