smoke n strum
Active Member
just trying to lighten things up a little... ummm.. nobody is laughing
Uncle Ben's Topping Technique to Get 2 or 4 Main Colas
- Thread starter Uncle Ben
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I couldnt agree more. What many people do not know is that Ben is in FACT being extremely abusive in threads outside his own. Abrasive is an understatement. He flat out calls people all kinds of names and constantly insults their inteligence with very snide remarks. To top it off he does this on topics where he has ZERO first hand experience with a certain product or method. He loves the drama. I think that is half of why he comes in this forum. He could make a civil comment and move on but he doesnt. He gets right to name calling and tries to instigate nasty arguments. He is somewhat civil in his own thread atleast but I have seen him be very mean to new people who are just asking simple questions as well. I would like to hear what he has to say at times but he just cant refrain from calling names and attacking if he doesnt agree with you.i could have sworn he said he had invites to "better sites" anyways. why would he want to come back?
until he changes his attitude and learns to follow the rules, i'll keep banning him. there seems to be another mod who feels i'm wrong yet doesn't have the ability to address anyone about it. at least i'm out here trying to work this out.
ben is welcome here, as long as he can STOP attacking and insulting people. it's pretty basic stuff.
I for one publicly apologized for how I reacted to UB. Too bad he doesnt seem able to do the same.
collective gardener
Well-Known Member
I second the group hug. Now, get in here Uncle Ben an hug it out. Negro Modelo's are on me.
Serapis
Well-Known Member
I got my tomatoes in the other day, Better Bush, beefsteaks and some other type. Tons of peppers... Salsa party in 65-75 days 
Serapis
Well-Known Member
smoke n strum
Active Member
I use the smart pots because the soil here sucks. I have early girls and celebrities...the only strains I can get in fast enough. 4 kinds of peppers, california wonders, cayenne, santiago chilis, and portugal something, also basil, thyme, oregano, parsley, cilantro, taragon, cantelope, watermelon, cucumbers, and pot.I got my tomatoes in the other day, Better Bush, beefsteaks and some other type. Tons of peppers... Salsa party in 65-75 days
Winter Woman
Well-Known Member
Thanks, UB, it worked for me! My one friend who grows is so jealous. 'How'd you do that?', he asked I just looked at him and said, 'I'm not telling' lol.
Nah, not really by the end of the night I showed him how.
Nah, not really by the end of the night I showed him how.
xebeche
Well-Known Member
Well, as to the REAL topic of this thread: personally, I found it informative and have tried it a few times since reading it, with pretty good success so far. Is it a "novel" technique introduced by UB? Maybe, maybe not...I haven't yet seen an alternative (and earlier) citation wherein the author describes where (and when) to top a cannabis plant to get two or four main colas - although it wouldn't surprise me to hear that it's been described elsewhere. Fact is, I read it here first...and probably wouldn't have found it somewhere else on my own.
In the past, when I've topped my plants, I've occasionally ended up with plants that had four main colas after topping...but I'd also sometimes get two main colas on others. IOW, I was just topping at random nodes (and usually earlier than recommended by UB in this thread). A few weeks ago I tried UB's technique on a few young (maybe 4-5 week old) ladies I've been preparing for my next grow [Oh, and I do think it's fair to call it "UB's technique" because that's exactly what it is...he described the technique he uses when topping a plant in order to get two or four main colas - just like the title of the thread says].
Anyways, this is a fem Cali-O topped just above the 2nd true node. This one had two branches that were significantly larger than the ones just below, so I tied down the two larger wings to let the other two smaller ones catch up. The four tops are at about the same level with this LST...although it now has a pretty rectangular footprint, as you can see from the top view. Still, pretty much what I was aiming for.
Similar results with this White Rhino...which displays more even growth for all four new stems, and a more compact footprint (and so didn't need to be tied down).
As a bonus, I rooted the severed tops and got two solid, healthy clones with nice thick stems. As I said, I've always topped much earlier in the past, so the clones I'd get from rooting the cuttings never had stems that were this meaty before. This was probably the first time that I waited until the plant had five or six true nodes before I topped it. Kinda tough to chop off so much foliage from the mother plants, but they both recovered nicely, and I do like the looks of these clones.
While my understanding is that some strains produce better yields with a four-cola arrangement than others, these two seem to be responding predictably up to this point. Of course, for the ultimate test I'd probably want to grow out each of these plants (preferably with a control plant that isn't topped...and maybe also one topped for two colas) and see what kind of yields I got with the different number of tops, but my objective in this case was simply to see if I could get four main stems from which I can take four meaty cuttings from each mother plant a little later on for my next grow. Eight just happens to be the perfect number of plants for my flowering cab. So far, it looks like UB's technique is exactly what I was looking for.
