Yo Uncle Ben, Killer pics on page one. I had some success with topping but have a question for you. Why did you top an inch after your 2nd true node? Did growth start from that piece of stem you left above the node, is that how you got 4 main colas? In the past I topped above the node ( 2nd-4th) leaving an inch of stem or so and It just shriveled up. Was that the case with urs or did it sprout new growth

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When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car

The nub will shrivel and is not capable of foliar output.

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PLANT MOISTURE STRESS aka leaf edge/tip curling - symptoms and solutions
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Better to be too far away than risk damaging the node.. Thing I liked about that pic was the fact that it clearly depicts that topping IS NOT cutting through the node itself like alot of noobs seem to think.. FIMing isn't even if done properly..

Yeah thats what I was thinking... so by topping after the 2nd node are you more likely to get 4 main colas or is it pretty rare?

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When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car

Pretty much clockwork across all genetics unless you tamper with growth patterns further..

Can you explain this a bit more? I've FIM'ed a couple of plants, and although the plant bushed out more,
the next few sets of leaves were deformed or cut at the ends. Is that normal?

I cut straight through the node taking off about 80%. I'm not clear on how you can FIM without cutting
through the node. I thought that was the whole idea behind FIM, and what makes it different from just topping.

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My LowLife Autoflowering AK47 Grow

The node is actually the bulbous region where the new outputs come from, not the dominant shoot directly above.. Actual nodes are really tightly spaced on new growth, and they stretch from there.. The target is always the apical meristem regardless of technique though, and yes new growth is often deformed for a while.. I'm not exactly sure how natural, or mistake driven that is.. Might as well post this again..

Attached Images

FIM.jpg (31.5 KB, 29 views)

I see. So I guess I'm actually misusing the word "node" when I'm trying to
describe the tight pack of new nodes on the apical bud.

So has anyone ever said definitively whether FIM is better than regular
topping in any way? From what I've seen of Uncle Ben's work, topping for four main
colas is the way to go.

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My LowLife Autoflowering AK47 Grow

Ask 10 different people about how to FIM and you'll get 10 different answers. IMO, it's another one of those lame forum drills (like flushing) that has no merit and just won't die, reason why it's slammed so much as "Fuck I Missed". It's just not 100% predictable or reliable.

Having said that, most of those who played with it at CW and OG agreed that you cut thru the node which resulted in up to 8 outputs. My question in numerous posts was, "OK, are you suggesting that the plant has dormant bud tissue at the node?" No one could ever answer the question.

Topping to get 2 or 4 main colas (your choice) is really a no brainer. It works 100% of the time for me, is quick and causes no stress to the plant or the grower.

Tio

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PLANT MOISTURE STRESS aka leaf edge/tip curling - symptoms and solutions
Note- Due to some technicality, I can not reply to "New visitor messages"

UB, i used the info in this thread to top my Northern Lights plant. plant has fully recovered from topping and is growing four main colas nicely. thanks! my question is, 1 of the new main colas is like 3" above the other 3 main colas(branches). what if anything can i do to slow her down so others can catch up? i'm trying to get an even canopy for my lights... thanks

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Fck the world and the government, OVERGROW em' all !