A Little Confusion About Colas

Weedly · Jan 5, 2025

Please forgive my ignorance and what is possibly a silly question, but I haven’t been able to get a proper answer through research.
I’m nine days after flipping and I just realized this evening that I only topped my plants once, so my question is: Is the bud site from any branch a cola, or is that term reserved for just the main branch? Also, will bud sites from a small branch create the same type of bud as from a main branch? I misread the tutorial on scrogging and thought I should only top once, so now I’m curious what kind of buds these other sites are going to grow, if any (assuming I can manage to keep the gals happy and healthy for two more months).

BudRanger1919 · Jan 5, 2025

You did great man don't worry about only topping once hahaha, I only top my plants once, and then I leave the branches alone I don't top them AT ALL I just let them catch up so they are at the same level as the new main colas.

If a side branch is getting direct light and at the same level as the 2 main colas, as is the aim when scrogging, it will be a big cola and once dry will be hard for you to tell which is the main cola and which is the top of a side branch. The lower you go down the smaller and less dense the nuggets will be. Your canopy is looking really even, which will go towards a more uniform bud size. Smaller offshoots of branches lower in the canopy will produce smaller buds because they don't have the capability or enough light to produce the same as a branch twice its size and closer to the light, but that doesn't mean they wont be great buds as long as they are in direct light they will be little mini colas.

LoveGrowingIt · Jan 5, 2025

Weedly said:
Is the bud site from any branch a cola, or is that term reserved for just the main branch?

The ends of stems and branches are colas.

Your grow looks great. Good job!

Blastfact · Jan 6, 2025

Looks great! Don't worry about termanology. You have bud sites all over your canopy. Or if you want Kola sites all over your canopy.

R4V3N · Jan 6, 2025

That is a very pleasant picture to look at I have to say. Great job, seriously.

HerbalEdu · Jan 6, 2025

we usually speak of colas for branches with many bud site along them as opposed to branches with a single bud site or two

Gmix · Jan 6, 2025

A pic says a million words

Loads of colas

Weedly · Jan 6, 2025

Thanks everyone! All that not only clears up my confusion, but puts my mind at ease as well.
I must say I’m really enjoying this new hobby. It’s going to save me loads of money and the moments of sheer panic just add drama to my life. Now, if I can just keep them alive for two more months.

longbottom · Jan 6, 2025

First grow? This will make a lot more sense as the plant moves along..

You see the new leaves forming at the top that are thin and strange looking? (at the tops), In the next few weeks those "tops" will start to reach for the sky. (we call this the stretch) Those are your colas.

Be careful, too many colas can be hard to feed depending on the amount of soil used.... My first grow had almost 30 "tops" and it was impossible to feed.... I'm now growing 8 colas in 3 gallons of soil. The colas can get massive, see the picture above, I'm counting around 12-14 cola's there...(Gmix's photo above)

Here is an example: See the skinny small leaves at the tops? I'm using these pics as our plants look similar in grow style.

A few weeks later: Each of the white cottony things is a cola top (I over did it this grow)

Side view: Early flower... (You can see the colas have stretched considerably)

Weedly · Jan 6, 2025

longbottom said:
Be careful, too many colas can be hard to feed depending on the amount of soil used.... My first grow had almost 30 "tops" and it was impossible to feed.... I'm now growing 8 colas in 3 gallons of soil. The colas can get massive, see the picture above, I'm counting around 12-14 tops there

I’m in coco/perlite in five gallon fabric pots, but the coco has settled down to probably only three gallons. I feed them GH Flora Trio every day and could bump that up to twice a day if necessary. Do you think I’m heading for trouble? Should I cull some of those bud sites forming? I’m not too worried about quantity, just quality, especially this first grow.

longbottom · Jan 6, 2025

Weedly said:
I’m in coco/perlite in five gallon fabric pots, but the coco has settled down to probably only three gallons. I feed them GH Flora Trio every day and could bump that up to twice a day if necessary. Do you think I’m heading for trouble? Should I cull some of those bud sites forming? I’m not too worried about quantity, just quality, especially this first grow.

