Mainlining - how many nodes before flip?

Misanthrope · Apr 10, 2023

I'm not new to mainlining or manifolding, I've got the topping/training down cold. Despite this, I can't get the big donkey dicks I see others achieving. I think I've been flipping them too early because space was a concern and I was worried about the stretch. I've got a bigger tent now and can let them veg as long as I want. How tall should the tops be before going to 12/12 or more specifically, how many nodes since height can vary so much from strain to strain.

Imzzaudae · Apr 10, 2023

If you want big bud . Get big bud seed like Baba Kush and give the plants time to grow big in huge pots. If you want big buds it takes big plants to make them and they need time to grow big. Don't hurry them along.

growsince79 · Apr 10, 2023

Misanthrope said:
I'm not new to mainlining or manifolding, I've got the topping/training down cold. Despite this, I can't get the big donkey dicks I see others achieving. I think I've been flipping them too early because space was a concern and I was worried about the stretch. I've got a bigger tent now and can let them veg as long as I want. How tall should the tops be before going to 12/12 or more specifically, how many nodes since height can vary so much from strain to strain.

With the right strain you can get baseball bat size colas on 3' plants. When to flip depends on strain. What do you have-pics?

Misanthrope · Apr 11, 2023

Not the best pics but here's an example. First pic just before the flip, second just before the chop.
Strawberry Banana (Canuk)
5 gallon sub irrigated planter with 70/30 coco/perlite
Fed Lucas Fornula for veg plus 1mL/L KoolBloom and 3mL/L of Sticky Bandit (sweetener) during flowering
pH 5.8-6.0 ec ~1.7

Vegged for 10 weeks, had some severe pH issues early on that cost me at least 3 weeks growth. I got some very nice bud in the end but only 35g.

Dub_City405 · Apr 11, 2023

You want big buds. Veg for a little longer. And on day 21 of flower clean up the plant besides the top 3 nodes on each branch. You'll have something nice.

growsince79 · Apr 11, 2023

Misanthrope said:
Not the best pics but here's an example. First pic just before the flip, second just before the chop.
Strawberry Banana (Canuk)
5 gallon sub irrigated planter with 70/30 coco/perlite
Fed Lucas Fornula for veg plus 1mL/L KoolBloom and 3mL/L of Sticky Bandit (sweetener) during flowering
pH 5.8-6.0 ec ~1.7

Vegged for 10 weeks, had some severe pH issues early on that cost me at least 3 weeks growth. I got some very nice bud in the end but only 35g.

Those heavy fast blooming indicas are going to need more nodes at flip, whereas later flowering sativa cross might flip at 3 weeks and make giant colas. These plants flipped 17 days from sprout.

Saron_Grass · May 18, 2026

Misanthrope said:
I'm not new to mainlining or manifolding, I've got the topping/training down cold. Despite this, I can't get the big donkey dicks I see others achieving. I think I've been flipping them too early because space was a concern and I was worried about the stretch. I've got a bigger tent now and can let them veg as long as I want. How tall should the tops be before going to 12/12 or more specifically, how many nodes since height can vary so much from strain to strain.

I am on my second grow and am trying to mainline as well did you ever find a good answer for this? I am having the same exact question. If I keep removing growth lower than the top there will be nothing except the little tiny top at the end of each stem. How many nodes did you flip at and how did it work out/ what would you change?

greentomatoes2025 · Jun 8, 2026

Also interested to hear some feedback on this!

LoveGrowingIt · Jun 8, 2026

Certainly, as others have mentioned, the strain has a lot to do with the growth of the plant. Additionally, the lighting and stretch matter. My approach, however, has simply to grow healthy plants.

greentomatoes2025 · Jun 11, 2026

I flipped my Blue Crimea 2.5 weeks ago... it had 5 nodes on it of which I removed the lowest 1x..
I topped 3x and reached my desired 8x mains after 5x weeks.. in retrospect, I think I should have allowed another 3 days and then flipped. Instead I waited another 2 weeks to install the tomato ring and then flipped at 7 weeks from seed lol. I never seem to be disciplined to flip soon enough
I'm now in 2nd week flower and the stretch was insane. Node spacing has significantly decreased which is good to see.
Next time I will flip first instead of waiting for enough growth to install the tomato ring.

Mainlining - how many nodes before flip?

Mainlining - how many nodes before flip?

Misanthrope

Imzzaudae

growsince79

Misanthrope

Attachments

Dub_City405

growsince79

Saron_Grass

greentomatoes2025

LoveGrowingIt

greentomatoes2025

Attachments

Mainlining - how many nodes before flip?

Mainlining - how many nodes before flip?

Misanthrope

Imzzaudae

growsince79

Misanthrope

Attachments

Dub_City405

growsince79

Saron_Grass

greentomatoes2025

LoveGrowingIt

greentomatoes2025

Attachments

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency