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

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riddleme

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i ma getting ready to try this in the next few days
can someone help me figure out which node is the second true node.
i think it is the 3rd node since the first one does not count. is this correct?
please help i am new
The little oval leafs that come out first are called cotyledons, they don't count, the next set of leafs are the first true leafs but don't count either (as the plant will drop them) the next set has the first true "branches" and is the first true node, every set that comes out after that is a node and once the plant matures (is ready to flower) they will start to come out unevenly
 

DaveCoulier

Well-Known Member
The little oval leafs that come out first are called cotyledons, they don't count, the next set of leafs are the first true leafs but don't count either (as the plant will drop them) the next set has the first true "branches" and is the first true node, every set that comes out after that is a node and once the plant matures (is ready to flower) they will start to come out unevenly
Uhh, the first true set of leaves does count.
 

ered603

Member
i have an indoor plant in flowering shes about, id say about one month away crop croping, i need it to be done it a week is there a way to make my buds develope faster?
 

riddleme

Well-Known Member
Below are a couple of posts in this thread showing plants with lateral branching from the first node.

https://www.rollitup.org/3781378-post1704.html

https://www.rollitup.org/3744318-post1653.html
I dis-agree that these pics show that, to me it appears that there are no branches coming from the first true leaves???

But in fairness I did some research and it would appear that both of us are wrong???

Dictionaries define a node as a place where a leaf is formed

and this botany book defines the first true node as the cotyledons
http://books.google.com/books?id=FM1CAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA329&lpg=PA329&dq=botany+first+true+node&source=bl&ots=gRqv-PHZ6f&sig=P1yuZJnhLs_SZYS4x_dAHLIlSQE&hl=en&ei=gcSLS-j6MYegsgP2v_CGAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CA4Q6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=&f=false

Not saying that just one reference in a book makes it right, but it is an interesting read, if you read on it goes to explain that holding back on nutes going into flower increases flowering and feeding nutes inhibits (slows down) flowering

For me where topping is concerned I will continue as I have, but also curious as to what UB has to say on this???
 

Uncle Ben

Well-Known Member
The little oval leafs that come out first are called cotyledons, they don't count, the next set of leafs are the first true leafs but don't count either (as the plant will drop them)
Definately counts as the first node, doesn't matter if the plant retains them or not. The issue is where dormant buds reside, and they are located in the petiole's axis, the future main colas. Above ground and those dormant buds differentiate into foliar output, below ground and they differentiate into root output.

Speaking of retaining leaves.....see this plant, notice the tiny leafsets at the bottom, node #1? If I can retain such juvenile leafsets, you can too. ;) In fact, I think I see the cotyledons still hanging on this plant and it's about 2 months old if memory serves me correct. My cross - O. Haze X C99. The cotyledons are commonly called "seed leaves". Not really true leaves but endosperm used to provide the embryo nutrition.





Good luck,
UB
 

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Stoney384

Active Member
hey UB i was looking at the 1st page on this thread and i noticed on your branch scaffolding on the girl you topped, that all four main cola branches where about the same thickness.

my plant had two branches that where twice as big as the other two.

so my Q is: could this just be because of the different strains, or cause mine was an indica dominant strain?
or was there somthing that i should have done to help them equal out?
or was it just what my plant wanted to do....lol

here is a pic of my scaffolding
 

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Uncle Ben

Well-Known Member
my plant had two branches that where twice as big as the other two.

so my Q is: could this just be because of the different strains, or cause mine was an indica dominant strain?
Either "just because" or it was the top 2 that were thicker which is due to apical dominance.

how many days or weeks does this technique delay the plant?
Depends on the health and vigor of your plant, has little to do with the technique. If your plant is not vigorous then naturally it will take longer to respond or grow out, but the same can be said if it was left untopped. If left alone, you should start to see output in the axils anyway after a short while. This just speeds up the process, IF, you have a well ground seedling/clone.

My seedlings grow very fast, so naturally they will respond quickly to "outside forces".

UB
 

Juggalomidgetfahker

Well-Known Member
I had one of my plants lose its top on its own so it split in 2 but one became thick and the other skinny and not as tall...the thick one I topped again just for the heck of it so I should get 3 on that plant....the others have gone too far to do it now...I started 12/12 4 days ago and they are alread 2.5-3ft feet tall....just ordered a bunch of beans though so I will give this a shot next time.

Have you had what I mentioned happen where one side becomes the main stalk and the other looks more like a branch?
 

PANGcake

Active Member
Here's my contribution to this thread. UB's topping performed on clones when they had 5-6 nodes. They have responded very well and one of the clones that I pulled, since it got topped when only 4 nodes grown, I think it didnt have as UB says "enough foliage to support", but it had shot roots like there's no tomorrow...clones are doing very well and I can very well see how the 4 main colas are forming and they are growing some thick stems :wink:

Clones planted in soil



9 days later, UB's topping performed 2 days before pic...



...2 days later and it's growing. Added only Super Vit to the plant water.



Some random pics of topped clones...









This is the topping technique I will be using from now on :mrgreen: plants responded well, growing nice thick stems and throwing abundance of healthy roots...

Allready +repped and voted 5 stars, can't do it again. Great post!

:peace:
 

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