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

Mr.Oasis · Nov 17, 2009

quick question senor Ben...ive got a couple plants growing that were topped as per your method (though they look like the skeletons u had on pg 1 with the "scaffold" branches coming out, now i have 8 growths off the main stem)

the question though, they have just finished their first week of flowering, ive got 3 girls with 2 youngsters untopped and sex-free thus far (keeping my fingers crossed they dont hermie like last time) def sat dominant, but i just noticed prior their last watering i lifted the pots (3 gal) to check their weight and noticed about 3" of roots hanging out the bottom growing through the drain holes, what do you recommend as far as transplanting? ie: how big should my next pot size be, will transplanting at this point stress the plant into herming....

they are approx 2 months old give or take a few days, bone and blood meal in soil along with an all-purpose 8-7-6 with micro's is the extent of the nuting, all main tops are about 14-18" high at this point

ill throw some pictures up tmr, its their bedtime rt now id hate to disturb them

Uncle Ben · Nov 17, 2009

Mr.Oasis said:
quick question senor Ben...ive got a couple plants growing that were topped as per your method (though they look like the skeletons u had on pg 1 with the "scaffold" branches coming out, now i have 8 growths off the main stem)

the question though, they have just finished their first week of flowering, ive got 3 girls with 2 youngsters untopped and sex-free thus far (keeping my fingers crossed they dont hermie like last time) def sat dominant, but i just noticed prior their last watering i lifted the pots (3 gal) to check their weight and noticed about 3" of roots hanging out the bottom growing through the drain holes, what do you recommend as far as transplanting? ie: how big should my next pot size be, will transplanting at this point stress the plant into herming....

they are approx 2 months old give or take a few days, bone and blood meal in soil along with an all-purpose 8-7-6 with micro's is the extent of the nuting, all main tops are about 14-18" high at this point

ill throw some pictures up tmr, its their bedtime rt now id hate to disturb them

Sativas are prone to hermie, just goes with the territory. If indeed they are pot bound, go to the next size, 5 gallon, and finish them.

Good luck

Snak · Nov 17, 2009

Ben-

Those pics are great. I have yet to produce a plant with 4 equally strong colas as shown in your picture. I personally think its a matter of lighting, but I'm also wondering if a plants health/vigor would determine whether or not the lower two branches take off as well as the top two? Most of my plants have two huge colas sprouting from the top two shoots, but the lower to shoots end up being just branches, and not really colas. The plants, I've assumed, are pretty healthy and haven't shown any signs of deficiencies, in fact they've turned way better than I could ever imagine and it looks like I will harvesting more than I planned for. Regardless, I'm curious as to why I can't get all 4 out.

Have you ever had problems getting all 4 up and running?

elduece · Nov 18, 2009

Ok. I did it. My plants looks diminutive now. Seed leaf, first node, second node then cut -did I copy that right? Fuck, that took ALOT of courage.

Uncle Ben · Nov 18, 2009

Snak said:
Ben-

Those pics are great.

Thanks, they pretty well tell the story. You can clearly see the small secondary shoots on the Zamal contrasted with the thick scaffold branches aka colas.

I have yet to produce a plant with 4 equally strong colas as shown in your picture. I personally think its a matter of lighting, but I'm also wondering if a plants health/vigor would determine whether or not the lower two branches take off as well as the top two?

I doubt it. I have done this alot and have never failed to get the expected results. I have never done it to a sickly plant, they have all been vigorous and very healthy.

elduece said:
Ok. I did it. My plants looks diminutive now. Seed leaf, first node, second node then cut -did I copy that right? Fuck, that took ALOT of courage.

I don't understand why folks are so hesitant to remove plant tissue. It doesn't hurt the plant, it only induces it to react. Whatever, good luck and welcome to another one of Uncle Ben's Paradigm Shifts.

UB

Airwave · Nov 18, 2009

I will be topping my plants between the second and third nodes later today. I hope to plant the tops in order to double the amount of plants. Is there anything different about planting the tops, compared to planting regular clones?

pitch · Nov 18, 2009

I topped my indica dominants and a lone sativa dominant between 2 and 3. Only the 2 most vigorous (of 10) of the indica dom plants are showing strong growth at the 1st node. The sativa dom is also showing strong at both nodes. The one indica dom plant I topped between 3 and 4 is showing strong growth from the top 2 nodes and little from the bottom.

At least from this small sample, topping the indica dom plants above the 2nd node may be a bit iffy to develop 4 strong colas unless the plants are very robust. Your example was about sativa's so I wonder if you've experienced any difference with indica dom plants.

If you are just re-directing the hormones by topping, can't you top between 3 and 4 node and discourage (pinch off) any growth from the first node to create 4 main tops?

Dragline · Nov 19, 2009

Just want to compliment Uncle Ben on a great thread. I have some Hawaiian Snow germinating right now and will without a doubt try for 4 colas and hopefully control their height.

Uncle Ben · Nov 19, 2009

Airwave said:
I will be topping my plants between the second and third nodes later today. I hope to plant the tops in order to double the amount of plants. Is there anything different about planting the tops, compared to planting regular clones?

A cutting is a cutting. No difference.

pitch said:
I topped my indica dominants and a lone sativa dominant between 2 and 3. Only the 2 most vigorous (of 10) of the indica dom plants are showing strong growth at the 1st node. The sativa dom is also showing strong at both nodes. The one indica dom plant I topped between 3 and 4 is showing strong growth from the top 2 nodes and little from the bottom.

At least from this small sample, topping the indica dom plants above the 2nd node may be a bit iffy to develop 4 strong colas unless the plants are very robust. Your example was about sativa's so I wonder if you've experienced any difference with indica dom plants.

No difference.

If you are just re-directing the hormones by topping, can't you top between 3 and 4 node and discourage (pinch off) any growth from the first node to create 4 main tops?

Why would you want to do that?

Dragline said:
Just want to compliment Uncle Ben on a great thread. I have some Hawaiian Snow germinating right now and will without a doubt try for 4 colas and hopefully control their height.

Have fun!

Stoney384 · Nov 19, 2009

I have to say UB that this is the best thread that i have read on this hole site man!
and will definitly do this to my seedling coming up. THX

pitch · Nov 19, 2009

Uncle Ben said:
Why would you want to do that?

Sorry, maybe it wasn't clear in my post? I didn't get vigorous growth from the first node in most of my plants. The two top nodes are going gangbusters, but the bottom node that was a single full leaf is a poor apology in comparison. The one plant that I topped between 3 & 4 where there was a 3 leaf cluster and a 5 leaf cluster is going strong from both nodes.

So.... I'd want to do it to insure robust growth in all 4 colas.

DaveCoulier · Nov 19, 2009

I thought I'd post a couple of pics.

Topping as soon as it took place:

Ten days later:

Ive got 4 more tops that are growing well underneath, but you can't see them. The sucker shoots at the first node are exactly that. They never managed to grow out like the rest, but I'm not complaining. If anyones wondering why there are three tops, its because she was trifoliate at the 4th node, which is where I topped here for 7 total that are growing well.

FreeLeaf · Nov 20, 2009

mmm...It's day 34 of veggin, the girls are nice and healtyh but not 1 opposing leaf set on either of the 8 plants. It seems to grow 1 large shade leaf. Then comming out of the same node on the same side it produces a shoot with new groth. Go 2 inches up the stem and it produces the same thing in the same order yet on the other side of the stem. How common is this?

Katatawnic · Nov 20, 2009

Are you asking if it's normal for the new growth shoots to appear at the top of the base of each fan leaf? :confused:

If so, then yes, it is exactly how it's supposed to grow. :hump:

EDIT: (How you worded your question is confusing, but what I've gathered after reading your post several times is that you're describing alternating nodes.)

First Time Growin · Nov 20, 2009

Uncle Ben said:
To get 4 main colas, let your seedling or cutting (clone) grow to about 5-6 nodes and pinch out (cut) the stem just above the 2nd true node. The node where the cotyledons attach doesn't count.

I am a new grower and kind of confused as to what you mean by this? What do you mean the 2nd "true" node? I have a photo here, I just took it minutes ago.
I hope someone can reply soon as to where i should be cutting it? It has reached its 5th branch and is growing its 6th pair now

DaveCoulier · Nov 20, 2009

The single bladed leaves are your first true node. Im sure you can figure it out from there.

It appears you have a trifoliate plant. Hopefully it'll turn out to be a female. Nice trait to have in a plant.

First Time Growin · Nov 20, 2009

DaveCoulier said:
The single bladed leaves are your first true node. Im sure you can figure it out from there.

It appears you have a trifoliate plant. Hopefully it'll turn out to be a female. Nice trait to have in a plant.

Honestly no, I am totally lost haha... All of the branches are growing new little leafs by the stem. I still don't understand how to identify "true" nodes, or what that even means? And yes it is a trifoliate, and also my favorite plant.

hope to hear back from you, or someone else for my question. thanks all. peace2u..

Dragline · Nov 20, 2009

First Time Growin said:
I am a new grower and kind of confused as to what you mean by this? What do you mean the 2nd "true" node? I have a photo here, I just took it minutes ago.
I hope someone can reply soon as to where i should be cutting it? It has reached its 5th branch and is growing its 6th pair now

Edit.. wrong info

Uncle Ben · Nov 20, 2009

pitch said:
Sorry, maybe it wasn't clear in my post? I didn't get vigorous growth from the first node in most of my plants. The two top nodes are going gangbusters, but the bottom node that was a single full leaf is a poor apology in comparison. The one plant that I topped between 3 & 4 where there was a 3 leaf cluster and a 5 leaf cluster is going strong from both nodes.

So.... I'd want to do it to insure robust growth in all 4 colas.

I'd top above the 2nd node, you know, the one above the juvenile single leaf.

Dragline said:
Bottom arrow would be for two main colas. Top arrow would be for four. Uncle Ben and most others recommend cutting for four. Just in case I am wrong and have just made an ass of myself, don't cut until Uncle Ben or at least a few others confirm the picture is right.

Where the cotlyedons attach does not count. The single leaf node site does.

UB

First Time Growin · Nov 20, 2009

Uncle Ben said:
I'd top above the 2nd node, you know, the one above the juvenile single leaf.

Where the cotlyedons attach does not count. The single leaf node site does.

UB

What I am understanding is, I need to cut my plant in HALF!????? i am kinda wondering wtf? lol did you look at the pic i had posted UNCLE BEN?

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

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