Questions on how to fill in the side space in vert bare bulb grow

This is only my second grow (first being outdoor) and I need a little help with some details.

I have 4 plants vegging around a 400 mh bulb. I want to train them to the side to fill in the gap between each one.

I have bamboo stakes to use to help train. So, later when they have vegged more do I want to start training branches or will that wait til I flip into flowering?

Also, should I consider topping them?

thanks

What I used to do, and still do for certain strains, is get fishing line and gently pull the branches down to the side of the bucket and tie it off, toucan also super crop, which is where you breaks the outside skin of the plant's stem and bend it down, sometimes people twist it to help break the side walls without damaging the internal stem. If your scared to damage your plants then a tie down would work good, takes about 2 days before the top will straighten Itself out and you'll have 15 new tops.

I thought super cropping left the outside of the stem intact while partially crushing the inside. That's how I did it and it worked just fine.

Don't top, will discourage vertical growth. Some strains might respond well, but most won't.


For vert consider serious training (LST/HST) and letting them grow out as natural trees - of course hanging a number of bulbs between a forrest of trees will mean no training required, but it all depends - overall I recommend against topping. Most strains won't be suited to it in a vertical grow.

As mentioned just tie them off to fill the space. I didn't bother with them while in vegg because they were in a different area. When you flip you will be strapping them down left and right. Best wishes!