1st time LST for me, looking for pointers please

diggs99

Well-Known Member
Hi


as title says, this is my first time trying my hand at LST, all 4 plants were topped 7-8 days ago

These girls are all 25 days since sprouting

3x Heavyweight fruit punch
1x Atomic

I have read the growweedeasy articles and think i have an understanding of what i am about to do but i also find it much easier when discussing and reading responses from guys who are and have been doing this stuff for many grows.

what is the best material/product you have used for tying down plants with ease and without damage?
Should i start with just bending the main stem and tying it down ?
or
should i just pull the top 4 main branches apart and tie those down? ive seen some use the " ponytale" method for the very top branches and then tying down the mid leaves below.
 

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OJAE

Well-Known Member
I like these non damaging methods
1) garden wire with soft wire at the ends
2) weighted item again with soft garden wire so it doesn't squeeze the plant
3) regular pipe cleaners
 

diggs99

Well-Known Member
awesome, thanks for the info guys, all i have at my disposal at the moment are pipe cleaners, may try with these, if not ill go shopping for some of those ties tomorrow.
 

Nutzach91

Well-Known Member
Also I start with tying the main stem to the side of my pot. Then as the side branches start to shoot up I tie them down.
 

diggs99

Well-Known Member
Also I start with tying the main stem to the side of my pot. Then as the side branches start to shoot up I tie them down.

Ok that's specifically what I was hoping someone would say lol


So how do you choose which side is best to bend towards? My plants are fairly consistent and symmetrical , or does it not matter? Cause all growth will continue upward regardless?

Sorry dude, total newb, everything is a first for me right now lol
 

Nutzach91

Well-Known Member
So how do you choose which side is best to bend towards? My plants are fairly consistent and symmetrical , or does it not matter? Cause all growth will continue upward regardless?
Honestly I just bend it to one side. If i have multiple plants I try to bend them in the best direction to stay directly under the lights. Im not sure but it shouldnt matter cause it will start to really bush out. Thats just how I do it but its works great for me.
 

diggs99

Well-Known Member
This is my current project topped once then Lst just topped again a couple days ago.

beautiful plant, kinda same plan i had in mind. Top then lst then top 1 more time, before flipping to flower.

time restraints are making me veg for less time than i prob would normally going forward on future grows. looking like 1st week of january at latest, so approx 42-48 days since sprout. Should be enough time to have decent bud sites, and for my first grow im not trying to break any yield records lol


thanks for all your help and sharing the pic
 

Walter9999

Well-Known Member
Ok that's specifically what I was hoping someone would say lol


So how do you choose which side is best to bend towards? My plants are fairly consistent and symmetrical , or does it not matter? Cause all growth will continue upward regardless?

Sorry dude, total newb, everything is a first for me right now lol
If I know going into a grow that I'm going to use LST, I don't put the plant in the center of the pot during the last transplant...ill offset it drastically towards one side of the pot and that gives me an opportunity to bend and train the plant sooner to go around the circumference of the pot...g/l
 

diggs99

Well-Known Member
If I know going into a grow that I'm going to use LST, I don't put the plant in the center of the pot during the last transplant...ill offset it drastically towards one side of the pot and that gives me an opportunity to bend and train the plant sooner to go around the circumference of the pot...g/l

that seems very smart and well planned, something to take note of for next grow/transplant.

One question i was curious about, what happens when i transplant? do i remove all ties and string? i assume many people are training plants when they are small and transplanting into bigger pots, just havent seen what people are doing with regards to their ties and string


thanks for the reply
 

Walter9999

Well-Known Member
that seems very smart and well planned, something to take note of for next grow/transplant.

One question i was curious about, what happens when i transplant? do i remove all ties and string? i assume many people are training plants when they are small and transplanting into bigger pots, just havent seen what people are doing with regards to their ties and string


thanks for the reply
Personally I don't use strings or ties...I make different length "bo peep" hooks out of metal wire hangers...it makes it easy to move or remove as she's growing...g/l
 

diggs99

Well-Known Member
Personally I don't use strings or ties...I make different length "bo peep" hooks out of metal wire hangers...it makes it easy to move or remove as she's growing...g/l
ya i used pipe cleaners mostly, but did use string to tie main stem, hopefully it dont be too much trouble when transplant time comes.

thanks
 

Walter9999

Well-Known Member
ya i used pipe cleaners mostly, but did use string to tie main stem, hopefully it dont be too much trouble when transplant time comes.

thanks
I make the bh hooks to push down into the soil with the hook portion between nodes...I can pull and move them anywhere...and they're reusable...g/l
 

lglbgl

Active Member
safety pins work good as well theirs a hole to thread that wire your using through,put it through the hole and twist and repeat as you will need 5 to 10 per plant,(easy to hook & rehook during transplant)and perfict w/ fabric pots,plastic pots i heat the safty pin & stab it through, also watch carefully if repositioning a limb as the wire can start to grow into the branch(dont allow) and cause it to break & when i bend for the first time i try to pick the side with the most growth tips showing, i top the very top node then bend it down below the rest of growth tips,sometimes it takes a few sessions depending on how thick the main stem has gotten, good luck.
 

diggs99

Well-Known Member
safety pins work good as well theirs a hole to thread that wire your using through,put it through the hole and twist and repeat as you will need 5 to 10 per plant,(easy to hook & rehook during transplant)and perfict w/ fabric pots,plastic pots i heat the safty pin & stab it through, also watch carefully if repositioning a limb as the wire can start to grow into the branch(dont allow) and cause it to break & when i bend for the first time i try to pick the side with the most growth tips showing, i top the very top node then bend it down below the rest of growth tips,sometimes it takes a few sessions depending on how thick the main stem has gotten, good luck.

jeeez man i never thought to use safety pins , they wouldve made the entire process so much easier, trying to wrap/tie everything around those fabric straps was annoying lol

i will def be remembering safety pins for next time for sure.


i was considering slicing little slits on the top rim of fabric pots , for somewhere to tie/hook into lol

never even considered safety pins
 
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