When to top lower branches?

AlmightyJumpman

AlmightyJumpman

Member
Do I let them grow out to 7 nodes like I did the apical meristem? Or top them sooner? I know it might be preference but I’m in a 2x2x4 and I want it to touch wall to wall then flip. I’ve been training the bottom branches to grow outwards to the edge of the pot and then I’ll top a few up top. I trimmed off 4 big fan leaves, they covered whole plant.
 

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AlmightyJumpman said:
Do I let them grow out to 7 nodes like I did the apical meristem? Or top them sooner? I know it might be preference but I’m in a 2x2x4 and I want it to touch wall to wall then flip. I’ve been training the bottom branches to grow outwards to the edge of the pot and then I’ll top a few up top. I trimmed off 4 big fan leaves, they covered whole plant.
Click to expand...
I count 20 something bud sites. Including the branches new growth
 
There are no hard and fast rules. I think waiting until 7 nodes for the main stem is just to ensure the plant gets somewhat established before you start pruning it.

Notice the overall structure and growth habit of the plant - every spot where a fan leaf grows off of a stem/branch is a node, and in the crotch of that node is a growing tip, a point where a new stem/branch can start to grow from.

If you cut off the end of a branch or stem (aka topping it), all the nodes below where you cut will be encouraged to form new stems/branches, because the outermost growing tip doesn't exist anymore. When the plant starts to flower, all those growing tips will start to form flowers instead of elongating their stems. If the stem is still short, the bud will form very close to the branch it's growing out of, if the stem is longer then the bud will be farther out from the branch.

Just use that logic when deciding where/when to top or remove growing tips/stems along larger branches, to shape the plant to your liking.

You can also bend growing tips downward, which will encourage other growing tips to grow upward faster (on the same branch or other branches below it), without having to remove anything from the plant (aka low-stress training).

If your space is only 2x2x4, you might want to limit how much you top, because it could easily get overcrowded once flowering starts.

Good luck!
 
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AlmightyJumpman said:
Do I let them grow out to 7 nodes like I did the apical meristem? Or top them sooner? I know it might be preference but I’m in a 2x2x4 and I want it to touch wall to wall then flip. I’ve been training the bottom branches to grow outwards to the edge of the pot and then I’ll top a few up top. I trimmed off 4 big fan leaves, they covered whole plant.
Click to expand...
You can top as much as you want they just need a lil recovery time in-between and just remember to give them at least a week before you flip em from your last topping when your happy with em
 
Ya don't have to top a plant to gain a wide plant. There
are excellent options that achieve the same thing without removing material from the plant.

IMG_20241208_160251249_HDR.jpgIMG_20241118_125816755.jpg
Removing a top your removing 3 bud sites to gain two and you slow down growth for a minute.If the branch is simply bent over it continues to throw off branching as it grows.

I use training and something I call floater screens to maintain a canopy. There's no need to top to gain multiple colas sites. Topping is just another method. It works but is in not the only way.
image.jpgIMG_20241114_184249539.jpg
 
Fatjoe said:
Ya don't have to top a plant to gain a wide plant. There
are excellent options that achieve the same thing without removing material from the plant.

View attachment 5452408View attachment 5452409
Removing a top your removing 3 bud sites to gain two and you slow down growth for a minute.If the branch is simply bent over it continues to throw off branching as it grows.

I use training and something I call floater screens to maintain a canopy. There's no need to top to gain multiple colas sites. Topping is just another method. It works but is in not the only way.
View attachment 5452406View attachment 5452407
Click to expand...
Ohhhh, that shit will getcha di** hard!!
***Not discriminating against toasters or the other wise****
 
Fatjoe said:
Ya don't have to top a plant to gain a wide plant. There
are excellent options that achieve the same thing without removing material from the plant.

View attachment 5452408View attachment 5452409
Removing a top your removing 3 bud sites to gain two and you slow down growth for a minute.If the branch is simply bent over it continues to throw off branching as it grows.

I use training and something I call floater screens to maintain a canopy. There's no need to top to gain multiple colas sites. Topping is just another method. It works but is in not the only way.
View attachment 5452406View attachment 5452407
Click to expand...
Sheesh, you think I can achieve that in my 2x2x4? I essentially want a full tent from wall to wall then I flip while maintaining a level canopy. I’ll take some pics when the lights come back on at 8 but I tried to bend my stem and the root base was coming with it so I stopped lol. I know I waited to long. I’m growing a 60/40 indica dominant so the stem got too thick for that. I’m really confused on the training aspect of it all, I’m currently training all my stems now I swear I feel like I’m not doing something right. Like your garden, not really sure how to achieve that. Granted it’s my first grow but still. Did you lollipop?
 
You'll be fine. Top them if ya want to. I was just showing you an option.

A 2x2 it would be easy to fill w one plant. The screens I use are 21x20 so one would do it. There's tons of training info here and on the web. My thread I do a lot of training if your interested.

First grows just keep it basic n simple. Enjoy the grow and make ya some nice nuggets to puff on.
 
Fatjoe said:
You'll be fine. Top them if ya want to. I was just showing you an option.

A 2x2 it would be easy to fill w one plant. The screens I use are 21x20 so one would do it. There's tons of training info here and on the web. My thread I do a lot of training if your interested.

First grows just keep it basic n simple. Enjoy the grow and make ya some nice nuggets to puff on.
Click to expand...
I’m trying to stick with what I have now, let the bottom ones I topped grow back how I want. Trellis it all, then flower. But what is this floater screen you speak of?
 
Fatjoe said:
You'll be fine. Top them if ya want to. I was just showing you an option.

A 2x2 it would be easy to fill w one plant. The screens I use are 21x20 so one would do it. There's tons of training info here and on the web. My thread I do a lot of training if your interested.

