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

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.

Uncle Ben, your the man! thank you! your technique is great!

Originally Posted by Uncle Ben

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.

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.

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.

Topping produces a bushier, shorter plant.

Originally Posted by Paulielow

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.

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.001.jpg002.jpg008.jpg009.jpg

Originally Posted by Uncle Ben

Topping produces a bushier, shorter plant.

I got a Cotton Candy I topped and the damn thing still hit six feet. But what about clones? Does the same fourth node stuff change any?

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