Advice needed on next steps please....

rookie_needs_help · Jul 17, 2025

Growing outdoors UK. Have topped the plant some time back now. Looks good but think I may have trimmed too much. Also unsure what i should do next...

should I be trimming the larger fan leaves?

Should i top the plant again to control vertical growth?

Should any other leaves be pruned?

Plant is 10 weeks i think in veg. Possibly 12 max. Stems are getting icky and have a fruitful scent which i hope is a good sign.

Any guidance would be helpful. I suspect I will struggle during flowering stage as controlling light schedule will be nature dependent. Plus I fear any rainfall during flowering stage(when I get there) will hinder efforts made so far.

Thanks... couple pics attached taken yesterday.

Smokey_LaFleur · Jul 17, 2025

I wouldn't take any more leaves, those are the plants power source. Maybe get some more stakes to support the branches. Dealing with rain... not much to do about that except keep an eye on weather forecast and if possible cover her. Little bit won't hurt as long as it dries out, its those 3 or 4 days of persistent rain that will get you.

PlumberSoCal2 · Jul 17, 2025

Keep watering when needed. Looks good. A Sative I would assume?

Leaves are food storehouses, no need to cut. When flowers arrive you can clip any covering them, until then enjoy the ride.

You could bend the tops about half way down, put a hook or screw in the wall and tie them down or tie string directly to the chicken wire. Produces more larger flowers instead of one large at the top.

Once light is down to 12 hours or less a day which should be soon she'll start flowering and you won't want to do any more topping. In the future you may want to top the plant(s) a bit more. I like to try for at least 8 tops which means topping the main stem(s) 3 x's over the course of a month or two, depending on growth rate. A 4th topping will produce 16 main tops and a much bustier plant.

rookie_needs_help · Jul 17, 2025

Smokey_LaFleur said:
I wouldn't take any more leaves, those are the plants power source. Maybe get some more stakes to support the branches. Dealing with rain... not much to do about that except keep an eye on weather forecast and if possible cover her. Little bit won't hurt as long as it dries out, its those 3 or 4 days of persistent rain that will get you.

Thanks @Smokey_LaFleur

Have removed leaves where i felt they were shading out growth beneath them but am reluctant and unsure whether its necessary. The only thing for me is the top two shoots are growing vertically with vigour. Noting ive topped already i didnt know if i should or can top again to deter further vertical growth.

Thanks again.

rookie_needs_help · Jul 17, 2025

PlumberSoCal2 said:
Keep watering when needed. Looks good. A Sative I would assume?

Leaves are food storehouses, no need to cut. When flowers arrive you can clip any covering them, until then enjoy the ride.

You could bend the tops about half way down, put a hook or screw in the wall and tie them down or tie string directly to the chicken wire. Produces more larger flowers instead of one large at the top.

Once light is down to 12 hours or less a day which should be soon she'll start flowering and you won't want to do any more topping. In the future you may want to top the plant(s) a bit more. I like to try for at least 8 tops which means topping the main stem(s) 3 x's over the course of a month or two, depending on growth rate. A 4th topping will produce 16 main tops and a much bustier plant.

@PlumberSoCal2
awesome insight. top 8 times - wow. i did wonder if i should have again but this is only my 2nd attempt (previous plant grew amazingly but completely outgrew the grow area (indoors). Plus - the damn gnats killed the poor girl.

think bending the tops is a good shout.

as amateur as this sounds - yeh i think its a sativa based on what the final product was....
think its worth building some form of cover to aid light schedule change when in flowering or let nature takes it course?
thanks again

PlumberSoCal2 · Jul 17, 2025

Keep watering when needed. Looks good. A Sative I would assume?

Leaves are food storehouses, no need to cut. When flowers arrive you can clip any covering them, until then enjoy the ride.

You could bend the tops about half way down, put a hook or screw in the wall and tie them down or tie string directly to the chicken wire. Produces more larger flowers instead of one large at the top.

Once light is down to 12 hours or less a day she'll start flowering and you won't want to do any more topping. In the future you may want to top the plant(s) a bit more. I like to try for at least 8 tops which means topping the main stem(s) 3 x's over the course of a month or two, depending on growth rate. A 4th topping will produce 16 main tops and a much bustier plant.

rookie_needs_help said:
@PlumberSoCal2
awesome insight. top 8 times - wow. i did wonder if i should have again but this is only my 2nd attempt (previous plant grew amazingly but completely outgrew the grow area (indoors). Plus - the damn gnats killed the poor girl.

think bending the tops is a good shout.

as amateur as this sounds - yeh i think its a sativa based on what the final product was....
think its worth building some form of cover to aid light schedule change when in flowering or let nature takes it course?
thanks again

Just topping 4 x's gives you 8 tops (2 for every one cut).

Example

This GDP, an Indica was topped 4x's but it's an Indica which grow fuller and shorter than Sativas.

Here's a Gelato never topped

Beautiful plant but I could have made a beast out of here.

Topping can really help you produce a lot more flower

Oldchucky · Jul 17, 2025

I think your enclosure is screwing up It’s light! Causing a lot of stretch to get to the good sunlight at the top. Which will mean weaker branching with less load carrying capacity come flower time! Probably gonna need some manipulation and a lot of support! And another thing to watch out for is that V where you made the top! That is going to be a weak spot and when each of the secondaries get some weight if they aren’t supported, they are gonna split that stalk at the V! Might have to lash the two together to keep that from happening if you don’t find another way to take the load off! No substitute for unobstructed sunlight! Just two cents!

