After you've lolli-popped branches in veg, what do you do with the tips?

It's a little difficult to word the question, as I realize results vary by strain and will have to factor that in per each strain I'm working with.

• a uniform process: I've been trying to determine the minimum # of main branches I want to allow to proceed to bloom.
  • for topped plants, I think the # will be around 8 main branches (topless).
    • so, I'll have to consistently let clones get a node or two taller before topping them.
    • exception(s): strains like Animal Crackers/Cookies (Fire OG x Thin Mint GSC) grow so many side branches ... it requires more lolli-popping throughout its life than any other strain I have. However, unlike other strains, if you allow some of an Animal Crackers' side branches to grow long, they still yield large buds. It's not the most potent strain, but it seems to be the most suitable for topping and I'd allow it to have twice as many bud sites flower than the same size plant that's a different strain. Animal Crackers isn't one of my Side A strains, but it tastes and smells great so I blend it with more potent strains that are not as loud/flavorful. It doesn't suck, it's just a better side-kick/complementing strain, if that makes sense.
  • after you've topped your plant and lolli-popped its branches, what do you do with the tips?
    • Do you allow all of it to flower, including any side-branches that develop during bloom?
      • Are you selective? If so, which do you leave?
        • Do you fork the tip, perhaps during veg, so that the each main branch becomes two?
          • I kind of like that better than an entire cluster flowering, inevitably some are small buds.
          • Or, if you're going to fork a branch, is it advantageous to fork a branch closer to the stalk?
            • If nothing else, an early fork might just be easier to execute, time-wise. A tip-fork would probably require a longer veg, perhaps well worth it if you execute it well?

Note: perpetual bloom, photos, locking down phenos to 1 mother per strain so now experimenting with veg length and strain-specific preferences (e.g., topped, untopped, # of branches, veg time, other stuff...). Thanks! Long question ... sorry.

Your most definitely over thinking this.

Doesn’t lollipopping only involve removing lower leaves and small branch’s.

i just let them grow like nature intended.

Autodoctor said:

Doesn’t lollipopping only involve removing lower leaves and small branch’s.

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yes, but beyond the general definition, there seem to be a few nuances to nail down, in light of varying plant characteristics. For example, I noticed some strains grow secondary branches like crazy and others don't; some kind of do but the buds are relatively small compared with primary branches; and some have lots of secondary branches that, if controlled/reduced, still yield well relative to its primary branches. so, I'm assuming you can lock down the ideal # of branches per strain you're growing, considering, among other things,
- how long you want to veg a particular strain/plant (i.e., how big you want/need it to get),
- how many branches or bud sites may be too much for that particular desired plant size's root mass,
- to top or not top a particular strain.

the goal is consistent results from clones: 8 strains, might reduce/replace along the way. mothering the phenos I want to keep, now working on nailing down the ideal veg time and training for each one. there are areas in my bloom tents set up for topped plants, and areas set up for untopped plants. It's all in an effort to achieve the right plant # mix for my perpetual bloom setup.

run the strains a time or two, see how they branch out, but if you do a little lst, top them a couple of times, lollipop your lowers, you'll get the best yield you can without a lot more work (like a scrog). if a strain seems particularly bushy, then don't bother with the topping, just a little lst and lollipopping ought to work just fine

Roger A. Shrubber said:

run the strains a time or two, see how they branch out, but if you do a little lst, top them a couple of times, lollipop your lowers, you'll get the best yield you can without a lot more work (like a scrog). if a strain seems particularly bushy, then don't bother with the topping, just a little lst and lollipopping ought to work just fine

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Thank you!

1) I see growers say they "top them a couple of times" or "three times" -- what does that mean exactly? Once I've topped a plant, there's nothing to top again where I topped it other than flarf. Generally, when I lollipop, I cut off all side branches up to the last node or two. At most, I veg for 4 months. More often, < 3 months (untopped plants are young in bloom).

2) are you suggesting to only lollipop lowers? I can see why that would make sense for overall yield, though there may still be a population of small nugs on upper branches' lower nodes.

- I'm currently not topping two strains, I'm not really lollipopping them either:
Grape Ape: its flowering time is like 7 weeks, too quick to slow down turnaround by topping, increasing veg time.
Bruce Banner: buds are consistently bigger (not huge, but relatively uniform) when not topped. If topped, it's hit or miss ... BB's not among my Side A strains, so it's not my focus. However, I currently have a couple I'm vegging longer and topping.

3) and don't bother topping particularly bushy strains? I can see that working too. However, a distinction there is perhaps Animal Crackers -- its overwhelming # of secondary branches can give it a bushy appearance, but you'll get raisin and grape-size nugs if you don't hack most of its secondary branches off. On the other hand, strains like Gelato, Taskenti, and even White Widow, seem to fall in line with your suggestion here. I'll try that on a few clones I was going to top today/next week. Thanks!

Now, I just need a game plan for 5 Alive and Gorilla Cookies. Presently, they're just getting topped and lolli-popped.

when you top, you're removing the apical meristem where growth hormone collect. the hormone gets spread through the plant, so the lower branches start to grow more. if you wait 2 or three weeks, when you can see the plant growing steadily again, you can top again, and get more of the same effect. it just makes them bushier, the more you do it, but they do need about two weeks usually to get over it and get back to vigorous growth.
and whats wrong with small nugs...as opposed to no nugs...? you're always going to get the largest buds at the top of the plant, but all along those upper brances you're going to get golfball size and larger buds as well, which smoke just as good as cola buds. lollipopping anything above the bottom third of the plant is counter productive, at least in my opinion.
i also practice LIGHT selective pruning. i do not defoliate...i remove larger fan leaves that are laying on top of younger growth, blocking light. they also make wet spots where they overlap that can be starting places for bud rot or P.M. i generally make a sort of tunnel up the middle of the plant so air and light can pass through. then all those grape sized buds turn into at least golfballs..