How much shaping can be done?

[greytooth]

Hypothetically, if you were to cut off the outer bud sites from a limb, would the lower bud sites grow more?
I often find that the bud sites closest to the main stalk are puny when there are more sites further out..
Would cutting off the outer bud sites work in a way similar to topping, ie. encouraging growth lower down/closer to the main stalk?

 

[jagle]

thinka bout light bud sites cloest to stalk dont get as much light as its under the canopy and fan leafs, other buds push themselves out and so can have more chance to grow

but i dunno cant answer yourr question, just seems to be more then 1 variable

 

[Seamaiden]

That's a staggered harvest you're asking about, and lots of people do it. But you want to look at it from a top-down, or bottom-up view, instead of outside-in. Take top/higher buds, then let lower buds mature.

 

[desertsquirrel]

why not just defoliate leaf material? that way light reaches all of the bud sites and none are underdeveloped or removed.

 

[Seamaiden]

I personally have found that, with specific regard to indoor growing, it's not worth keeping any lower bud sites. They just never quite seem to reach their potential and seem to truly be more of a draw on the plant's energies than is worth what I get out of them. Outdoors is different, but I've never pulled off the staggered harvey thing, always just end up chopping the whole girl and throwing her upside down into the basement.

 

[desertsquirrel]

defoliation will help with lower sites.