Controlling plant height/size

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Surfer Joe

Well-Known Member
I am worried that my new hydro grow will get too tall for my space and am trying to plan ahead for what to do about it.


I read that fimming an autoflowering plant is not a good idea because it doesn't have enough time to recover.


Can I just give a little lst to the stem to turn it sideways for a while? Can I snip some of it to slow its growth? Can I limit light or nutes, or pull off leaves?
If so, when is the best time to do it?


If I wait until the end and the tops are getting too close to the light, can they be tied a bit sideways then without problems?


I would like to keep it shorter without reducing its potency.
Thanks for any advice.
 
CouchlockOR

CouchlockOR

Active Member
Super crop them. Mash the stem where you want to bend the tops with your fingers until it is soft and bendable then simply bend it over. Done. No loss of tops. Actually this will increase the amount of tops. When my plants get to tall from vegging too long I use this method. Although I dont grow auto flower strains this will work for you.

I wouldn't recommend limiting anything. This will cause a decrease in yield. Never pull off healthy leaves.

What size light are you running? Is it air cooled? My plants are within 6-12 inches from my hoods and there is no heat concerns with my tops. the plants actually seem to love it!

Good Luck!
 
Fykshun

Fykshun

Active Member
Hehe...I like big girls. Here are a few pics of a seven foot sativa supercropped in a five and a half foot grow space (I was scared when I did it, and I now I love the option):

IMG_1739.jpgIMG_1740.jpgIMG_1741.jpgIMG_1742.jpgIMG_1776.jpg
 
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Surfer Joe

Well-Known Member
Fykshun said:
Hehe...I like big girls. Here are a few pics of a seven foot sativa supercropped in a five and a half foot grow space (I was scared when I did it, and I now I love the option):

View attachment 2921903View attachment 2921905View attachment 2921907View attachment 2921908View attachment 2921909
Click to expand...
That's amazing. Is that the main stem bent like that in photo 1?
What do you do to keep the broken part from just dying?
Can you do it at any time in the life of the plant?
 
Fykshun

Fykshun

Active Member
Thank you, sir! I actually top my trees twice during veg, producing more than one dominant cola, so what you see in the pics are two main branches bent, not just one.

I have read many threads on super cropping, and most caution not to do it during flower but rather during veg, with a good two weeks to recover before flipping. The girl you see was done during the last few weeks of flower, and I may well have limited my yield, BUT the cropped colas continued to fatten through flower.

As for the bend/break - I suggest looking up a few threads to get a sample of techniques, but I used some electrical tape at the break for stability, as well as a few bungie cords hanging from upper tent supports to prevent the branches from breaking under weight - it's crazy though friend - the wound as it were heals very quickly and forms a large knot like a knuckle in a finger and then returns to great health.

Good luck, sir - and like I said, I was scared shitless when I snapped these branches.
 
CouchlockOR

CouchlockOR

Active Member
Fykshun said:
Thank you, sir! I actually top my trees twice during veg, producing more than one dominant cola, so what you see in the pics are two main branches bent, not just one.

I have read many threads on super cropping, and most caution not to do it during flower but rather during veg, with a good two weeks to recover before flipping. The girl you see was done during the last few weeks of flower, and I may well have limited my yield, BUT the cropped colas continued to fatten through flower.

As for the bend/break - I suggest looking up a few threads to get a sample of techniques, but I used some electrical tape at the break for stability, as well as a few bungie cords hanging from upper tent supports to prevent the branches from breaking under weight - it's crazy though friend - the wound as it were heals very quickly and forms a large knot like a knuckle in a finger and then returns to great health.

Good luck, sir - and like I said, I was scared shitless when I snapped these branches.
Click to expand...

I have been super cropping in flower for a long time with no noticeable problems. People do this all the time with a Scrog. The idea is to spread the plant out horizontally as it grows and stretches to allow lower bud sites to get the more light to produce larger buds.

I've never personally had breaking issues when super cropping unless I tried to do so to small new growth stems. Larger woody stalks bend easier with out breaking. Besides smashing the stem a twisting motion to break down the fibers works well too. Don't worry if the stem breaks a little. Water and nutrients will still make it to the top. IMHO.
 
S

Surfer Joe

Well-Known Member
Thanks. It's good to know in case I see that I will need it.
I'm growing auto flower plants and they may not get tall enough to pose a problem.
I also see in the photos that your plants are very close to your light tube. Is that a 600W bulb?
 
Fykshun

Fykshun

Active Member
The pics you see are of a 400w; and my 6" CanFan cycles so much air that I can rest the flat of my palm on the tube itself and it's barely lukewarm. I will say though, that I did get some leaf bleaching (maybe not the correct term?...) from too much light that close to me leaves - not burn, but green turning to white.
 
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