would you top on your first grow?

I'm a little late in the game on this but I'm debating on it. Week 6 of veg (I think) and doing a scrog with 4 NLs.

Also... when topping the first time, you just top the main cola right?

wait till you see growth at the nodes off the main stalk... then top above the new growth.. piece of cake

No, I would not top on my first grow. Yes you can get a better yield topping and in the future I would highly recommend either topping and/or LST. For your first grow, I would highly recommend letting it grow natural. You will have plenty of future grows to learn how to maximize, nothing can replace the learning experience though. Watch how it grows, then see the difference when you do top it next grow, then try LST on your 3rd grow, 4th grow LST and top. Incredible learning experience for a new grower and well worth the effort.

i tried topping, supercropping, LST, and cloning on my first grow.. its all up to you

I tooped both of my non auto plants twice and im on my first grow, then i supercropped one of them (the other got stuneted for a while due to ph problems) very pleased with the results. the bigger one is nearly 2 feet across but only 10 inches or so high right now
I cant wait to flower these monsters! If you do top give your plants at least a week to recover before you put them in flower.

In hindsight, yes, I would do it the first grow as well. Not a risky advanced growing technique, and plenty of example images and videos on the web to help you out.

I will just say, not everyone but quite a few people I know who topped on the first grow, never quite understood the concept of topping other than "I get more weed". When you take the steps and really see the differences, you grasp it much easier and helps you in your future grows.

NO! (hey you asked!)
Topping removes the main cola of the plant-- and as a first time grower- you are not familiar with the growth pattern of that plant yet- and could be greatly reducing her ability to flower..
Many strains do NOT respond well to topping, and it should NEVER be done within weeks of 12/12-- the tips of all the branches (and mostly the top) is where the plant stores the hormones it uses to flower... removing them sets it back.. and again- in some strains, stunts their growth/flowering.

IMO- get through a couple grows of that strain so you know how it does "au naturel" AND so you can look into more breeder info on the likes/dislikes of that particular strain....

Like us- we have Bubba 76 and Strawberry blue that are both huge single-cola plants--- we did not/would not tie or top them because it stunts their growth and reduces their yields... however, out Moby Dick and Siberian LOVE being LST'd and Supercropped (ahead of 12/12) and do0 better when trained.

IMO-You just need to get to know your plants and get thru a couple good grows, then go for increased yields/trained plants!

I would also say NO, at least on your first grow.

The First grow is to get everything dialed in correctly, learning as much as you can, and hopefully, learning how to fix problems you may encounter.

Listening to your plants is the most important thing IMO.

i should also poitn out that im growing autos and photoperiod plants in the smae tent. so my photoperidos are getting about a 3 month veg time, which is the main reason i decided on usign training techniques, i had plenty of time for them to recover if something went wrong.

My first grow I topped some and left some. The ones I topped are doing way better then ones did not. My are all bag seed also. Like people all grows are different. Soil lights size of room circulation nutes water ect. If you got more then one plant top one see what it does. I found asking questions are tiff because everyone has found what works for them. Good luck buddy.

why not top?? its one of the most simple things to do anyone with half a brain could do it without any probs

Have the nay-sayers ever "experienced" problems caused by topping a plant? I sure haven't, and topped quite a 'few'. Removing the main cola... that's the whole point, though it's more like splitting it into multiple main colas.

Reduce risk of bud rot and top it, no need to wait with something that basic because it's a first grow. It's not like it will distort the learning experience.

Come on... he mentioned "scrog"...

K Ron Spliffs said:

I would also say NO, at least on your first grow.

The First grow is to get everything dialed in correctly, learning as much as you can, and hopefully, learning how to fix problems you may encounter.

Listening to your plants is the most important thing IMO.

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AMEN to that!!!!!

LadyZandra said:

AMEN to that!!!!!

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Amen to your own parroting being parroted

If you'd ever done a scrog with 4 plants you'd know that topping isn't really optional.

Speaking of scrog, now THAT is something "I" would not recommend the first time.

IMO a new grower should top to get used to how the plant reacts and how it grows after topping. In some cases it can be great especially for new grower with limited space. Read up on it make sure you are familiar with it then execute. That's my 2 cents. I mean come on its not rocket science.

how many plants you have? are you growing indoor or outdoor? what kind of hood you have? and also wattage? most trainings are going to make your plants bushy... so if you grow indoor... keep in my mind you have an specific amount of light energy and range... if you don't have many plants training comes handy... anyways good luck! and remember that the most important part is how good are you at taking care of your plants.

Wow... alot of responses. I am doing a 4 plant northern light scrog with 2 additional autos that I did not mention. They were freebies and I just tossed them in and figured I'd let the NLs veg while the autos went full cycle. I'm actually starting to worry that I may run out of room and have to flip...

Its an indoor, cfl (12@23watts) as side lighting and a 230 led phosperous overthe top. Too little light I'm sure but they all seem to love the phos. Once the screen went over the too and I added the phos.... boom! They are all coco hempys btw

Thanks for all the responses

Also.. what will 12/12 do to my autos if I have to flip? I know that what I've done is not ideal but as a first grow I said what the hell and threw everything I could at so I could experience it.

Thus far... I've impressed myself. Coming soon... 600 watt cool hood and a new fan with carbon filter

UserNameAlreadyExists said:

Thanks for all the responses

Also.. what will 12/12 do to my autos if I have to flip?

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the yield will be smaller i think, but they will still grow to maturity