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

nodes on clones are a little different since its alternating in veg. any1 have pictures of where they topped there clones. i understand above the first or second nodes. i just want a picture to reassure my assumption on where exactly to top at. amazzing thread by the way. probably the most helpful ive read

Mr.I said:

how's the high from the sativas, honestly i think i never even tried something like that.

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Not all sativas are the same and not all indicas are the same and not all hybrids are the same. But a really pure sativa--like super silver haze or a Hawaiian variety is, well, for lack of a better term: exquisite. Imagine a hot air balloon inside your head that literally feels like it's lifting you towards the heavens. It's superb.

Shackleford.R said:

hey UB i'm topping my girls tomorrow. i'll post some pics to get your feedback.
i've read through this thread i don't know how many times.
nice to hear this from someone with ACTUAL botanical knowledge.
thanks for this guide!!


Shack

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Glad you're getting something out of it. I have done alot of experimenting with cannabis. In fact, almost everyone of my gardens had something going on regarding some kind of testing. The topping to 4 main colas was a result of experimenting as was the so-called secondary harvest.

Here's an experiment I did with one of my crosses - O. Haze X C99, growing it outdoors under brutal conditions to test for:

1. Burn sensitivity to organophosphate sprays and record summer heat during the summer,

2. Rootbound condition and the use of a hydro food. I used Dyna-Gro foods 9-3-6.

I destroyed the subject plants after I drew my conclusions.

Note the retention of the tiny leaves at the very bottom, and the narrow sativa Colombian leaf type phenotype!




And guess what? "It" was a "she." Classic pre-flowers from this little lady.



Make it a great day,
Tio Bendejo

Uncle Ben, thanks for all the info. I just signed up but I have been reading your advice for a while. I plan on implementing your topping technique. Aprox how many plants do u like to use under a single 1000w hps and a 600w hps, i know it will range with different strains and different veg times. Basically i want to know how u would use the combined squared footage of this light combo with your topping technique. I dont plan to veg long at all. At the moment i have ak47, dutch dragon, and superstar by D9, but i will be getting chocolope by DNA and G13haze which sound like they both will work good for this tech. I also want to keep it perpetual, im veggin at a different place and blooming only under this light combo. So unc how would go about harvesting bi-weekly the most medicine possible under these two lights. I will be using jacks classics when i run outta my current advance nutes. but till then im gonna suplement with nitrozime try to keep my girls green till harvest. thnks unc

can someone give me a little guidance here, please. this will be my first time topping, and I'm a tiny bit confused with these plants. the leaves grow kinda one side at a time and very unevenly. so where exactly should I cut with these?

luca brazi said:

Uncle Ben, thanks for all the info. I just signed up but I have been reading your advice for a while. I plan on implementing your topping technique. Aprox how many plants do u like to use under a single 1000w hps and a 600w hps, i know it will range with different strains and different veg times. Basically i want to know how u would use the combined squared footage of this light combo with your topping technique.

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It plays no part in my plan. Don't get worked up regarding the watts/s.f., which is another forum farce, a crude way of stating how much watts one should have with a total disregard regarding the real issues - quality and efficiency of the hood, side reflecting panels, plant age, etc. It's what the plants are actually receiving along with ALL cultural factors that count.

I dont plan to veg long at all. At the moment i have ak47, dutch dragon, and superstar by D9, but i will be getting chocolope by DNA and G13haze which sound like they both will work good for this tech. I also want to keep it perpetual, im veggin at a different place and blooming only under this light combo. So unc how would go about harvesting bi-weekly the most medicine possible under these two lights. I will be using jacks classics when i run outta my current advance nutes. but till then im gonna suplement with nitrozime try to keep my girls green till harvest. thnks unc

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I guess you need to set up a separate veg and flower room. There are plenty of threads here on that.

