Cutting Back Outdoor Flowering Plants

  • Thread starter fuego.de.basurero
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fuego.de.basurero

fuego.de.basurero

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Appreciate feedback on this and thanks in advance...

Have two plants grown from seed of unknown genetics. Moms were likely either Chem Cookie or Purple Queen. No clue on the fathers. Both have been showing female pistils for 3 - 4 weeks and have definitely stretched. No actual "buds" forming yet. Plants have hit about 6' with likely two months of good weather to go. Their "siblings" are all ~4' - 5' which is what we usually expect. We cannot have these two get any taller due to visibility from other yards and possibly even the street (which would be very not good). Year 6 growing in this spot and have never had them get this big before. The tomatoes usually grow faster and provide nice cover, but not this year.

Cutting to the chase, we want to cut the tops back at least a few inches. I have hesitated due to where they are in their life cycle. We are not worried about diminished yield. The concern is jacking the plants flowering stage up and having something bad happen (whatever that may be). And we have tried LST but the two main branches are quite thick and don't really want to budge.

Cutting back outdoor flowering plants 2


Cutting back outdoor flowering plants
 
fuego.de.basurero

fuego.de.basurero

21
13
Supercrop...squeeze the branch until u feel and hear a snap...you can use pliers on thicker stalks but pad the jaws with something.
You dont cut tops in flower, you supercrop

How far can we safely go down on the main stalks? I have read up to 6", but there is so much conflicting info online it can be hard to know what to do for a novice.

And yeah, we have avoided that so far as the stalks are thick and no one I know locally has ever done it to ask for assistance. Everyone I know grows outside and just lets things fly.
 
Mudballs

Mudballs

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I've never read 6" being the limit. There is no limit to where the plant can be supercroped. I know it's an absolutely nerve racking event, but you gotta learn it eventually. There's xylem and phloem inside that stalk...and that stalk is hollow. Don't severe those 2 important things inside the stalk and you can crush, mangle, and twist that stalk in ways that would make a grown man faint....but you gotta be willing to try it.
Don't focus on a small 1" section...spread your pinching up and down a large patch of the stem when the stalk is very thick. Or just pop that sucker right over, be brave :)
 
nashobaTHC

nashobaTHC

463
143
Chop the top ft if you’re worried about neighbors seeing them. Put a little honey to seal cuts. I’ve used hedge trimmer on too tall plants. All the sides growths will bud up nicely.
 
fuego.de.basurero

fuego.de.basurero

21
13
I've never read 6" being the limit. There is no limit to where the plant can be supercroped. I know it's an absolutely nerve racking event, but you gotta learn it eventually. There's xylem and phloem inside that stalk...and that stalk is hollow. Don't severe those 2 important things inside the stalk and you can crush, mangle, and twist that stalk in ways that would make a grown man faint....but you gotta be willing to try it.
Don't focus on a small 1" section...spread your pinching up and down a large patch of the stem when the stalk is very thick. Or just pop that sucker right over, be brave :)

Thanks for your feedback 👍 My understanding is after super cropping I need to "tie down" the branches to keep them from standing backup. Is that correct?

Regarding the 6" limit, I spent a bunch of hours researching different solutions online and came across a few discussions on vertical limits to super cropping. But as I said in my previous post, there is an endless amount of conflicting info online. I came across people "debating" super cropping on other forums - two topics were vertical limits and growth cycle timing limits. I chose this forum to post my questions as the crew seems a little more dialed in and coherent. Able to form complete sentences ;)
 
Mudballs

Mudballs

Supporter
250
93
Thanks for your feedback 👍 My understanding is after super cropping I need to "tie down" the branches to keep them from standing backup. Is that correct?

Regarding the 6" limit, I spent a bunch of hours researching different solutions online and came across a few discussions on vertical limits to super cropping. But as I said in my previous post, there is an endless amount of conflicting info online. I came across people "debating" super cropping on other forums - two topics were vertical limits and growth cycle timing limits. I chose this forum to post my questions as the crew seems a little more dialed in and coherent. Able to form complete sentences ;)
You 'may' have to tie down. Depends where the bend is done. You may not have to.
 
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