Thank you.. Now in pinching it, I'm assuming it's telling the plant to spend energy elsewhere.. What do I do with what is left above the pinch mark? Will it just die? I'm always up to learn new stuff about farming
anywhere your plant is damaged, it will send growth hormones to repair, Anywhere you damage a plant, esp with a cut or split, you increase the risk of mold and or pathogens.
When you pinch, you will often notice a knuckle appear and increased growth above this point, usually thicker too, it is rarely fatal but it will as ever contain some risk. Some of these low rent hybrids dont take much to start putting out male flowers, so my advice is always try, but be sure you document so you can reflect for next time.
Bending plants allows us to level a canopy. The flatter we can have our plants, the better access light has to penetrate more flowering sites with equal energy. An even canopy is an attempt to even the spread of light energy, so more of the plant gets a high red light and less of the plant is in shade. Pinching and topping is used to help plants branch outwardly and so restrict vertical growth, or rather, we put upward energy across more than a central stem.
Most plants have something called apical dominance, eg, it will always send the majority of growth hormones to a central point, taking the tips from plants, breaks this and allows the plant to divert energy more evenly.
You can use it to help you shape the plant to better suit your growing space.
The trick is to even the light and really pinching is a method used for this, but it does have the added benefit of toughening up most plants too. Knowing you can thicken your plant by pinching or twisting the stem without completely breaking it off is useful. Sometimes we can use this technique to stiffen weaker poles.
Pinching and topping will mean you need to spend time allowing your plant to recover, some plants will not like to be pinched or topped or fimmed or whatever else. be sure to document each, so that any repeat strain grows are better guided with your own data
Hope that helps