Topping?

M

miggzeh

Well-Known Member
Hi guys,

Im new to the whole forum and I've found a whole lot of info which I thank you all for.

I'm growing indoors/outdoors for my first time in the sun in Brisbane Australia, I started my seeds in Thrive potting mix in styrofoam cups and transplanted them into bigger pots containing a mix of 22l premium potting mix thoroughly mixed with 2kg of blood and bone mix.

I'm just wondering when is the time to start topping (obviously not now)and how do I go about it? the reason I want thme bushy is because height is limited inside where I keep them, I have them indoors in the sun from 5:30am until 3pm then 3 until 6 on the balcony (Brissy has an endless summer and rarely gets under 25c so I figured this would be ok)

Also the Blood and Bone mix is 6%n 3%p and 2.5%k, will it bee a problem if I feed my babies a 15%n mix whilst they are vegging and how often should I do it.

Pictures attached @ 2 weeks
 

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TheBotOnist

TheBotOnist

Well-Known Member
I think it is best t top (or FIM) after the fifth node. Doing it to early or to often will stress your plants a lot.
 
Roseman

Roseman

Elite Rolling Society
Essentially there are the same, "Pruning" and "Topping", just two different commonly words used. It is also known to some as "Pinching" as well. In this page it will be refered to it as "Topping"

Topping is done to increase yield and make them bushy, bushy, promote "branching", and increase the overall yeilds of the plants. With higher overall yeilds, a grower will successfully harvest many more budds, or floral clusters, and from smaller, bushier and more compact plants.

To the indoor grower that does not use this technique, but allows their plants to grow tall, it can be a waste of their artificial lighting, and growing spaces potential. With its own natural growth pattern, and without the benifit of topping, your lady will have one main central "khola" budd, at peak flowering. Several other small branches will grow outwards, down its main stalk, with much smaller budd topps.

The natural growth pattern is to grow upwards at its main stalk. From this main central stalk will begin to grow side branches. The side branches come out as tiny shoots with leaves, and usually there are a pair of them on opposite sides of the main central stalk.

When the seed leaves have long dyed off on the main stalk. The first true seed leaves commonly can or will, wilt, dry up, or dye off of the plant as well. Once healthy new vegative growth begins the rate of growth can be very fast, with excellent lighting supplied.

As the new growth increases the light reaching the lower portions of the plants becomes less. Thusly it is common to see first leafs wilting and dying ect. Growers that see leaves wilting or dying, ect, will opt to pulling them off of the plants.

The main central stalk is topped of just above the branches that are coming out below it. A pair of scissors or your fingers can be used. Once the topping is done you can remove the two upper fans leaves as well. This will aid in the light getting to the newer vegative growth, and other shoot tips, down the main central stalk.

There are no rules to where you top your plant or how old it needs to be. As long as your plant has shoots protruding further down the main stalk it is able to be topped. When topped the growth of the plant will be concentrated towards the new, younger vegative shoots.

Once you have topped your plant(s) the younger shoots will rapidly begin growing. With the removal of the main central stalk the lower braches grow more. With topping completed we keep the plants on their regular lighting and feeding schedules.

Now each new shoot tip will essentially grow as the main stalk did, however the growth is not concentrated to only one central stalk. So as each new shoot grows outward new shoots will grow from each one of them stalks as well.

Therefore topping can be done again, and again, and as each shoot becomes a growing tip with other shoots forming down its stalk, it is removed. By completing these topping or pruning tactics, a grower can acheive any desired height, or desired bushiness, they desire in their plants.
 
tyke1973

tyke1973

Well-Known Member
2nd week of flowering.It's a hard one to exspain so look at i grow cronic on you tube he is growing hydro but it's the same way no matter how your gowing.
 
TheBotOnist

TheBotOnist

Well-Known Member
twistyman said "I top at about 2nd node..."
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The second node is way to young in my opinion. That would mean the plant would only have its seed leaves and a pair of single, serated leaves. I would think they wold die if topped this young...
 
napolygrizzly

napolygrizzly

Active Member
I can never top a plant, every time i try to do it i always miss:bigjoint: although im still not disapointed with the results.
 
South Texas

South Texas

Well-Known Member
Do what Roseman said..... BTW, you have GOT to have good soil & a healthy rooting system to pull this off... 1 lb VS 7 lbs., end result.
 
Roseman

Roseman

Elite Rolling Society
napolygrizzly said:
I can never top a plant, every time i try to do it i always miss:bigjoint: although im still not disapointed with the results.
Click to expand...

That have a name for that, really, I am serious. Called FIM or FIMing.

Fuck, I Missed.

It means you just pinched an end or cut an end off, without being close or scientific about it. Really, I am serious.

Google it
 
South Texas

South Texas

Well-Known Member
Once again, what Roseman said. The Dude fucked up, or thought so. What he did is what Mother Nature does with insects. She uses Grasshoppers here. Via the "Hopper" Union, I now have to plant rice next to the Ladies, for little rice hull rolling papers. It's so sad.
 
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