Topping, is it Necessary?

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R7Dreams

Member
Well from the title you could probably tell I am new to growing but I can't help but wonder why everywhere I search topping seems essential for a bigger harvest. The thing is:

1: The strain I am growing is small in height to begin with (under 3 feet supposedly)
2: The strain is suppose to be a pretty good in terms of yield to begin with as well.
3: Topping would make trimming much more work it seems.
4: I am growing 3 plants in a 2x2.5 tent
5: 600 Watt LED Light w/Timer
6: 3 gallon smart pots on risers
7: I'm afraid that if I topped them, that they would blow up in size way too much for my grow space.

So since I am new to the hobby I am wondering do I really need to do this to my plants?
How much bud can I be losing potentially?

The strain is Strawberry Kush from ILGM..
 
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Beachwalker

Well-Known Member
What size tent is that, is that in feet? How much height do you have?

I knew someone who ran that strain for quite a while, if I recall it tends to be bushy to begin with, as opposed to some that want to main Cola
-good luck!:leaf:
 
Gentlemencorpse

Gentlemencorpse

Well-Known Member
R7Dreams said:
Well from the title you could probably tell I am new to growing but I can't help but wonder why everywhere I search topping seems essential for a bigger harvest. The thing is:

1: The strain I am growing is small in height to begin with (under 3 feet supposedly)
2: The strain is suppose to be a pretty good in terms of yield to begin with as well.
3: Topping would make trimming much more work it seems.
4: I am growing 3 plants in a 2x2.5 tent
5: 600 Watt LED Light w/Timer
6: 3 gallon smart pots on risers
7: I'm afraid that if I topped them, that they would blow up in size way too much for my grow space.

So since I am new to the hobby I am wondering do I really need to do this to my plants?
How much bud can I be losing potentially?

The strain is Strawberry Kush from ILGM..
Click to expand...
The short answer: no. Topping is not necessary.

It's popular because it is an easy form of training that increases yield (and more specifically increases the portion of your yield that is large, dense colas vs light popcorn stuff). But lots of people don't top. Side note: it won't necessarily make your plant bigger. That's more dependent on how long you veg for and how much you manicure amongst other factors.
 
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R7Dreams

Member
ok Thanks, my tent is 5'7 feet high but I got an 1 foot extension for it.. they say flowering is 8-9 weeks for this strain, how long should I veg for? I have read different opinions on this. Some say 4 weeks, some say 6 or more. alright also what other things can I do to increase yield without topping or sea of green methods? I am still new to this and even just training the plant, like bending and using ties and chicken wire or anything like that seems advanced to me for some stupid reason. I guess I just don't want to mess anything up. I once tried to top my plant and it killed it, I was so devastated..

So far thing things I am doing to increase yield are using smart pots over plastic ones, using plant risers to get more air to the roots but I am hoping for some more tips on lighting schedule or lighting methods as well as what nutrients may increase the yield significantly?
 
Gentlemencorpse

Gentlemencorpse

Well-Known Member
R7Dreams said:
ok Thanks, my tent is 5'7 feet high but I got an 1 foot extension for it.. they say flowering is 8-9 weeks for this strain, how long should I veg for? I have read different opinions on this. Some say 4 weeks, some say 6 or more. alright also what other things can I do to increase yield without topping or sea of green methods? I am still new to this and even just training the plant, like bending and using ties and chicken wire or anything like that seems advanced to me for some stupid reason. I guess I just don't want to mess anything up. I once tried to top my plant and it killed it, I was so devastated..

So far thing things I am doing to increase yield are using smart pots over plastic ones, using plant risers to get more air to the roots but I am hoping for some more tips on lighting schedule or lighting methods as well as what nutrients may increase the yield significantly?
Click to expand...
So from both my (admittedly not overabundant) experience and what I've gathered from years of reading, light and genetics are the two biggest limiting factors where yield is concerned. Beyond that just getting your environment dialed in is probably the most important. There are tons of good nutrients out there so Im not gonna dig too deep into that one. My honest opinion? Don't stress yield a ton your first couple grows. Just try to grow some nice healthy plants and get comfortable with your chosen growing method then work on increasing the results from there.
 
Gentlemencorpse

Gentlemencorpse

Well-Known Member
Oh, and your vegging question is basically impossible to answer definitively. It depends on the strain, how big you want your plants, the growing conditions, if you have any hiccups in your grow etc etc. Your tent is pretty close in size to mine, Ive been vegging for around 28 days and two plants end up crowding the tent out so I'm messing around with changing things. But I also don't care a ton about yield beyond growing enough for my head. I just want danker buds and more variety. :bigjoint:
 
nurrgle

nurrgle

Well-Known Member
I would say it is pretty nessasary if you want a solid harvest with less larf and more uniform nugs.

Outside plants can do what they want but inside it’s all about creating a canopy and filling your grow space.

In the space you are talking about, I would top them mofos once and flip them. Remember, unless you have side lighting, the sides are going to be hash nugs. All your choice headstash nugs are on the top under the light. I would try to get the canopy to about 70% and flip. Probably try to finish the plants at 3 feet max.

Of course there are a ton of ways to skin a cat.
 
RetiredGuerilla

RetiredGuerilla

Well-Known Member
Start flowering your seedlings at 4 inches tall in 2 gallon pots. They will form a single donkey dick bud with very little side branching. Take measurements to see how many pots you can pack into that space. I like to use a combo of vertical 6 bulb t-5 fixtures and a horizontal 150 watt HPS and get excellent results. OR you could LST. Let one or two plants get about 18 inches tall then bend at half its height. Then all your side branches turn into main colas. LST works really good outdoors !!
 
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Beachwalker

Well-Known Member
R7Dreams said:
ok Thanks, my tent is 5'7 feet high but I got an 1 foot extension for it.. they say flowering is 8-9 weeks for this strain, how long should I veg for? I have read different opinions on this. Some say 4 weeks, some say 6 or more. alright also what other things can I do to increase yield without topping or sea of green methods? I am still new to this and even just training the plant, like bending and using ties and chicken wire or anything like that seems advanced to me for some stupid reason. I guess I just don't want to mess anything up. I once tried to top my plant and it killed it, I was so devastated..

So far thing things I am doing to increase yield are using smart pots over plastic ones, using plant risers to get more air to the roots but I am hoping for some more tips on lighting schedule or lighting methods as well as what nutrients may increase the yield significantly?
Click to expand...

Some of thats too much work for me but sure somebody else can help you but if you stick a plant in a 3 gallon pot, veg a solid month then flower it you should get three to four zips if your top it once (where you're new at this may be 2 to 3 zips, still not bad), due to your space constraints I wouldn't top it more than once

I don't know much about that plant but they have a website with a chat board, I think that's where I talked with the grower because at one time I was going to grow that strain. Just finished up some of their white widow, one of my favorite strains for the beach in the nice weather!
-best of luck!:leaf:
 

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RetiredGuerilla

RetiredGuerilla

Well-Known Member
Beachwalker said:
Some of thats too much work for me but sure somebody else can help you but if you stick a plant in a 3 gallon pot, veg a solid month then flower it you should get three to four zips if your top it once (where you're new at this may be 2 to 3 zips, still not bad), due to your space constraints I wouldn't top it more than once

I don't know much about that plant but they have a website with a chat board, I think that's where I talked with the grower because at one time I was going to grow that strain. Just finished up some of their white widow, one of my favorite strains for the beach in the nice weather!
-best of luck!:leaf:
Click to expand...
I see a box of jars !!
 
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