So... thanks Uncle Ben!
In the past, when I've topped my plants, I've occasionally ended up with plants that had four main colas after topping...but I'd also sometimes get two main colas on others. IOW, I was just topping at random nodes (and usually earlier than recommended by UB in this thread). A few weeks ago I tried UB's technique on a few young (maybe 4-5 week old) ladies I've been preparing for my next grow [Oh, and I do think it's fair to call it "UB's technique" because that's exactly what it is...he described the technique he uses when topping a plant in order to get two or four main colas - just like the title of the thread says].
Anyways, this is a fem Cali-O topped just above the 2nd true node. This one had two branches that were significantly larger than the ones just below, so I tied down the two larger wings to let the other two smaller ones catch up. The four tops are at about the same level with this LST...although it now has a pretty rectangular footprint, as you can see from the top view. Still, pretty much what I was aiming for.
Similar results with this White Rhino...which displays more even growth for all four new stems, and a more compact footprint (and so didn't need to be tied down).
As a bonus, I rooted the severed tops and got two solid, healthy clones with nice thick stems. As I said, I've always topped much earlier in the past, so the clones I'd get from rooting the cuttings never had stems that were this meaty before. This was probably the first time that I waited until the plant had five or six true nodes before I topped it. Kinda tough to chop off so much foliage from the mother plants, but they both recovered nicely, and I do like the looks of these clones.
While my understanding is that some strains produce better yields with a four-cola arrangement than others, these two seem to be responding predictably up to this point. Of course, for the ultimate test I'd probably want to grow out each of these plants (preferably with a control plant that isn't topped...and maybe also one topped for two colas) and see what kind of yields I got with the different number of tops, but my objective in this case was simply to see if I could get four main stems from which I can take four meaty cuttings from each mother plant a little later on for my next grow. Eight just happens to be the perfect number of plants for my flowering cab. So far, it looks like UB's technique is exactly what I was looking for.
So... thanks Uncle Ben!
xebeche
Well-Known Member
Here's another strain I'm trying UB's technique on. I have three Neville's Haze Hybrids in solo cups...they're about four weeks old. I topped all three just above the second node, and stuck the tops in rapid rooter plugs. I have two more of the same strain that aren't quite as big as these three, so I'll wait for another week or so before I top them as well. Maybe I'll even come back here in ten days or so and update on the status of these plants (and the cuttings)...if the thread hasn't been wiped out by the mods by that time, lol
Serapis
Well-Known Member
I have all that too.. I forgot to mention my one gallon herb containers... The melon mound was finished up yesterday. Strawberries, onions and red potatoes go in next week.
Uncle Ben
Well-Known Member
A true RIU testimony, thanks for sharing! May your 4 colas be bigguns.Well, as to the REAL topic of this thread: personally, I found it informative and have tried it a few times since reading it, with pretty good success so far. Is it a "novel" technique introduced by UB? Maybe, maybe not...I haven't yet seen an alternative (and earlier) citation wherein the author describes where (and when) to top a cannabis plant to get two or four main colas - although it wouldn't surprise me to hear that it's been described elsewhere. Fact is, I read it here first...and probably wouldn't have found it somewhere else on my own.
In the past, when I've topped my plants, I've occasionally ended up with plants that had four main colas after topping...but I'd also sometimes get two main colas on others. IOW, I was just topping at random nodes (and usually earlier than recommended by UB in this thread). A few weeks ago I tried UB's technique on a few young (maybe 4-5 week old) ladies I've been preparing for my next grow [Oh, and I do think it's fair to call it "UB's technique" because that's exactly what it is...he described the technique he uses when topping a plant in order to get two or four main colas - just like the title of the thread says].
Anyways, this is a fem Cali-O topped just above the 2nd true node. This one had two branches that were significantly larger than the ones just below, so I tied down the two larger wings to let the other two smaller ones catch up. The four tops are at about the same level with this LST...although it now has a pretty rectangular footprint, as you can see from the top view. Still, pretty much what I was aiming for.
View attachment 1499757View attachment 1499758
Similar results with this White Rhino...which displays more even growth for all four new stems, and a more compact footprint (and so didn't need to be tied down).
