Uncle Ben's Topping Technique to Get 2 or 4 Main Colas

I got my report back from Texas A&M System. $15 for an analysis is great. They were pretty fast too (like 5 days, and round-trip just over a week). Here's the website http://soiltesting.tamu.edu
It says.

pH 6.5
Conductivity 813
N 22 (it says to add .3lbs/1000 sq ft.)
P 225
K 706
Calcium 1,569
Magnesium 410
Sulfur 193
Sodium 369
Iron 29.18
Zinc 4.82
Manganese 14.15
Copper 1.89

I'll add .5 cups blood meal to the 2 sq. yards of soil I have left for the transfer to the final 4gal pots. Does that sound like enough, yet not too much? Once again thanks UB for the simplest, fastest, and cheapest route to answer my ? about the soil mix
Daniels

This is a fantastic technique!!!! Awesome write up and indepth pictorial. I will have to try this out and incorporate it into my LST grow. I will be paying close attention to your postings in the future Uncle Ben.

Danielsgb said:

I got my report back from Texas A&M System. $15 for an analysis is great. They were pretty fast too (like 5 days, and round-trip just over a week). Here's the website http://soiltesting.tamu.edu
It says.

pH 6.5
Conductivity 813
N 22 (it says to add .3lbs/1000 sq ft.)
P 225
K 706
Calcium 1,569
Magnesium 410
Sulfur 193
Sodium 369
Iron 29.18
Zinc 4.82
Manganese 14.15
Copper 1.89

I'll add .5 cups blood meal to the 2 sq. yards of soil I have left for the transfer to the final 4gal pots. Does that sound like enough, yet not too much? Once again thanks UB for the simplest, fastest, and cheapest route to answer my ? about the soil mix
Daniels

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Sounds like a good start. You'll know based on the color of the leaves.

Yea, meant for that to be on my grow journal, but was a little waked and baked.
I was happy to see a post from ya. Sulfur is high on the bar chart, but I expected the Sodium to be too high from the Epsom Salt being too much. It's below the CL level on the bar chart. Thanks again.
Daniels

Danielsgb said:

Yea, meant for that to be on my grow journal, but was a little waked and baked.
I was happy to see a post from ya. Sulfur is high on the bar chart, but I expected the Sodium to be too high from the Epsom Salt being too much. It's below the CL level on the bar chart. Thanks again.
Daniels

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Glad it worked out, those analysis are priceless. BTW, epsom salts contains no Na. It's MgSO4 I believe. That's a high level of Na and its source should be investigated. It's negative effect (if any) will be offset by the high amount of Ca.

Good luck,
UB

UB

I'm here reading up on your topping technique and can't help bu wonder, "can u jus LST above the second node (by bending down with a twist tie) and still redisdistribute the hormones"? thus, in the end, finishing with five main colas, instead of four??

why is your name red rock ? it does not exist it is incense LOL

Straight up G said:

why is your name red rock ? it does not exist it is incense LOL

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Actually red rock does exist, here in Colorado Red Rocks National Park is a huge attraction (nothing but Red Rocks) and a big ampheater where concerts are held every year, you can google it

riddleme said:

Actually red rock does exist, here in Colorado Red Rocks National Park is a huge attraction (nothing but Red Rocks) and a big ampheater where concerts are held every year, you can google it

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I went to many concerts there when I went to CSU. Best natural amphitheater I've ever seen.
Daniels

Can't apply with a quote!

Yes, LST redistributes the auxins.

have to give respect to you Tio, just checked a plant ,out doors that is short and stocky with four well distributed colas ,she showed me preflowers today

HappyGrowing86 said:

sorry here's the pics

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looking at your ladies was this done by lst/ looks like tie down below but can't tell

so here's some i've been working on

So today I gave it a shot going for 4 main colas and I found the SIM teknique. I went to chop the top right above the 2 node, and also chopped one of the side shoots! Shit I Missed! So will I now have 3 main branches or will the side shoot on the other side try to become the only main cola? What do I do!

Hey Robert, glad to hear things are going your way.

hey UB, you should check my thread. all my plants have been topped using your method and the two big mommas are soo bushy. thank you for perfection and making the time to experiment with this technique. this will always be one of my base trainings.

pine

Grizzdude said:

So today I gave it a shot going for 4 main colas and I found the SIM teknique. I went to chop the top right above the 2 node, and also chopped one of the side shoots! Shit I Missed! So will I now have 3 main branches or will the side shoot on the other side try to become the only main cola? What do I do!

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You will still end up with 3 main tops. I did the same damned thing to one of my Skunk Hazes, and it has 3 strong growing tops. Ive noticed from my plants, heavy sativas really grow fast after topping, while hybrids, or anything indica dominant is slower. Or maybe the skunk haze are just more vigorous than them. UB, have you ever noticed a difference in growth between sativas, and indicas after topping?

Thanks dave, I just wasn't sure if I was just going to get 1 top out of it. Thanks

ElectricPineapple said:

hey UB, you should check my thread. all my plants have been topped using your method and the two big mommas are soo bushy. thank you for perfection and making the time to experiment with this technique. this will always be one of my base trainings.

pine

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Good to hear it!

DaveCoulier said:

UB, have you ever noticed a difference in growth between sativas, and indicas after topping?

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Not really, except in height. Sativas are gonna grow taller than indicas, that's just what they do. I topped this way in response to growing mainly sativas indoors, that's how it came about.

Update, after starting quite a few seedlings and having them torn up by high winds, I'm down to 2. Will top one above the cotyledons and the other above the second node and try to post some photos soon. Got to admit, what's left are beautiful plants. Crappy "soil" did not contribute to damp-off as expected. High winds bent over the tops and "broke" the fragile "trunks" and even after staking with wooden skewers, they would not heal enough to resume growth. Spring winds have been brutal, even with windbreaks, staking and cages I've had to replant tomato plants. Robert, you can relate to this, eh? BTW, love the avatar shot of the chameleons doing The Nasty, hah!

later.......

uncle ben-

good to see ya around again