PlumberSoCal2 · Jul 17, 2025

rookie_needs_help said:
@PlumberSoCal2
awesome insight. top 8 times - wow. i did wonder if i should have again but this is only my 2nd attempt (previous plant grew amazingly but completely outgrew the grow area (indoors). Plus - the damn gnats killed the poor girl.

think bending the tops is a good shout.

as amateur as this sounds - yeh i think its a sativa based on what the final product was....
think its worth building some form of cover to aid light schedule change when in flowering or let nature takes it course?
thanks again

You're gonna get a lot of rain, yes? Having a cover would be a very good idea for when it does rain. Wet plants that are unable to dry have a tendency to develop mold and rot which will destroy the flowers.

I'm not familiar with the UK and how your seasons align but we've got a lot of fellow growers there who could give you a lot more help. Seek them out. A search with UK might help you find some others in your neck of the woods

rookie_needs_help · Jul 17, 2025

Oldchucky said:
I think your enclosure is screwing up It’s light! Causing a lot of stretch to get to the good sunlight at the top. Which will mean weaker branching with less load carrying capacity come flower time! Probably gonna need some manipulation and a lot of support! And another thing to watch out for is that V where you made the top! That is going to be a weak spot and when each of the secondaries get some weight if they aren’t supported, they are gonna split that stalk at the V! Might have to lash the two together to keep that from happening if you don’t find another way to take the load off! No substitute for unobstructed sunlight! Just two cents!

Hi. The enclosure is open ... why would this hinder the plant getting sunlight?

Another image to provide better visibility of the makeshift enclosure

Thanks also for the feedback on the V. Im too nervous about that and will take on your advice and see how best I can get the support it'll need.

Oldchucky · Jul 17, 2025

rookie_needs_help said:
Hi. The enclosure is open ... why would this hinder the plant getting sunlight?

Another image to provide better visibility of the makeshift enclosure View attachment 2477296

Thanks also for the feedback on the V. Im too nervous about that and will take on your advice and see how best I can get the support it'll need.

Because you are filtering out too much of the side light with those coverings! It’s only getting weak light from the sides, so it seeks the strong light up at the top! And that leads to unnatural stretching!

rookie_needs_help · Jul 17, 2025

Oldchucky said:
Because you are filtering out too much of the side light with those coverings! It’s only getting weak light from the sides, so it seeks the strong light up at the top! And that leads to unnatural stretching!

Totally understood.

Oldchucky · Jul 17, 2025

carlosescobar · Jul 17, 2025

Oldchucky said:
Because you are filtering out too much of the side light with those coverings! It’s only getting weak light from the sides, so it seeks the strong light up at the top! And that leads to unnatural stretching!

ive got a store bought one) which i used more for cold nights and rain, and i was wondering if clear plastic filters out certain photons....difference is i can move mine out into the sun...
just to play devils advocate, i removed all the fan leaves off this plant a week into flower and its got the biggest nugs ive ever seen.

rookie_needs_help · Jul 17, 2025

PlumberSoCal2 said:
You're gonna get a lot of rain, yes? Having a cover would be a very good idea for when it does rain. Wet plants that are unable to dry have a tendency to develop mold and rot which will destroy the flowers.

I'm not familiar with the UK and how your seasons align but we've got a lot of fellow growers there who could give you a lot more help. Seek them out. A search with UK might help you find some others in your neck of the woods

@PlumberSoCal2 - UK weather is not predictable in the slightest. 4 seasons in 1 day can never be ruled out. Weather has been mostly dry/sunny and hot (sometimes too hot for the plants) but rain can come anytime. Still expecting decent sunshine over the next few weeks with some inevitable rainfall but can never predict how heavy.

will gander through some more local threads too. thanks

rookie_needs_help · Mar 7, 2026

Hey all

Following up on this thread. For those that branched out on my last post re outdoor grow UK - sadly mother nature took its toll and temps got cold just as the plant entered flowering stage. Kick in the teeth after all the effort but lessons learned (i think & hope)

My second attempt is an indoor grow. But im lost with next steps. Hoping you can advise on next steps & help identify issues thats causing problems for my plant.

Current status:

Growing indoors - UK
4 weeks into Flowering - verging on 5.
Some bud dev but really slow
Noticing leaf tips browning and downwards claw (some dry leaves)

Assumed it was nitro burn so have flushed with water but im struggling with what i should be doing next - feel like im letting the plant down and not doing something i should be.

Bud growth has been incredibly slow and not much scent coming from bud sites.

Any ideas? feedback would be gratefully received. Uploading pics. Images taken outside are dated Mid Feb. Remaining dated this week

Thanks

cpurola · Mar 7, 2026

Did the fan leaves fall off?

rookie_needs_help · Mar 7, 2026

cpurola said:
Did the fan leaves fall off?

some did.

but admittedly, i may have defoliated during veg with a heavy-ish hand.

rookie_needs_help · Mar 7, 2026

additional images.

trygrowup · Mar 7, 2026

Looks a lot like this

rookie_needs_help · Mar 7, 2026

trygrowup said:
Looks a lot like this

View attachment 2610437

@trygrowup

Is that a good thing or bad?

Advice needed on next steps please....

Advice needed on next steps please....

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Advice needed on next steps please....

Advice needed on next steps please....

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