View attachment 1499799View attachment 1499801
As a bonus, I rooted the severed tops and got two solid, healthy clones with nice thick stems. As I said, I've always topped much earlier in the past, so the clones I'd get from rooting the cuttings never had stems that were this meaty before. This was probably the first time that I waited until the plant had five or six true nodes before I topped it. Kinda tough to chop off so much foliage from the mother plants, but they both recovered nicely, and I do like the looks of these clones.
View attachment 1499811
While my understanding is that some strains produce better yields with a four-cola arrangement than others, these two seem to be responding predictably up to this point. Of course, for the ultimate test I'd probably want to grow out each of these plants (preferably with a control plant that isn't topped...and maybe also one topped for two colas) and see what kind of yields I got with the different number of tops, but my objective in this case was simply to see if I could get four main stems from which I can take four meaty cuttings from each mother plant a little later on for my next grow. Eight just happens to be the perfect number of plants for my flowering cab. So far, it looks like UB's technique is exactly what I was looking for.
So... thanks Uncle Ben!
Have fun,
Tio Bendejo
Uncle Ben
Well-Known Member
Someone needs to start a veggie gardening thread outside of this one. That's another hobbie I'm passionate about. Yesterday I about wrapped up my spring planting. As of yesterday I have in - asparagus (new permanent bed), spinach, 5 types of lettuce, Mirai corn (THE best), tomatoes, peppers, red, russet and Yukon potatoes, bulbing onions, shallots, gourmet garlic, radishes, kohlrabi, carrots, cilantro, fennel, Contender bush beans and Kiowa blackberries. Left to plant - cukes, pole beans, cantaloupe, melons squash.
I guess fdd is still playing his petty little games, like he has with Bricktop and so many other nice folks. Looks like he unpinned this thread. RIU reversed fdd's infraction against me, recommend he strip him of his mod authority, which he is clearly abusing.
Speaking of BT, anyone heard from him?
UB
I guess fdd is still playing his petty little games, like he has with Bricktop and so many other nice folks. Looks like he unpinned this thread. RIU reversed fdd's infraction against me, recommend he strip him of his mod authority, which he is clearly abusing.
Speaking of BT, anyone heard from him?
UB
Uncle Ben
Well-Known Member
Nice job and just a recommendation. When you upcan, bury the "trunk" as deep as you can. The Haze is gonna be leggie, but the quality very rewarding. I even strip the lower petioles off cannabis (and tomatoes) so I can go real deep. Your vigor and yields will greatly increase because of the increased root mass, and in the end, that's all that matters in this game - having the most amount of healthy foliage and roots you can muster.
Good luck,
UB
Serapis
Well-Known Member
Sorry for being off topic, but I have yet to plant my mound stuff either. Cukes, melons and squash. I'm also doing late season strawberries. I think I'll start up a veggie garden thread in the appropriate spot and maybe we all can follow each others veggie grows.
Peace
Peace
Uncle Ben
Well-Known Member
That would be cool. I'd like to see thread as a RIU collective gardener's hangout as opposed "my garden" thread. I've been gardening for decades and will be most happy to offer my tweaks, tips, and suggestions. FWIW, the okra gets so stout I have to literally wrap a chain around the plants and pull them out with my tractor's bucket, tomatoes finish at 7' tall by 5' wide in 5' tall 36" diameter cages. All in raised beds heavy in compost, etc........Cukes, melons and squash. I'm also doing late season strawberries. I think I'll start up a veggie garden thread in the appropriate spot and maybe we all can follow each others veggie grows.
Peace
Give us a link please.
Dr Gruber
Well-Known Member
Do you recommend that for all strains or just the more leggy variety?
buddhalover425
Member
i have 75 plants...i experimented with UB topping on about 10 plants 2 months ago when i started vegging.now i am in the flowering process and the ladies look great. this topping method did give me 4 huge colas and a whole bunch of baby colas around it due to pinching tops off when they were younger.i been reading this forum for a while now.and just recently joined due to reading UB's postings.i learned a great knowledge from you . that i put to the test myself and i can tell your one smart dude that actually KNOWS what your talkin about with facts to back it up...i have pictures if anyone would like to see then i will upload them..oh and this is a great forum!
smoke n strum
Active Member
That's a good idea Serapis, be sure and let us know where and when. I planted 6 asparagus root sets last year. Do you guys know if they need flooding in the spring? It hasn't rained here in months. So far one piece of asparagus, but it got big enough after one year..that's pretty good I hear.Sorry for being off topic, but I have yet to plant my mound stuff either. Cukes, melons and squash. I'm also doing late season strawberries. I think I'll start up a veggie garden thread in the appropriate spot and maybe we all can follow each others veggie grows.
Peace
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