Topping techniques

monkz

monkz

Well-Known Member
For those of you who are not new to topping (and for those who are, I suggest you go read Uncle Ben's thread on it), I was wondering if anyone who's ever grown outside has double-topped a plant? As in top it initially to get 4 main stems for example, and then top each of those stems to get another 4 stems each? I keep seeing videos online of monster plants but can't seem to get a good look at the base of their plants in order to determine how exactly they topped. Any help would be greatly appreciated since this year will be my highly anticipated first outdoor grow!
 
Surely plenty of people topped multiple times both indoor and outdoor.

For a monster crop, take a clone from a plant that is or finished transitioning to flower and reveg it, then transition to flower again.

For a more precise method, see the mainlining threads, Takes more veg time, removes too much leaves, but does illustrate the effect of topping multiple times nicely.
 
I never top, only "super crop" my plants, and very little at that. I SCROG my outdoor grow, so none of that is needed.
TMB-
 
I topped all my outside plants to keep them short and better concealed . I've had some interesting harvests over the years some positive and some weren't. That I've blamed on my techniques but if you have know one to ask you've got to learn the hard way. That's why I love this site so many knowledgeable folks who don't mind sharing their
knowledge . But it might be your bad luck that you've decided to follow the advice of someone you don't know who may or may not know WTF they're talking about. Do your research and make an informed decision.
 
The thing is, I have grown many times in the past, but never outdoors. The most I've ever let a plant veg is a month, so I've never been able to properly see if topping for 4 colas is better than topping for, say, 10+ colas, or not topping at all. This is why I've asked the question. However, nobody seems to have a concrete answer.
 
ruby fruit said:
Oh you mean at harvest you have 50-100 tops to remove and trim .
...im an idiot i thought you meant you top each plant 50-100 times
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right the first time, it starts with 1 top, a couple weeks later a handful gets topped, it increases through veg then at peak of veg I am on each plant pinching tops, some days it could be 20 tops, then a week later 10 or so, it decreases as the canopy is full and holes are filled usually though after that point it starts to be just maintenance to keep the canopy level or angled how I want it, but by the end I've pinched about 50-100 tops. not counting all the undergrowth thinned out. One note to make is that early on after a month or 2 inside and a couple weeks before going outside they can be a little crowded inside which actually is nice for the next step. If they are crowded and stretching a little for the light, getting a little lanky when they go into the final pot with cages I can take those longer branches now and tie them out as far as I can, this is the foundation for everything else.
 
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monkz said:
For those of you who are not new to topping (and for those who are, I suggest you go read Uncle Ben's thread on it), I was wondering if anyone who's ever grown outside has double-topped a plant? As in top it initially to get 4 main stems for example, and then top each of those stems to get another 4 stems each? I keep seeing videos online of monster plants but can't seem to get a good look at the base of their plants in order to determine how exactly they topped. Any help would be greatly appreciated since this year will be my highly anticipated first outdoor grow!
Click to expand...
Just remember style/technique varies from person to person because conditions vary from grow to grow. Take everything with a grain of salt. Our minds are constantly trying to simplify and look for "the answer", when it's a complicated situation. Indoor is not outdoor, each strain reacts different, there are pros and cons to just about any choice you make.
 
calicocalyx said:
Just remember style/technique varies from person to person because conditions vary from grow to grow. Take everything with a grain of salt. Our minds are constantly trying to simplify and look for "the answer", when it's a complicated situation. Indoor is not outdoor, each strain reacts different, there are pros and cons to just about any choice you make.
Click to expand...

That's probably the best answer. Cheers dude.
 
oldtimer54 said:
I topped all my outside plants to keep them short and better concealed . I've had some interesting harvests over the years some positive and some weren't. That I've blamed on my techniques but if you have know one to ask you've got to learn the hard way. That's why I love this site so many knowledgeable folks who don't mind sharing their
knowledge . But it might be your bad luck that you've decided to follow the advice of someone you don't know who may or may not know WTF they're talking about. Do your research and make an informed decision.
Click to expand...
What goes hand in hand with this is that many times I've watched people get cocky because of a little success, they forget the people that have helped them and are a big part of that success, also if it goes wrong, those cocky people blame everyone else. I shouldn't have listened to so and so... Nah just own up and hold that vision of what you want and keep moving forward, make a better step than the last.
 
monkz said:
The thing is, I have grown many times in the past, but never outdoors. The most I've ever let a plant veg is a month, so I've never been able to properly see if topping for 4 colas is better than topping for, say, 10+ colas, or not topping at all. This is why I've asked the question. However, nobody seems to have a concrete answer.
Click to expand...

Learning about auxins might be a good place for you begin.

Don't forget to ask the roots what they'd like too. They might not answer, but if they're not happy you won't be either.
 
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