So, there are many different ways to go in this hobby... But take a look at Gmix's photo. You see how massive his dozen or so Colas are? And if you look at my pic, I'm running close to 30 of them.... (not good !)

Anyway, just enjoy! You'll understand a lot more about why people train after making it through flower. Its hard to explain and easier to learn by being there yourself. Your plants are looking amazing by the way, nice job !

longbottom · Jan 6, 2025

Weedly said:
I’m in coco/perlite in five gallon fabric pots, but the coco has settled down to probably only three gallons. I feed them GH Flora Trio every day and could bump that up to twice a day if necessary. Do you think I’m heading for trouble? Should I cull some of those bud sites forming? I’m not too worried about quantity, just quality, especially this first grow.

I'll let others chime in, feeding daily in soil is no good ! But Coco is different, I can't answer for this...

Gmix · Jan 6, 2025

In coir aka coco

You do feed every day & water once or twice a day

Bubblegumyum · Jan 7, 2025

Weedly said:
Please forgive my ignorance and what is possibly a silly question, but I haven’t been able to get a proper answer through research.
I’m nine days after flipping and I just realized this evening that I only topped my plants once, so my question is: Is the bud site from any branch a cola, or is that term reserved for just the main branch? Also, will bud sites from a small branch create the same type of bud as from a main branch? I misread the tutorial on scrogging and thought I should only top once, so now I’m curious what kind of buds these other sites are going to grow, if any (assuming I can manage to keep the gals happy and healthy for two more months).View attachment 2352735

Your SCROG is looking lovely! I'm near the end of my first SCROG and 9 days after flip they looked like this

The little one was only topped once and is a week younger than the other 3

And this is the end of week 8 of flowering...

It's not clear from the photo but the buds on the smaller plant that I only topped once are much bigger than the buds on the other 3

Weedly · Jan 7, 2025

Bubblegumyum said:
Your SCROG is looking lovely! I'm near the end of my first SCROG and 9 days after flip they looked like this

Thanks! That lets me relax a little because your buds look amazing. Also, I’ve been really hesitant to defoliate much more than to keep airflow around the base. It looks like you didn’t defoliate much either, so that bolsters my confidence as well.

Bubblegumyum · Jan 7, 2025

Weedly said:
Thanks! That lets me relax a little because your buds look amazing. Also, I’ve been really hesitant to defoliate much more than to keep airflow around the base. It looks like you didn’t defoliate much either, so that bolsters my confidence as well.

Yeah, I haven't grown many times, and last time was over 10 years ago! So I thought I would see how this goes with no defoliation and maybe do a bit next time. I've got 5 fans on the go! 2 aren't very good though. No mold or anything like that

I've read that you get a slightly higher yield without defoliation, just more popcorn little buds. I'm fine with that - I'm going for maximum yield over aesthetics

The plants actually started defoliating themselves a bit, a few weeks ago! Dropping small middle and lower leaves easily. They have plenty left!

Thanks for your bud compliments! I cannot wait until they're ready!! Good luck with your grow!

Bubblegumyum · Feb 12, 2025

I harvested 415g from this grow!

Justlovetogrow · Feb 12, 2025

Bubblegumyum said:
I harvested 415g from this grow!

Congrats man

Bubblegumyum · Feb 12, 2025

Justlovetogrow said:
Congrats man

Thanks! Should last me a few weeks

A Little Confusion About Colas

A Little Confusion About Colas

Weedly

BudRanger1919

LoveGrowingIt

Blastfact

R4V3N

HerbalEdu

Gmix

Weedly

longbottom

Weedly

longbottom

longbottom

Gmix

Bubblegumyum

Weedly

Bubblegumyum

Bubblegumyum

Justlovetogrow

Bubblegumyum

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency