This plant will stretch 2 full feet on poor nutes starting from just 16" tall. Getting bigger in time is not our problem, making sure all the gaps from stretch get covered will be.
I'll circle back to timing in a sec- first, I wanted to respond to your proposed test; I just ran it, and realized it after the fact. This stain produces far better yields And quality when more uniformly grown into many tops. The difference is 3:2 and height is also much more controllable. Thus, it became my model for this first vertical run.
I ended up with small mesh, 2x2". This limits me a bit, so I'm planning to run the stems outside and only allow buds to poke thru. I'm going to make sure the plant is growing strongly from at least four good runners before transplant, and I know this strain responds well to a judicious topping at the end of stretch, so this is my Ace in the hole for shaping.
I think you are a wise man and have walked this path recently, so I'm going to take your advice, Cap. I'll give her a couple weeks to really fill in before flip, just to make sure the canopy is full. This thing can only show its true potential if it's properly full first, right?