Lst for a beginner grower

[hazelsgarden]

Hey everyone. So this is my first time growing, and I started a seed that is about to be on week 4. I don't know if this is a feminized seed or not, or what strain it is. Is there any point to starting lst? Can I start lst once I find out if it is actually a female? Should I even bother since it is my first plant? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

 

[Newty]

I would top the plant and then start LST when the new branches start growing.

Split photo below shows before and after topping, the other pictures is the LST I did after the new branches grew in.

Waiting until you know the sex might mean losing out on training time.
Here is a link to identifying sex early on.

How to Tell Sex of Cannabis Plants (with Pictures) | Grow Weed Easy

Learn how to find tiny pre-flowers at the base of each leaf to determine the sex of your plant in the vegetative stage (at only 3-6 weeks from germination)!

www.growweedeasy.com

 

[Phyto]

Sure, you could start LST, I'd just bend it off to one side, then work with the side shoots when they're hig enough. The other option is to top it, then start tying down the side shoots. There's no real rules for what you need to do, you're just trting to keep it low and wide, maximizing bud sites.

The two larger ones were topped and have been undergoing LST for a couple weeks:

More LST

 

[hazelsgarden]

Sure, you could start LST, I'd just bend it off to one side, then work with the side shoots when they're hig enough. The other option is to top it, then start tying down the side shoots. There's no real rules for what you need to do, you're just trting to keep it low and wide, maximizing bud sites.

The two larger ones were topped and have been undergoing LST for a couple weeks:


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More LST
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Do you top above the fifth or sixth node? My plant has 4 atm, but I think everything i read has said to wait til the atleast the fifth.

 

[Budtirement]

Okay, here's another option you can think about. I supercropped this girl, I think above the 4th node, and trained it off to the side. Then let a bunch of suckers/shoots grow out and tried to get them all about the same height. Then flower. Never topped or cut any stems on this grow, all LST. You can see the supercrop way down at the bottom of the main stem in the video.

The plants I'm growing now I topped above the 2nd node and topped the shoots that grew out again so I can get 6 colas on each plant. There's really unlimited options and fun to be had training cannabis. Your plant, which you described as kind of a mystery plant, would be an excellent chance to practice training skills.

 

[RGWD0202]

Do you top above the fifth or sixth node? My plant has 4 atm, but I think everything i read has said to wait til the atleast the fifth.

You can top the 4th node, but I wouldn’t go much lower, I top the 5th, when topping leave about 1/2” inch of the stem to prevent the plant from splitting when it gets bigger. As a beginner don’t tie branches down, get a trellis and scrog the plant. It’s the easiest form of lst, will teach you how the plant responds and is very effective. I put the trellis on a week before I flip and stop tucking around day 17 after I flip. Mainlining in my opinion is a lot less efficient than filling out a trellis.

 

[hazelsgarden]

You can top the 4th node, but I wouldn’t go much lower, I top the 5th, when topping leave about 1/2” inch of the stem to prevent the plant from splitting when it gets bigger. As a beginner don’t tie branches down, get a trellis and scrog the plant. It’s the easiest form of lst, will teach you how the plant responds and is very effective. I put the trellis on a week before I flip and stop tucking around day 17 after I flip. Mainlining in my opinion is a lot less efficient than filling out a trellis.

I haven't really looked into that before. So basically I'd just be placing netting over the plant and as it grows i tuck the shoots and stem in different sections to get the canopy as evenly spread out as possible?

 

[Budtirement]

I haven't really looked into that before. So basically I'd just be placing netting over the plant and as it grows i tuck the shoots and stem in different sections to get the canopy as evenly spread out as possible?

Here's info on plant training with a whole section on SCROG.

Complete Guide to Cannabis Plant Training | Grow Weed Easy

Get a summary of all the most common plant training techniques that growers use to increase their cannabis yields indoors!

www.growweedeasy.com

 

[Blastfact]

I wouldn't top, lst, or train at all. It's your first grow. You have lighting, water and feeding to learn about. How to manage the plant's environment. Just let it grow and watch a beautiful natural plant do it's thing. Get the basics down and then go exploring. Got to do it all at once is bad juju... Some new growers are like new motorcycle riders. They can't be bothered to get a 250cc or 500cc motorcycle and learn to ride and get the basic's ingrained in your soul. Nope,,, they have to get that Harley or Busa and fail,,,, bad.