First grows just keep it basic n simple. Enjoy the grow and make ya some nice nuggets to puff on.
Click to expand...
Definitely interested, send the link asap lol. I got a few more seeds, I’ll just try on them. I’m going to mainline my gelato. I did a mainline type training on my lower branches on this current one just to see if I could actually do it. I’ll be back on here at 8 and I’ll show you what I have going on. I think I’m doing it right but idk. That’s if you really care lol. Just wanted a more experienced growers perspective
 
When plants begin to stretch, that’s actually the easiest time to train them. They grow fast and they dont have time to get woody, so stems are at their most flexible. Just get the basic shape that you feel comfortable with, and when the plant is happy and rocking with a high metabolism and growth rate, flip it. Continue to train during those first 2-3 weeks as she stretches and you’ll be fine in the end.
 
I don't think you need to top more than once to get a fairly bushy plant, especially if it's more indica dominant to begin with. One topping to break the main cola, plus some training of the side branches should be enough.

It looks like you took the lowest side branches and bent them down, but haven't really done anything with the upper side branches, right under where you topped, so those are still growing straight up.

If it were mine, I'd start bending the uppermost side branches down, and release the lower ones so they can grow upwards to meet them. The lower ones are longer already, so it shouldn't take them much time to stretch up and give you a pretty flat canopy.
 
MissinThe90’sStrains said:
When plants begin to stretch, that’s actually the easiest time to train them. They grow fast and they dont have time to get woody, so stems are at their most flexible. Just get the basic shape that you feel comfortable with, and when the plant is happy and rocking with a high metabolism and growth rate, flip it. Continue to train during those first 2-3 weeks as she stretches and you’ll be fine in the end.
Click to expand...
weedstoner420 said:
I don't think you need to top more than once to get a fairly bushy plant, especially if it's more indica dominant to begin with. One topping to break the main cola, plus some training of the side branches should be enough.

It looks like you took the lowest side branches and bent them down, but haven't really done anything with the upper side branches, right under where you topped, so those are still growing straight up.

If it were mine, I'd start bending the uppermost side branches down, and release the lower ones so they can grow upwards to meet them. The lower ones are longer already, so it shouldn't take them much time to stretch up and give you a pretty flat canopy.
Click to expand...
That was a few days ago. I’ve been training the past few days trying to get the feel for it myself. I don’t want to interrupt the dark cycle so I’ll take some pictures around 8. I got some LST clips and some garden staples in there now. I’ll post some more pics in 2 hours
 
MissinThe90’sStrains said:
When plants begin to stretch, that’s actually the easiest time to train them. They grow fast and they dont have time to get woody, so stems are at their most flexible. Just get the basic shape that you feel comfortable with, and when the plant is happy and rocking with a high metabolism and growth rate, flip it. Continue to train during those first 2-3 weeks as she stretches and you’ll be fine in the end.
Click to expand...
I thought you were supposed to let them stretch without disturbing any energy. But I’ve heard some ppl with the same tent as me would let the leaf buds grow on the bottom to suck up some of the nutrients during stretch and then pluck them off. Might work the same way
 
AlmightyJumpman said:
I thought you were supposed to let them stretch without disturbing any energy. But I’ve heard some ppl with the same tent as me would let the leaf buds grow on the bottom to suck up some of the nutrients during stretch and then pluck them off. Might work the same way
Click to expand...
You probably shouldn't top after flipping to 12/12 unless it's needed to control the height, but you can definitely bend and supercrop them anytime as long as the branches haven't gotten woody (in which case you run the risk of snapping them). Pre-flower stretch is a great time to shape the plant.
 
I have taken plants 5 weeks in veg and crushed the main stem and bent them over 90°. I've also left the main standing and crushed all other growth outwards at 4 wks in flower.

Cannabis is a tough plant. If ya go slow and crush branches to confirm to your needs you win. Don't be discouraged with stiff stems. If you want them to move crush n bend.
A link to my thread. I work with a lot of monster clones but use regular clones as well as some seed grows. K

The ReRun Grow DP, C99, Tangie

Hello new friends and thanks for stopping by. I've got a few things going on here. I harvested 5 clones from my last grow. All taken during flower. The c99#2 is the most mature clone. It was taken at 3w into flower. Rooted fast and has now entered the veg stage once again. The others were taken...
www.rollitup.org
 
weedstoner420 said:
I don't think you need to top more than once to get a fairly bushy plant, especially if it's more indica dominant to begin with. One topping to break the main cola, plus some training of the side branches should be enough.

It looks like you took the lowest side branches and bent them down, but haven't really done anything with the upper side branches, right under where you topped, so those are still growing straight up.

If it were mine, I'd start bending the uppermost side branches down, and release the lower ones so they can grow upwards to meet them. The lower ones are longer already, so it shouldn't take them much time to stretch up and give you a pretty flat canopy.
Click to expand...
Fatjoe said:
I have taken plants 5 weeks in veg and crushed the main stem and bent them over 90°. I've also left the main standing and crushed all other growth outwards at 4 wks in flower.

Cannabis is a tough plant. If ya go slow and crush branches to confirm to your needs you win. Don't be discouraged with stiff stems. If you want them to move crush n bend.
A link to my thread. I work with a lot of monster clones but use regular clones as well as some seed grows. K

The ReRun Grow DP, C99, Tangie

Hello new friends and thanks for stopping by. I've got a few things going on here. I harvested 5 clones from my last grow. All taken during flower. The c99#2 is the most mature clone. It was taken at 3w into flower. Rooted fast and has now entered the veg stage once again. The others were taken...
www.rollitup.org
Click to expand...
This is how she looks after my version of training. Lights just came on, like I said I feel like I’m doing something wrong.
 

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