Kite High
Well-Known Member
I use fans down on the floor also for that reason and to push co2 back up
Uncle Ben's Topping Technique to Get 2 or 4 Main Colas
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dudeman222
Active Member
you can keep the fan leaves but remove the crap flowering spots where you know it wont develop?
simisimis
Well-Known Member
what do you mean by "shed what it doesn't"? those side shoots that stay way behind others?
dudeman222
Active Member
that's what I was talking about. I'm in week 4 flower (of 8-9) and I spent the last two weeks removing a shit ton of side shoots that wont go anywhere. I don't have time to wait three extra weeks after harvest to let them develop, and I'd rather the plant focus the energy on top. Besides, light isn't getting there anyway.
I either remove the entire branch, of it it's part of a main branch, I remove the flowers but keep the leaves. Am I doing it wrong?
Kite High
Well-Known Member
the plant will drop leaves that aren't productive to its standards on its own
dudeman222
Active Member
what about shitty buds, the plant wont shed those, but they aren't going to be of any use either
colonuggs
Well-Known Member
I have yet to see shitty buds on my plants...mabey smaller ones.....not shitty ones
a bud from the inside bottom is just as potent as a bud from the main top.
applepoop1984
Well-Known Member
when you remove fan leaves or any shoots, it is counter productive. why remove a source of starch for the plants to get more light on another piece? you have stored energy in the leaf, when you cut you are removing that source of energy from the plant, you lose the starches and and the stomatas that respirate and to uptake co2. you are also stressing the plant. basically, look for leaves that are all brown and add a slight tension even less than the tension used to pull a paper towel slowly off the roll. . if it doesnt come off the plant is still using it. and in response to kite high i have an intake and an exhaust fan with the exhaust on the top and the intake on the bottom so that it pulls cold co2 rich air from the floor to the ceiling.
simisimis
Well-Known Member
Yeah I agree with you man, I was just wondering about one specific situation in which you get a lot when LSTing. On the node there's 2 opposite shoots, and one is like half inch long with curly tiny leaves and not growing any further or growing incredibly slow and another is like 5 inches. And you see that it will never see the light anyway so I was just wondering if those were the things Kite was shedding. I myself so far prefer leaving everything as it is and only pulling the leaves that fall with a gentle touch and do a 2 part harvest.
Lemon king
Well-Known Member
I was Going to say i don't think they got what you ment.
You are saying you want to rid yourself off this crap and make the plant put that energy into the flower tops.
This is difficult to say as all grows and plants are different have a look at the mainliniing thread, this process is designed to eliminate popcorn bud whilst keeping plants short and squat as a bonus.
When not mainline I would say a safe bet would be to take an untrimmed branch and trim up to 50% from the bottom.
Some prefer to do a little and let the plants rest some take it all off at once so the plant only has to recover once.
I would either either do mainliniing (preferred) or try a scrog net, fill it and trim all below.
Hope this helps, however if this is not what you ment I'll shut the fk up!!
You are saying you want to rid yourself off this crap and make the plant put that energy into the flower tops.
This is difficult to say as all grows and plants are different have a look at the mainliniing thread, this process is designed to eliminate popcorn bud whilst keeping plants short and squat as a bonus.
When not mainline I would say a safe bet would be to take an untrimmed branch and trim up to 50% from the bottom.
Some prefer to do a little and let the plants rest some take it all off at once so the plant only has to recover once.
I would either either do mainliniing (preferred) or try a scrog net, fill it and trim all below.
Hope this helps, however if this is not what you ment I'll shut the fk up!!
applepoop1984
Well-Known Member
this stresses the plant. if those leaves on the bottom are not recieving light removing them before they come off naturally is removing a source of energy from the plant, forcing it to divert more energy into creating and storing energy. absolutely no advantages i can see
Lemon king
Well-Known Member
as i said it would need time to recover. this is an age old argument with people either side of the fence. if you ask a scrog grower or dwc grower, the removal of lower canopy is, we are told, to re direct hormones up to the higher main buds, similar to topping when diverting hormones down to the dormant bud shoots below. removal of lower bits n bobs will improve air flow in thick foliage, direct hormones to the main buds (we are told) let light through to lower budsites and you can rid yourself off unwanted popcorn.
there are so many growers who do it, and so many who dont, I believe abit off rough n tumble works. if i cut top shoots i get bushy if i hack off lower limbs i get head growth, try it. I believe in good canopy management and no popcorn this is why nugbucks is the man.
after all in an indoor grow there aint much that's "NATURAL"
no offence apple 84 just different sides of that fence! lol
applepoop1984
Well-Known Member
i dotn have any evidence to discredit your auxin/ hormone theory however the leaves are still a source of energy and that cannot be disproven. il have to look into your theory more
OldGrowth420
Well-Known Member
I'm so glad Uncle Ben is still active on these threads. It's comforting to know he's still around giving out golden advice. You keep this place alive friend.
bogglegum
Member
Uncle Ben, I've been at it for almost 10 years.. All hydro... Never knew about this.
