Get nasty first i can understand you not wanting to contaminate your beds with oil and stuff but get some alcohol based flammable liquid and fry those mo fo's.
I'd let them grow at least five nodes before starting training. At least that's when I start toping my plants and lst them. Let them grow to 5 and top at 3.
+++++ Vibes
p.s.: you could also pour some molten aluminum in that ants nest. Looks even cooler than lead statue ;)
Now aluminum I have!!
How do you pour it,just over top of mound or do you have to locate a hole?
Mine is now about 8-9" tall now and 18" wide( mound).o_O
I'd take clones a bit later with second toping or when removing some weaker lateral branches. And I also wouldn't strip the plant down to second node. But that's just my opinion.
Here's how a casting is made once you found the main entrance in the nest
Here's an update for my gals .wappa is upto 7"tall now with 4-5nodes and nice spacing.she has skinny legs but thick thighs..lol..I've had a CFL sitting on side of pot and have been turning pot daily making plant bend opposite way to chase light.now I've moved CFLs above plants,she stands tall..
Next is the whiteberry,she's standing at only 5"tall, rocking 3/4 nodes.they both were sprayed last night with a CAPPS and EWC tea brewed for 32hrs,look like they loved it:):D ,she's still getting her legs str8. She's been chasing light also,the stems at soil level are like coffee stir size and next node up they get to drinking straw size .kind of cool.
Made the move towards their new home outside,right now in a shady spot. Trying to figure out her new neighbors,I've tried to keep some peppers around them since they are used to each other..
Right on time with the Wappa,she's at three weeks old +- day and I see the start of flowers. She's starting to stink whenever you touch- brush her.im likening her so far.whiteberry is coming in behind her.
So Wappa might have a little sun burn,not sure.shes been outside in shade fora couple of days then we had some overcast days,first days in full sun and now she's a little yellow on top of plant. But she was praying hard when I got home.