Good luck,
UB

Roger that unc. I was asking because someone told me that the closer the hood, (as long as its air cooled) the more dense the finished buds will be. and its my understanding that 1000w is good for about a 4x4 area. Anyway i have a seperate veg room. i was just sayin that the 1000w and 600w are both for flower. i will be moving the plants from the 600w to the 1000w to finish'em and keep it perpetual. How much space did that big girl that yielded 10 ounces take up? how many of those could u fit under a 1000w? and i have been reading all your forums so i am gettin what your sayin about her nutrition. and i was one of those persons loosing leaves at about 5 weeks. i noticed especially with my superstars they get super frosty trichomes all over like their parents sensi star at about 4 weeks. and a week later the frostiness deminishes followed by yellow leaves a week later. So im all over a new nutrition plan. and now im lookin into a new reflector for my 600w cause its kinda cheap lookin but i think my 1000w reflector is good. thnkx

luca brazi said:

Roger that unc. I was asking because someone told me .......

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Someone told you eh? See my sig link regarding high light. Glad you asked to get another opinion. The most stupid thing I read, all the time, is the "heat on the back of the hand trick". That is a statement from a person who has no clue about a plant's light saturation point.

that the closer the hood, (as long as its air cooled) the more dense the finished buds will be.

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Total bullshit. It's the maintenance of chlorophyll and the abundance of leaves that drives production. If a 400W lamp 10' above your plants delivers that affect, then that's what you do, not blindly follow someone's advice at RIU. Sorry to sound gruff, but you need to put people on the stand and ask them "why?" when they make such black and white statements.

and its my understanding that 1000w is good for about a 4x4 area.

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Based on what factors? I could get what I want out of a 250W HPS in that amount of space. You must include the sum of the parts in your equation - type and efficiency of hood, f.c. actually received by the plants, plant nutrition, temps, day/night differential......lots of factors to consider.

Roger that unc. i'll keep u posted.

Topping is complete, pretty sure I was successful the second i gave the girls a trim i looked and to my surprise "WOW! FOUR EQUALLY SIZED TOPS!"
just above the second node is definitely the spot to trim. my girls have already bounced back and redistributed the hormones. all 4 tops are growing beautifully!!
I took another pointer from this thread and I'm attempting to clone the tops. I had 100% success rate last cloning attempt, fingers crossed i still got that juju.
If they clone I'm using them for "SICC" party cup competition.

Here is a direct link to the post if you want to take a look..
Topping/Cloning/Photo Post#188




Shack

ive done it it works this is the best post for any grower shooting for huge yeilds not done yet keef you all posted on final yeilds

would anybody know if this method works on tga's strain jack the ripper? sub says topping slows them down tremoundously. what do i do? thanks

Ive never noticed any substantial slow down in growth when topping. I would venture to say it actually increases growth when you factor in the lower side branches now growing like main tops.

I would weigh in that topping causes stress. It's not a lot and most strains handle it with absolutely no problem but if you have something that is rather weak genetically because of breeding section process, poor cloning techs etc, it can really recoil when presented with any stress at all. I'm not saying that is the case on the strain you mentioned as I've never grown it myself. If you do indeed find a strain that does not like to be topped, I would toss it but that's just me. The really finicky strains do not produce a superior product IMO so why deal with the headache.

Thanxs for the replies guys. I can not toss this strain paid 100 for a 10 pack haha. This finicky strain does indeed produce a superior product thats why I dont wanna fuck it up.

THANKS UNCLE BEN!! I HAVE 8 TOPS NOW!! (two plants )




Shack

i think topping is the wrong way to go because any stress on the plant and you could stunt the plant. Another safer method that has no side effects at all is LST. Or low stress training. Basically tying the plant down with ropes and not physically doing any damage to it.



Pic is 1 plant 2 weeks into flower using this technique

forgot to add has 68 main tops as of right now

holy shit nice plant man you do good work!i might try this method thanks

Your plants look nice Rusty. You should do a update a week from topping with some before and after pics so people can see it really doesn't affect the plants growth.

Bwood: Thats one hell of a plant you got there. I looks like it has devoured its pot, and seeking out anything within reach to gobble up .