Uncle Ben's Topping Technique to Get 2 or 4 Main Colas

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ogilthorpe

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I'm trying to figure out if topping will help (with space primarily, less worried about yield) in my particular situation. I popped 12 seeds of which 6 are female. I have 11 very healthy WW, AK48 and Cheese seedlings at 4 weeks from emergence.

I had planned to run 4-5 plants in this tent, but wasn't sure how I'd make out on my first grow, so popped more seeds than necessary to cover for any losses. Looks like I will have more plants than expected to put into flower.

My tent is 3x3x6.5 and can fit 9 2G pots. I know topping will give me wider plants, being my first grow I'm not sure how to plan. My gut tells me that lateral space will be a bigger issue than vertical, and that I shouldn't top on this run. Anyone have experience with a similar set up that can provide some advice.

PS. great post, very helpful info and easy to follow!
 
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Hasbroh

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Hasbroh said:
If this has been covered I missed it as I haven't read all 430 pages! I have been keeping up for the last couple months, though. I have topped to get the four main branches but need to tighten them up some more so I'm wondering if going to eight main branches is the way to go. These are in pots outdoors and will go in the ground within a week. They will have about 50 cubic ft. for 3 or 4 plants in a 6x8' planter so they still have lots of room and time to grow. They have to be kept below 6', 5' would really be better. I will eventually LST and whatever else needs to be done. They are very healthy and 26-30" tall. Next step?

Oh, the breeder says they prune very well and still develop large colas. They are Sativa dominant and are Rishi Kush and Krystallica by Mandala Seeds.

Double oh, my local mentor said to clip each of the four branches above their first node. Agree? They all have eight nodes on each of the four branches.
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Would somebody respond, please. I realize that what I'm suggesting will not be the ideal four big colas but I need to keep the plants below at the most six feet. I would prefer to prune as opposed to LST etc. but I'm open to learned input. Thanks.
 
Uncle Ben

Uncle Ben

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Hasbroh said:
Would somebody respond, please. I realize that what I'm suggesting will not be the ideal four big colas but I need to keep the plants below at the most six feet. I would prefer to prune as opposed to LST etc. but I'm open to learned input. Thanks.
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You're suggesting that all cannabis plants and all cannabis culture is the same. Sorry, no one has a crystal ball. I kept Mexican below a 6' privacy fence by constant pruning. Yes, during flowering too. Start with the 4 colas, top the new output so it will branch and then go from there. If you're at 5' and still in the stretch mode, top again. I guess you could drive a couple of 6' T posts in the ground, cable tie 4' wide galv. mesh to it, and espalier the foliage. That's what I do with blackberries.

UB
 
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Hasbroh

Well-Known Member
Uncle Ben said:
You're suggesting Sorry, no one has a crystal ball. I kept Mexican below a 6' privacy fence by constant pruning. Yes, during flowering too. Start with the 4 colas, top the new output so it will branch and then go from there. If you're at 5' and still in the stretch mode, top again. I guess you could drive a couple of 6' T posts in the ground, cable tie 4' wide galv. mesh to it, and espalier the foliage. That's what I do with blackberries.

UB
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Of course I'm not "suggesting that all cannabis plants and all cannabis culture is the same." Just looking for some ideas that I hadn't considered. Such as espaliering, hadn't thought of that! I'll just top as planned and take it from there. Thanks for your input.

CHB, very nice!

Edit: Done. Tried several levels just for the learning experience. Thanks all.
 
X

x10u8n

Member
Uncle Ben said:
Howdy!

Based on quite a few questions about topping I've received here: https://www.rollitup.org/general-marijuana-growing/13820-fimming-topping-101-a-12.html I decided to reproduce a thread on my favorite topping method published at cann.com about 10 years ago. Even though I've got much better photos from many latter grows both indoor and outdoor, I'm gonna stick with the old photos from the original thread. Lighting is HPS from start to finish with the exception of using 4' long shop fluors from germ until about 2 weeks. Some pix were taken outdoors for better resolution thanks to an old camcorder I was using.

Selecting the point for topping to get 4 main colas -

To get 4 main colas, let your seedling or cutting (clone) grow to about 5-6 nodes and pinch out (cut) the stem just above the 2nd true node. The node where the cotyledons attach doesn't count. The result will be a redistribution of the auxins and other hormones that normally collect in the tissue of the terminal leader's tip. These ho moans will be redistributed to dormant buds that reside in the nodal axis where the leaf petiole attaches to the "trunk", below the cut. The new foliar output response will be quick (within 24 hrs., see photo below) if you have a healthy growing seedling and will be your future main colas - 4 instead of the usual 1:



Here's a photo of the same plant about 8 weeks into flowering. The plant is about 42" tall, has 4 main colas with an abundance of large, healthy fan leaves.



This is an indoor shot just prior to harvest showing the colas bulking up quite nicely. Notice how the weight of the heavy colas is naturally pulling them apart, which opens the plant up so that light can penetrate the interior of the canopy. This is the same principle used by fruit orchard managers who create an open vase profile for their trees in order to increase production. This profile also has a side benefit of providing good interior air movement which reduces fungal/rot pressures.



The plant after harvest showing the branching scaffold and dominant 4 main cola "trunks", opposing nodes one right above the other. Smaller secondary branches also provided good bud production. This plant yielded over 10 oz of cured bud.



~ Topping for 2 main colas ~

Pinch out the seedling above the 1st true node to get 2 main colas:





Any questions, fire away.