Always learning.
i do have a few questions I'd like you to answer if you would.
1. I do a SoG. Mind you, it's a big area so I do want max leads out of space with out crowding. I want to do your method here on my next set. Question: from good mother plant clone ----> 5 or 6 true nodes >--- how many days on average?
2. Once the cut is made... In your opinion, how long should I veg to let the new growth get strong enough to go into 12 12.
My opinion: dude..... I'm impressed.
Always learning.
i do have a few questions I'd like you to answer if you would.
1. I do a SoG. Mind you, it's a big area so I do want max leads out of space with out crowding. I want to do your method here on my next set. Question: from good mother plant clone ----> 5 or 6 true nodes >--- how many days on average?
2. Once the cut is made... In your opinion, how long should I veg to let the new growth get strong enough to go into 12 12.
My opinion: dude..... I'm impressed.
prosperian
Well-Known Member
I can see the advantage of performing the cuts early in growth and at the second node to produce those 4 main stems. These were topped a week ago. Real happy with the results UB, thx compadre!
Blue O.G. 4 main stems
White Lavender with three branches. Topped her to see what would happen. Six mains!
Blue O.G. 4 main stems
White Lavender with three branches. Topped her to see what would happen. Six mains!
GandalfdaGreen
Well-Known Member
Holy crap Pros. That looks really sweet. I am going to top tonight. This reminds me to get back into the topping game. My plants in Veg had a P def and some type of ph problem right at the point when they should have been topped so I decided that the additional stress at that point would have been a bad thing. Now that they are on the right track again, I am topping them. Thanks for sharing bro. Very inspiring.
Uncle Ben
Well-Known Member
Glad to hear of so many happy campers! 
Here's the FAQ, again, from another website:
FAQ
Q - Is your technique effective with a clone?
A - Only if the cutting (clone) has opposing nodes. Don't expect to get 2 or 4 main colas if the nodes are alternating. You're manipulating the plant's hormonal processes aka "apical dominance". The plant will redistribute the auxins equally to dormant foliar buds.
************************************
Q - Will this work on a landrace, indica OR sativa, and what about hybrids?
A - The hormonal processes, redistribution of auxins, work the same whether you have a sativa, afghan (indica) or your typical mutt.
************************************
Q - Can I cut above the 3rd or 4th node?
A - You can, but you won't get the same effect regarding bulked up main colas. I came up with this simple technique in order to increase main cola production from 1..... to 2 or 4. If you want alot of bud sites and a bushier plant, then top at say.....the 8th node, but, that's not my technique as described.
************************************
Q - I don't want to stress my plants. How long will this set my plants back?
A - There is no stress involved like underwatering a plant or giving it too much heat or light. They will respond with new output where the leaf petiole attaches to the "trunk" within 24 hours. If not, you have a cultural issue that you need to address.
************************************
Q - You say to wait until the plant has 5-6 nodes before topping. Why?
A - That is only a guide to insure you have an established, well growing plant with a good root system. 3, 6 or 8 nodes, it's your call.
************************************
Q - Can I root the cutting?
A - Of course.
************************************
Q - What's a node??
A - Get outta here!
Are the nodes opposite of each other, or alternating?
Here's the FAQ, again, from another website:
FAQ
Q - Is your technique effective with a clone?
A - Only if the cutting (clone) has opposing nodes. Don't expect to get 2 or 4 main colas if the nodes are alternating. You're manipulating the plant's hormonal processes aka "apical dominance". The plant will redistribute the auxins equally to dormant foliar buds.
************************************
Q - Will this work on a landrace, indica OR sativa, and what about hybrids?
A - The hormonal processes, redistribution of auxins, work the same whether you have a sativa, afghan (indica) or your typical mutt.
************************************
Q - Can I cut above the 3rd or 4th node?
A - You can, but you won't get the same effect regarding bulked up main colas. I came up with this simple technique in order to increase main cola production from 1..... to 2 or 4. If you want alot of bud sites and a bushier plant, then top at say.....the 8th node, but, that's not my technique as described.
************************************
Q - I don't want to stress my plants. How long will this set my plants back?
A - There is no stress involved like underwatering a plant or giving it too much heat or light. They will respond with new output where the leaf petiole attaches to the "trunk" within 24 hours. If not, you have a cultural issue that you need to address.
************************************
Q - You say to wait until the plant has 5-6 nodes before topping. Why?
A - That is only a guide to insure you have an established, well growing plant with a good root system. 3, 6 or 8 nodes, it's your call.
************************************
Q - Can I root the cutting?
A - Of course.
************************************
Q - What's a node??
A - Get outta here!
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