 

[Budtirement]

I wouldn't top, lst, or train at all. It's your first grow. You have lighting, water and feeding to learn about. How to manage the plant's environment. Just let it grow and watch a beautiful natural plant do it's thing. Get the basics down and then go exploring. Got to do it all at once is bad juju... Some new growers are like new motorcycle riders. They can't be bothered to get a 250cc or 500cc motorcycle and learn to ride and get the basic's ingrained in your soul. Nope,,, they have to get that Harley or Busa and fail,,,, bad.

I'm not really invested in it one way or the other, Hazelsgarten asked some questions and i tried to offer some info just to illustrate the spectrum of choices. I don't see that training a plant detracts from learning about general care and plant health maintenance for a beginner. Might even boost enthusiasm but, I imagine many folks appreciate your opinion of focus on basics. Nothing wrong with that.

 

[RGWD0202]

I haven't really looked into that before. So basically I'd just be placing netting over the plant and as it grows i tuck the shoots and stem in different sections to get the canopy as evenly spread out as possible?

Exactly, helps keep canopy even and keeps it from getting too tall and adds support the branches.

 

[Blastfact]

Exactly, helps keep canopy even and keeps it from getting too tall and adds support the branches.

The only thing bad about scrog is it locks your plant in the tent. Once it's in the scrog and woven around. You can't get it out without damaging the plant. I have a grow under simple scrog and I'm going to cut it out right now before it gets to far along.

 

[Newty]

What are the dimensions of your grow space?
Would just like an idea of what you're working with.

 

[hazelsgarden]

What are the dimensions of your grow space?
Would just like an idea of what you're working with.

2x4x5

 

[Blastfact]

2x4x5,,, that sucks. Means little indicas or auto's that stay small. Scrog or LST. You could scrog out a single tall, leggy, lanky sativa and fill the tent. That height is very restrictive. I pulled the scrog out of my 2x4x8 last night and freed the plants from there bondage. Was nice to pull the plants out of the tent and get them up on a stool for inspection and clean out, work the soil and break up the hard surface. Also got to clean the saucers and floor of the tent. Enjoy!

 

[Captspaulding]

Aint nothing wrong with a simple lean back 90 degree bend, no cutting, can generally make it happen when the main stalk hasn’t even hardened off yet so it’s super easy to pin down and it’s not stressful at all on the plant and you don’t have to take any of the lower stalks off because they’re immediately available to the light. you can employ a simple main line technique, but that requires some cutting and some topping or you can just play to a plant strengths and let it go crazy and pin out every stalk just being sure keep each one out of the way of each other. or you can employ clips which are handy as shit and you don’t have to take them off. You can let them stay on all grow long or you can use a combination of stakes and clips
Now,

I find that the 90° lean back technique and the very beginning is the best way for any new grower to be able to maximize their first few plants as well as learn the ropes

 

[PooToe]

If you're in a tent I would go ahead and ScrOG it. I understand the reasoning behind @Blastfact post about keeping it simple and I agree to a degree but I've helped newbs run ScrOGs their first grow and it actually made it easier not having to worry about overvegging.

I usually get them around 16" - 18" tall before I throw a net over them.

 

[hazelsgarden]

2x4x5,,, that sucks. Means little indicas or auto's that stay small. Scrog or LST. You could scrog out a single tall, leggy, lanky sativa and fill the tent. That height is very restrictive. I pulled the scrog out of my 2x4x8 last night and freed the plants from there bondage. Was nice to pull the plants out of the tent and get them up on a stool for inspection and clean out, work the soil and break up the hard surface. Also got to clean the saucers and floor of the tent. Enjoy!

Yeah I didn't want to go to crazy for my first growing experience. I built the grow room and I could increase the height very easily. Would that make it more beneficial?

 

[hazelsgarden]

Can I don't get a full sized plant in the size space I have?

 

[hazelsgarden]

If you're in a tent I would go ahead and ScrOG it. I understand the reasoning behind @Blastfact post about keeping it simple and I agree to a degree but I've helped newbs run ScrOGs their first grow and it actually made it easier not having to worry about overvegging.

I usually get them around 16" - 18" tall before I throw a net over them.

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View attachment 2340254

Do I still want to top my plant if i scrog? By "overvegging" are you just saying it's easier because once your netting gets full you flip it?