23Likes
LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Reply With Quote
Can you explain this stairstepping thing a bit better?
can't tell how your prunning from the pic's
It looks and sounds similar to something I was going to try in my next grow though there was no prunning involved
Anybody Want To Double Their Yield?- Desertrat's Top and Prune?
i cannot claim original ownership of this idea - it was in the old growfaq - but since i don't think anyone uses it anymore, i'm gonna jack it for myself. it won't double the yield of someone already using advanced growing techniques but it is an easy way to improve on basic growing techniques.
anyway, here are the basics
1. either top or fim the main branch after the 4th node
2. on the main branch only, prune every other fan leaf in a staircase pattern. this slows the growth of the main stem and for some reason stimulates the growth of secondary branches.
here's what you get after two weeks: SANY0201.jpgSANY0202.jpg
versus this for topping alone: SANY0203.jpg
notice that each topped/pruned plant now has at least 6 growth tips all within a couple of inches of the canopy top. i think this is superior to multiple topping because it causes less overall stress to the plant and can be tailored to keep the growth tips all at the same height.
this is what a mature female looks like after topping/pruning: IMG_0063.jpg
versus this for topping alone: IMG_0010.jpg
i've tried it with two strains and gotten the same results. doubled yield to 4 ounces per plant from 2 ounces.
Can you explain this stairstepping thing a bit better?
can't tell how your prunning from the pic's
It looks and sounds similar to something I was going to try in my next grow though there was no prunning involved
the stair step pattern simply means to start at the bottom node of the main branch, cut one fan leaf of the pair, then go up to the next node(where fan leaves are at 90 degree angle to the fan leaves in first node), cut one fan leaf, then at the third node you cut the leaf opposite the leaf cut from the first node, then on the fourth node you cut the leaf opposite the second node cut leaf. continue to the top. what you have left is a spiral pattern of fan leaves making their way up the main branch. you end up cutting exactly half of the main branch fan leaves.
i kind of did this by accident with some nute/ph issues. nodes that lost fan leaves have much more developed secondary branches.
that's kind of interesting, same thing going on with the pruning, obviously. so maybe it's more like the plant tries to repair the wound site by flooding it with nutrients and the secondary branches are the beneficiaries?Originally Posted by makinthemagic
I did this kind of by accident my first grow, just topped it and pruned a bunch of leaves, and it worked real. Just about every top was level with the rest and all the stems were about the same thickness I was impressed.
Just let it happen
what kinda wattage you using?
I Smoke Kush.I PoP Beans.
MiDWeST BoRn N RaiSeD.
damn desertrat your picture is scary
i did this once on my first noob grow and trimmed off too much by accident and slowed it down, be careful not to do this lol. beginners mistake
and when did you top them? shortly after they reached their 4th node?
600 watt mh for veg room and 600 watt hps in flowering room plus four 42 watt and four 26 watt cfl's of each spectrum that i throw in from time to time.
i was scared to death the first time i tried it but it was easy. if i remember correctly, i topped at the sixth node.
Posting Permissions
Bookmarks