Why do people top their plants before they're done?

I keep hearing of people who have topped all the big buds off of their outdoor crops... seems like it would be premature, and a waste. I would think that the bigger buds would be the last to be ready. Am I missing something? Or are those who do, just in too much of a hurry???

The premise is geared towards putting the plant's energy towards developing the buds that haven't gotten big yet as a last ditch effort to pollinate.

From my understanding it's to try to get the highest potency out of them the top buds form up first... So they take them off when they are ready and then the lower buds can form up and they take them later.. I have old seen it on monster plants with people who really know what they are doing

smokebros said:

The premise is geared towards putting the plant's energy towards developing the buds that haven't gotten big yet as a last ditch effort to pollinate.

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i think he means topping in a different way smokebro's.. i think he means why do some people cut off the top cola's of plants and leave the bottoms on for longer if i'm reading it right..
the answer is simple.. a lot of times the top cola's are finished earlier than bottom buds, therefore they take them down early and leave the rest up to finish in a few more weeks or w/e it takes..

The top buds mature at a Differnt time that the lower branches . Do u harvest a whole tomato plant just cause it has a few ripe ones on it? No u don't ..you only pic what's ripe right. Well that's the same thing there doing

FreeRangeZombie said:

The top buds mature at a Different time that the lower branches . Do u harvest a whole tomato plant just cause it has a few ripe ones on it? No u don't ..you only pic what's ripe right. Well that's the same thing there doing

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This was my reasoning behind it...ive been growing a small vegetable garden for sometime and picking some early actually encourages new bud and fruit growth... if it applies to mj is yet to be seen

I will do this again next year.. (only did this to a few this year tho I did it to all last year) I do not like the idea of having a plant 6+ foot I cant see the damn worms if they are too tall.. I dont use pesticides and only loose 5g if that to bud worms..

topping allows the plant to still grow.. but not UP... it will put the energy outwards...


Most wont top after a certain age of the plant... generally done in veg (still ok to do in flower but...)

Are bus worms only in Cali or area a lot of people grow... I have no issues with them in Boston

Indagrow said:

Are bus worms only in Cali or area a lot of people grow... I have no issues with them in Boston

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Not sure what a bus worm is but I assume you meant bud worm. Moth's and butterfly's lay eggs on your plant then they hatch into worms, or caterpillers. So if you have moth's or butterflies where you stay then you could have worns eating and shitting in, on, or around your plants. There maybe other worms too, idk.

some strains the tops mature faster, some, the bottom nugs mature faste. In my experience though, its mostly the tops that mature faster. Even so, it still seems a little early, but its all strain and enviroment dependent. I've seen a few harvests earlier this year that were definately ripe, but ive also seen some premature ones too

Along side to Mr.Marijuana420's post removing the cola will also give light to the buds that dont get much also. helping them finish better/more mature. It has its benefits if you think about it.