Happy gardening,
Uncle Ben
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Hi UB...Im doing a outdoor grow and want to use your Technic for 4 main colas. I started my seeds indoors on my window sill and they started real quick however they were all leggy , like up to 4in. between the cotyledons and the first true node and another 3 to 4in. to the 2nd node, after that the node spacing seems fine. I've planted them outside about a week ago and now have about 5 nodes which are spaced tight. My question is if I eliminate the first true node and make my cut above the 3rd. node will I still get the redistribution of auxins and hormones for 4 main colas? Thanks for your input and I do learn from your post.
 
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silva hazey

Member
Uncle Ben said:
At? Is that below or above? The exact point is important reason why I spent a bit of time explaining the hormonal response thingie. If you topped above the 4th node, you'll get a bushy plant with the last output to occur at the lowest node, if at all. You will not get 2 or 4 main colas.

UB
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Great info i wanna try it. My only problem is when my plants are at 5 or 6 nodes, the bottom 2 nodes dont usually have branches on them. my plants almost always produce branches in the middle and top. So my question is if i top using your method, will those bottom two nodes begin to push branches out even if there are no signs of branching there before I top?
 
Uncle Ben

Uncle Ben

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silva hazey said:
Great info i wanna try it. My only problem is when my plants are at 5 or 6 nodes, the bottom 2 nodes dont usually have branches on them. my plants almost always produce branches in the middle and top. So my question is if i top using your method, will those bottom two nodes begin to push branches out even if there are no signs of branching there before I top?
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If you can't retain leaf sets on the bottom, how do you expect to produce/retain 4 main colas? Yeah, they'll push, but apparently you're struggling with plant culture. Botany comes first.
 
Nitegazer

Nitegazer

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UB,

I would usually scrog, but I'm trying some new strains from seed. Since timing's tight, I'm not able to sex before flipping to 12/12, so scrogging's out. I'm giving your topping process a go, and pinched the plants last night. Given my space limits, this method seems like the simplest and least work intensive out there. I also like that the colas from four tops will be easier to trim than a bushy plant.

It was a bit of a scare at first removing all that vegetable matter, but the plants have already recovered after 8 hrs, and the boost in branching has already begun.

I'll post pics once they are well in flower. Thanks for keeping this thread going.
 
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silva hazey

Member
Uncle Ben said:
If you can't retain leaf sets on the bottom, how do you expect to produce/retain 4 main colas? Yeah, they'll push, but apparently you're struggling with plant culture. Botany comes first.
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Thanks for answering. Trust me i'll maintain those colas. Its just that in that early stage of life most of my noticeable branches begin at the 3rd node. Maybe I need more light down there but my plants grow vigorously its just those first 2 nodes. They will usually branch down there but not that early as 5 or 6 nodes, they just branch like crazy everywhere else its just those 2 bottom nodes. But as I said everything above those 2 nodes explodes(probably further blocking light down there). If you say they will still push out from the stem then i'll try. In your expert opinion, why do you think my bottom 2 nodes dont show signs of branching as early as 5 nodes? Would you say its lack of light? Nutrients? Thanks for helping.
 
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Paulielow

Member
Hey uncle Ben if you wanted to keep plants small due to height restrictions could you top the four tops to keep the plant shorter or would this have a negative effect on the plant. I'm sure the answer would have already been in the thread somewhere but after 50 odd pages I figured I'd just ask thanks.
 
FresnoFarmer

FresnoFarmer

Well-Known Member
Paulielow said:
Hey uncle Ben if you wanted to keep plants small due to height restrictions could you top the four tops to keep the plant shorter or would this have a negative effect on the plant. I'm sure the answer would have already been in the thread somewhere but after 50 odd pages I figured I'd just ask thanks.
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You could top......after you top......after you topped that top. So the answer is yes and.....We can't tell you weather it will have a negative effect because not all plants respond the same. It's kind of like if I got scratched by a cat it would have a terrible effect on me because I'm allergic to the bastards. Whereas you might not be allergic and get scratched by several cats and be just fine. My advice to you would be to top those tops and see what happens unless you are limited plants. Hope this helps dude.View attachment 2198332View attachment 2198333View attachment 2198334View attachment 2198335
 
ctwalrus

ctwalrus

Active Member
wow i read all the way diligently to page 100 then saw it was 400 long..
first id like to say excellent thread uncle!
then id like to give you props for replying to people over the years!!
ummm i had one question
why no flush..
the flush brings out the true flavor of the bud without the nutrients
sure you might get a few more gs but bud that ive had that wasnt flushed was inferior to bud that had been.

so whats your reasoning behind it, your obviously experienced and have your reasons id like to hear them :)

cheers mate
 
Uncle Ben

Uncle Ben

Well-Known Member
ctwalrus said:
wow i read all the way diligently to page 100 then saw it was 400 long..
first id like to say excellent thread uncle!
then id like to give you props for replying to people over the years!!
ummm i had one question
why no flush..
the flush brings out the true flavor of the bud without the nutrients
sure you might get a few more gs but bud that ive had that wasnt flushed was inferior to bud that had been.

so whats your reasoning behind it, your obviously experienced and have your reasons id like to hear them :)

cheers mate
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A plant is not a radiator. You can't "flush" it. If you pushed the nutrients such that you have a stressed plant then you've got problems. If you're kept it nice and green until the end, then it should smoke sweet. I think the harshness comes mainly from the make up of the tars, terpenes and other stuff found in the smoke.
 
greennewfie

greennewfie

Active Member
this is an awesome thread UB. lots of info +rep to you i use alot of your info in my grows as now im gonna top my plants outdoors so they dont tower over the other raspberry bushes around too much lol!!
Thanks for your help!!:bigjoint:
 
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