topping question

researchkitty

Well-Known Member
If you want 4 main colas, chop it above teh second true node and be done with it once. You'll have 4 tops, and no mess. You can even re-root the top that you cut off if your that bored. ;) You could have topped it anytime between last week and now and be fine. Go for it!!
 

Hudsonvalley82

Well-Known Member
I've been reading a lot about this 4 cola technique, and all I have to say is that picture cleared so much second guessing about nodes and internodes ect... Thank you Grumpy Old Dreamer...
 

green fan

Active Member
Thanks for the awesome help G.O.D.
I topped the other, it grew a 3rd node overnight, snipped it off early.
Switched lighting to hortilux 400 blue for veg. I will probably start Grow Big this wknd. Do you think that is too early?
 

researchkitty

Well-Known Member
Try to wait at least one week, aim for two weeks, before you flower a topped baby. Give those tops time to grow. If you flower them now, they are just going to be small tiny and shitty.
 

rzza

Well-Known Member
cuz its simply not true. i top em all the time after switching the lights to 12/12 and i get nice big colas. they stretch for a couple weeks at least after switching to 12/12.
 

researchkitty

Well-Known Member
cuz its simply not true. i top em all the time after switching the lights to 12/12 and i get nice big colas. they stretch for a couple weeks at least after switching to 12/12.
Yea, it is. :) We're referring to the UncleBen method of 4 topping a plant. Not in LST, not in FIM, not in any other methods -- just making 4 main colas. Since you "cut" the top of the plant off, you lost some growth. The other 4 branches need time to go from tiny little nods to larger nodes then grow upward.

You CAN flower them immediately after 4 topping them, but they are usually topped in the first week to week and a half in veg mode, so they are very young still. Realize I grow under 1000w lights too, in veg and in flower!

We're just redirecting the auxins to make new tops, not in topping or stressing the plant further.

Please advise if I'm wrong, I dont think I am because I've tried both ways, read UB's 2800 post count thread on the topic since it began, and now top every plant and get 4oz per plant.
 

rzza

Well-Known Member
yea i suppose when topping for four or four topping ;) you should do it early and much sooner then 12/12. i topped above the 5-9 node today (depending on height) and im going through tomorrow to top the side branches. i switched to 12/12 a few days ago.
 

BuddGreen

Active Member
44Days.1.jpg

Are them colas all over the top??? This is my first plant ever and I never trimmed anything. Put it on 12/12 a couple days ago, How long before it starts to bud???
 

researchkitty

Well-Known Member
It depends on the topping method. The 4 cola method we are referring to isnt really topping, its redirection of the auxin hormones to make 4 tops instead of one by removing the center top when its young and leaving 4 branches. When you top when the plant is older, your stressing it a little bit. That's OK though, as long as you arent stressing it other ways too as in high heat or poor growing conditions. A little stress can be fine. :) Personally, I find that just topping em with the 4 cola method here is the only thing I need to do unless a plant starts to stretch in flower too tall then I start topping as necessary. Generally dont have that happen too much these days though, that was more in the "lets grow every strain we love weed yayyyyy" days.... :)

To answer the question though irie, you generally have to do it before the plant is 2 weeks old in veg (for the method here, not others, research them independently :)).
 

green fan

Active Member
Try to wait at least one week, aim for two weeks, before you flower a topped baby. Give those tops time to grow. If you flower them now, they are just going to be small tiny and shitty.
I am going to veg these ladies nicely I am going fill that tent up. I am working on some side lighting. OK to give them the first nutes (grow big 1/4 strength)?
 

researchkitty

Well-Known Member
If your plants are already being topped, I dont know how they are surviving without nutrients! :) Disclaimer: Your plants are in soil, and I dont know DICK about growing in soil. The nutrients and how you feed them is waaaaaaaaaaaay different than my buckets and I never learned nor read up on it so let an expert tell you on that one. :)
 
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