Is this a node and should I count it when I work to the 4th / 5th node from the bottom up

[barrywomble]

Yo homies - can anyone settle something that im struggling to answer please?

I'm wanting to settle whether i should top tonight or not.

When counting from the 1st node up to the 4th/5th do I count branch spurs that are one sided? is that considered a node?

or are nodes only nodes when they have a left and a right branch?

 

[MidwestCannaman]

Even nodes means it just not sexually mature yet is all. They'll only start alternating nodes once they're old enough.

 

[MidwestCannaman]

I like to top before they alternate to keep my canopy much more even. Hope this helps!

 

[Neuro]

If it's a clone it will only have alternating nodes. If it's from seed, they should look like the pic on the left.

 

[barrywomble]

If it's a clone it will only have alternating nodes. If it's from seed, they should look like the pic on the left.

ah. ok i didnt know that. they are indeed clones. so even if they are alternating they are considered nodes and therefore should be counted?

 

[rDWCNoob]

Yo homies - can anyone settle something that im struggling to answer please?

I'm wanting to settle whether i should top tonight or not.

When counting from the 1st node up to the 4th/5th do I count branch spurs that are one sided? is that considered a node?

or are nodes only nodes when they have a left and a right branch?

IMHO, yes. Only seed grown plants and only the central stalk have symmetrical nodes in my experience. As soon as you take a clone from a side branch, all your nodes are one sided. If a branch will grow out of it, its a node. Not sure if someone more experienced would disagree but this is how Id see it.

What Ive had best results topping is at the 5th or 6th node, but waiting till its a bit bigger. Essentially what you want is all the tops of each branch to be the same height, or as close as possible. So if you wait a little longer to top, and take a little more off, you can get some really good results. Like my last plants were probably at 9 nodes when I took em down to 5 or 6. I did it this way as the 2 branches right below the cut, were about the same height overall as the lower side branches. This allowed the side branches and central branches to grow at about the same speed. Below is the resulting branch structure.

 

[barrywomble]

cracking info homie. thank you. this is exactly the concise bit of info i needed to fill up the confidence to get onto the mission tonight.

how many weeks veg will you go with from the day of topping to switching over into flower?

 

[rDWCNoob]

cracking info homie. thank you. this is exactly the concise bit of info i needed to fill up the confidence to get onto the mission tonight.

how many weeks veg will you go with from the day of topping to switching over into flower?

All depends on plant size and how much I expect that strain to stretch. Usually you want the plant stress free for a few days to a week before flipping. If youre topping once you probably want to wait until the 2 new central branches have a few nodes on them, otherwise you'll get a double cola that kinda grows in a V shape if you flip right away. But if youre growing indoors, your plant height is an important factor when choosing when to flip. Some plants will double in height, some can triple. Getting to know your strains will help. A SCROG net or some way to tie them down and the space to do so helps too.

 

[barrywomble]

All depends on plant size and how much I expect that strain to stretch. Usually you want the plant stress free for a few days to a week before flipping. If youre topping once you probably want to wait until the 2 new central branches have a few nodes on them, otherwise you'll get a double cola that kinda grows in a V shape if you flip right away. But if youre growing indoors, your plant height is an important factor when choosing when to flip. Some plants will double in height, some can triple. Getting to know your strains will help. A SCROG net or some way to tie them down and the space to do so helps too.

. G.