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

**stilltokin** · 01-17-2009, 09:09 AM

Thats some good info, i will surely look back into this when the time comes.
But for some reason I get the biggest yields if I just let the plant do her thing and not top or anything, it forms one main huge cola which is heavy and full of thc, not saying the thc would be affected by topping

**"SICC"** · 01-17-2009, 09:14 AM

Yea but with topping you get more Colas, and you let the lower shoots come up as well, resulting in a bunch of bud sites, that, normally would have just been gettin side lighting, instead now, there being on the top of the plant with the cola's

**lazypothead420** · 01-17-2009, 09:20 AM

Do you have any closer pics of where u would top for only 2 cola's? Also is this method ideal for sog?

**Mr.I** · 01-17-2009, 11:02 AM

i think you can adapt the plant to grow in sog with more colas. it will require more time thats all. so let's say if you have your babies flowering and you do clones at the same time, you would be able to arrange the timing in such a manner so that your clones (with two-four-six colas) will get ready for the flowering room right after veg by the time the flowering ladies are done. it also depends on the space you have, and the lighting you have. i have extreme side lighting so that would work really good for me to have four colas or even six, if you got one HID bulb there could be some shading issues later on, so its up to you. thats my opinion

**lazypothead420** · 01-17-2009, 11:21 AM

My idea is having 2 mothers (wanna grow 2 diff strains) a 25 site cloner and one big flowering room where i'll grow the 2 different strains. 1 strain a month older than the other, so i harvest every month. Planning on doin 20 plants all total. flowering right out of the cloner. I have a 4ft. L 7ft. H 2 1/2ft. D. grow space, should i go for 2 tops or 4? Also would it be better to have less plants with 4 tops or more plants with 2 tops?

**winkdogg420** · 01-17-2009, 11:23 AM

cut above the third get 8 colas???????????

**Mr.I** · 01-17-2009, 01:42 PM

Originally Posted by lazypothead420

My idea is having 2 mothers (wanna grow 2 diff strains) a 25 site cloner and one big flowering room where i'll grow the 2 different strains. 1 strain a month older than the other, so i harvest every month. Planning on doin 20 plants all total. flowering right out of the cloner. I have a 4ft. L 7ft. H 2 1/2ft. D. grow space, should i go for 2 tops or 4? Also would it be better to have less plants with 4 tops or more plants with 2 tops?

i'm new so, i would really like to hear some opinions from the experts on this question too. i just had my first grow, flowering into 34 days now. i have limited space like you do, and got choices of two different pot sizes. either to grow smaller pots and have twice as many plants, or grow bigger plants with more colas. from what i understand so far, it depends on the strain. i've read that some strains do really good when you top them some don't. i would imagine that most of the strains do much better with topping.

really its up to you to experiment, you can never know what genetics your mother will have unless you go through selection process and choose the best mothers for your specific need. to choose a good mother is very important!

one thing i know is you would have bigger colas with bigger pot size with bigger plants. as of yield, you have to experiment and weight it out in the end.

as turnaround time, well, if you have smaller plants they "supposed" to grow faster with two colas. on the other hand bigger root mass with bigger pots wouldn't take much more time to grow to four colas.
so its all about our own preferences and genetics we choose.

i hope this helps. have fun.

**lazypothead420** · 01-17-2009, 06:29 PM

Yeah i guess its experiment time.. lol. i might do a few with two and a cuple with 4 and see which one i like better.

**Uncle Ben** · 01-18-2009, 06:36 PM

Originally Posted by OneHit

UB What do you mean about the last output to occur at the lowest node? Im not sure what that output means.

That means that it is the least likely node to receive redirected ho moans. I'm also trying to explain plant hormonal responses - the ones at the top receive hormones that induce output the first. Top a plant, any kind of a plant, and it will induce dormant bud output starting with the top down.

Also, why is the reason we wait until there are 5-6 nodes, and just cut the second one? Arnt we throwing away alot of wasted plant material? Maybe a weeks worth of growth? Also, we could root that top, and do it all over again right?

By allowing the plant to get a good start, which occurs with some leaf material from say......6 nodes (opposing leafsets) as opposed to 2, you're just giving it a better jump-start. You can use the cutting as a clone.

Lastly, what would be the advantage of having 2 main colas rather than 4? Why not just go 4 colas all the time, doesn't that mean more production? That also means no more topping the plant anymore, right?

No special advantage to 2 colas and that's what I usually do is top to get 4. But I was "playing games" regarding 2 versus 4 years ago jest fer fun. I decided to do quite a bit of experimentation on cannabis years ago, potting techniques, soil chemistry, pest control, etc. rather than taking someone's take on it. 4 main colas is my ditty.

Post #1232 has some really good shots of the 4 main cola structure. 2 pages past are some more.
https://www.planetganja.com/highsoci...=33786&page=62

Regards,
UB

**Uncle Ben** · 01-18-2009, 06:56 PM

Originally Posted by Mr.I

if there are four main colas does that mean its longer flowering time? same?

Same because you're doing "the act" during veg. When you flip the switch, the four colas and other flowering sites will respond with the same normal flowering response based on phytochrome level changes.

Originally Posted by lazypothead420

Do you have any closer pics of where u would top for only 2 cola's? Also is this method ideal for sog?

You could surely use it for SOG.

Originally Posted by winkdogg420

cut above the third get 8 colas???????????

Yeah, but you'll get small colas and not necessarily dominant ones, just bushy as hell. Your typical main cola on the typical plant is the dominant branch or leader, just as a dominant leader (trunk) on a pecan or oak tree would be. Top (pinch out the top of that leader) and you have just redistributed the ho moans to points (dormant foliar buds) below the cut, which makes for multiple leaders.

Originally Posted by Mr.I

i'm new so, i would really like to hear some opinions from the experts on this question too. i just had my first grow, flowering into 34 days now. i have limited space like you do, and got choices of two different pot sizes. either to grow smaller pots and have twice as many plants, or grow bigger plants with more colas. from what i understand so far, it depends on the strain. i've read that some strains do really good when you top them some don't. i would imagine that most of the strains do much better with topping.

It's a matter of maintenance and personal preference. I do SOB (Sea of Bush) as I would rather focus my time on a few large plants as opposed to a bunch of smaller ones. Your call.

Plan your garden and execute your plan according to your desires and goals.

one thing i know is you would have bigger colas with bigger pot size with bigger plants. as of yield, you have to experiment and weight it out in the end.

yeppers, that's what it's all about.

Grow hard,
UB