i havent thought about keeping the light that close to the plant..... how mant watts are your lights?
BUT............ keep in mind this is your 1st grow and lst is kind of an advanced technique.
my best advice is KISS (keep it simple stupid)
i havent tried anything that i didnt understand yet.
once understood, its simple... dont futs yourself up
do what your comfortable with
If your nervous about topping, you can try pinching the tops (not too hard). I've done it with good sucess for years now. If done correctly it will stunt but not kill your top for a few days, which still makes the sides branch out like topping but you save the main cola. Just another option for you.
You could use string and drill a hole in the side of your pot or something. It looks like it has some nice branching traits and would respond great to it too. Just bend it down so the the main cola is parralel to the ground or make a little circle or whatever. Once the main top can no longer grow upwards the other banches will start developing better.
its a 4 week old skywalker plant. i started her from a clone and she is currently under a 400 watt Daylight CFl. i am not sure what i can do to make more bushy, i have limiter space because i am growing in a 5ft tall and 2x2 squared... could use the help guys
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I'm referring to the top node or growing point on your plant. Just take it between your thumb and forefinger and give it a pinch, not hard enough to turn it to mush, fairly lightly. Worst case scenario, you pinch way to hard and kill the top.....no big deal same as cutting it off.