Dr.StickyFingers
Well-Known Member
When I refer to supercropping in this thread I'll be referring to the technique of bending branches.
What is supercropping? If you're clumsy like myself you might have broken a branch here or there during a grow causing the branch to limp but hopefully still be attached to the stem. It's another form of training that induces stress on the plant much like LST except you're bending the branch to the point that the cell wall breaks instead of tying down each branch. As shown in this diagram.
Here is another example.
Why does super cropping work?
Essentially what you're doing is rerouting auxin. Auxin is the plant growth hormone responsible for cell growth and division. In fact, the word auxin literally means "to grow/increase". When a plant is left to grow naturally most of the auxin in the plant is located at the tip. When you supercrop your plants what you're doing is stressing the plant by breaking the cell wells. In response, the plant diverts auxin from the tip causing two thing to happen; The area of the branch which was bent recovers mending itself and that surrounding area of the plant which wasn't productive before experiences growth usually causing the plant to become bushier and increasing yield with bigger colas. Also, the horizontal bend allows for more surface area that light can come in contact with (same idea as SCROG & LST).
How to supercrop.
What you're trying to accomplish is to break the cell walls. You can do this by pinching, twisting, bending, or rolling the branch between your thumb/index/middle finger to the point where you can feel a slight crack and the fibers breaking. The branch which was rigid before should limp over (don't break it off). Don't stress your plant more than you have to, usually you won't have to go past 90 degrees to crack the branch. When done right you're plant should start to correct itself in a day or two and usually you will see a fibrous knot or bulge at the site where the plant mended itself after a few more days. When the plant has fully mended itself that area where the break occurred comes back even stronger
Here is an example of a plant that has mended itself.
Some things to remember...
- Supercropping is not effective with all strains, some strains will respond better than others. Test it on one branch before bending others.
- You should let your plant develop a few nodes before you start to twist & crack. If you FIM or Top your plant you should wait until the plant has recovered and established its new colas before you supercrop those branches.
- Allow your plant to mend the first bend before bending the same branch again. When bending the same branch do so a node or 2 away from the first bend.
- Stop bending branches once your plant has started to develop flowers
What is supercropping? If you're clumsy like myself you might have broken a branch here or there during a grow causing the branch to limp but hopefully still be attached to the stem. It's another form of training that induces stress on the plant much like LST except you're bending the branch to the point that the cell wall breaks instead of tying down each branch. As shown in this diagram.
Here is another example.
Why does super cropping work?
Essentially what you're doing is rerouting auxin. Auxin is the plant growth hormone responsible for cell growth and division. In fact, the word auxin literally means "to grow/increase". When a plant is left to grow naturally most of the auxin in the plant is located at the tip. When you supercrop your plants what you're doing is stressing the plant by breaking the cell wells. In response, the plant diverts auxin from the tip causing two thing to happen; The area of the branch which was bent recovers mending itself and that surrounding area of the plant which wasn't productive before experiences growth usually causing the plant to become bushier and increasing yield with bigger colas. Also, the horizontal bend allows for more surface area that light can come in contact with (same idea as SCROG & LST).
How to supercrop.
What you're trying to accomplish is to break the cell walls. You can do this by pinching, twisting, bending, or rolling the branch between your thumb/index/middle finger to the point where you can feel a slight crack and the fibers breaking. The branch which was rigid before should limp over (don't break it off). Don't stress your plant more than you have to, usually you won't have to go past 90 degrees to crack the branch. When done right you're plant should start to correct itself in a day or two and usually you will see a fibrous knot or bulge at the site where the plant mended itself after a few more days. When the plant has fully mended itself that area where the break occurred comes back even stronger
Here is an example of a plant that has mended itself.
Some things to remember...
- Supercropping is not effective with all strains, some strains will respond better than others. Test it on one branch before bending others.
- You should let your plant develop a few nodes before you start to twist & crack. If you FIM or Top your plant you should wait until the plant has recovered and established its new colas before you supercrop those branches.
- Allow your plant to mend the first bend before bending the same branch again. When bending the same branch do so a node or 2 away from the first bend.
- Stop bending branches once your plant has started to develop flowers
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