Some advice on TOPPING is desired.

[BaldrickTX]

I'm on my first ever grow, so I may be putting up some silly questions, because the fact is, I don't know what I'm doing.

I have 3 plants that are going to need topping soon (within the next 36 hrs, I think). They're just in between the 6th and 7th nodes at the moment, so...

My question is, is it best to snip the top off completely, or, should I just snap the stem leaving the top of the plant intact.

I've been told that the plant will still grow 2 branches at the snap/bend and you get to keep the original top.

And yet, out of all the video clips I've watched, I've only seen the top of the plant lopped off. Never crimped.

You guys are experts and I'd like to follow your guidance. What should I do??

Thanks in advance.

 

[orggrwr]

I had a professor once tell me that the only silly questions are those that aren't asked, so don't afraid of silly questions, especially here. I believe what you are talking about is FIMing ( stands for Fuck I Missed) were you only remove the top of the growing tip instead of the whole thing. This way the plant is supposed to grow 3 or more branches instead of 2 with traditional topping. I usually just top but it comes down to personal preference. I would suggest researching FIMing and trying it both ways and see what works for you. Good Luck

 

[BaldrickTX]

I had a professor once tell me that the only silly questions are those that aren't asked, so don't afraid of silly questions, especially here. I believe what you are talking about is FIMing ( stands for Fuck I Missed) were you only remove the top of the growing tip instead of the whole thing. This way the plant is supposed to grow 3 or more branches instead of 2 with traditional topping. I usually just top but it comes down to personal preference. I would suggest researching FIMing and trying it both ways and see what works for you. Good Luck

I agree with you on the questions. I was a CNC machinist for almost 50 yrs, and I always told people I trained that there was no such thing as a stupid question, especially if it prevented you from crashing the machine or destroying the part, and or the tool.

Thanks for your response. I have 2 Oaxacan x Colombian plants, so I'll top one and FIMing the other. I was hoping for an overwhelming response one way or the other so that I could decide what to do with the Afghan. I'll go ahead and top it too.

 

[cbrians]

I topped mine, and when the two branches grew out I topped those too. Don’t do that. Stunts your growth hard lol.

I do think I fimmed one accidntally; I have this one cola that has three heads. Pretty cool.

 

[cbrians]

I agree with you on the questions. I was a CNC machinist for almost 50 yrs, and I always told people I trained that there was no such thing as a stupid question, especially if it prevented you from crashing the machine or destroying the part, and or the tool.

Thanks for your response. I have 2 Oaxacan x Colombian plants, so I'll top one and FIMing the other. I was hoping for an overwhelming response one way or the other so that I could decide what to do with the Afghan. I'll go ahead and top it too.

I work in a foundry, I could never be a machinist too many details

I stick with the molten metal

 

[BaldrickTX]

Ahh, I'm glad that you posted that, as I was wondering about the lower branches.

Would it be advisable to top them later on to achieve the same results as the first topping, or should I leave them alone?

And if I should top them too, how far along in the grow should they be snipped?

 

[BaldrickTX]

I work in a foundry, I could never be a machinist too many details

I stick with the molten metal

Well I've just recently retired, and I am soooooo glad I don't have to do that shit anymore.

But you my friend, have much bigger balls than I.
No way could I work in a foundry and the heat that goes with it.

One of the 3 reasons I left Texas for Colorado was the fuckin heat down there. It is absolute hell with the high humidity mixed in. It's great if you're a lizard!

(For those who are curious, the other 2 reasons were, work, and weed...lol)

 

[cbrians]

Well I've just recently retired, and I am soooooo glad I don't have to do that shit anymore.

But you my friend, have much bigger balls than I.
No way could I work in a foundry and the heat that goes with it.

One of the 3 reasons I left Texas for Colorado was the fuckin heat down there. It is absolute hell with the high humidity mixed in. It's great if you're a lizard!

(For those who are curious, the other 2 reasons were, work, and weed...lol)

My first melt boss told me that after 20 years of foundry work, he wasn’t sure if he was a bad ass or a dumb ass. After 7 I just feel sweaty lmao.

Always been a pyro. Once you get used to the heat it’s pretty simple.

California is hot enough, if I worked in texas humidity I wouldn’t make it.

 

[cbrians]

Ahh, I'm glad that you posted that, as I was wondering about the lower branches.

Would it be advisable to top them later on to achieve the same results as the first topping, or should I leave them alone?

And if I should top them too, how far along in the grow should they be snipped?

I think once they’ve grown out a bit you can top them as well. I cut mine almost immediately after they popped thinking it would turn to four. turned to zero lulz

 

[BaldrickTX]

Noted. Thank you...

I've learned more off of this forum in one day than I did on my own in my previous 66 yrs of existence.

Great stuff!

 

[RGWD0202]

Ahh, I'm glad that you posted that, as I was wondering about the lower branches.

Would it be advisable to top them later on to achieve the same results as the first topping, or should I leave them alone?

And if I should top them too, how far along in the grow should they be snipped?

If growing indoors, just top once, it helps the lower branches catch up to the top, helps keep a more even canopy which you’ll want with LEDs. If you are growing outdoor I wouldn’t top at all, you don’t need an even canopy since the sun moves around the plant.

FIMing is a waste of time in my opinion, but doesn’t hurt to try to see if you would benefit from it. If it’s your first grow, then keep it simple and work on techniques as you go, when you make changes on your next run, make 1 or 2 changes not a ton, makes it easier to know what works and what doesn’t.

 

[cbrians]

Noted. Thank you...

I've learned more off of this forum in one day than I did on my own in my previous 66 yrs of existence.

Great stuff!

I came on here after moving my plants outdoors into the heat and almost killing them. Almost killed then quite a few more times after.

A lot of experienced growers on here, just gotta ask around. These guys are the only reason I had anything to harvest.

 

[BaldrickTX]

Always been a pyro. Once you get used to the heat it’s pretty simple.

Nope. No way. I wasn't built for the heat. I'm from England where it's nice and cool.

I will literally live in my basement every summer from now on, coming out only early in the morning, or when it's absolutely necessary. Summers are torturous these times.

 

[BaldrickTX]

If growing indoors, just top once, it helps the lower branches catch up to the top, helps keep a more even canopy which you’ll want with LEDs. If you are growing outdoor I wouldn’t top at all, you don’t need an even canopy since the sun moves around the plant.

FIMing is a waste of time in my opinion, but doesn’t hurt to try to see if you would benefit from it. If it’s your first grow, then keep it simple and work on techniques as you go, when you make changes on your next run, make 1 or 2 changes not a ton, makes it easier to know what works and what doesn’t.

Thank you. That's another piece of the puzzle explained.

I'm winging all of this so far on common sense. Quite a few things of what I've read on this forum, I'm already doing or have the same equipment.

I'm logging every single detail of this journey and I have this forum to thank for it.
Cheers

 

[amneziaHaze]

You should allready have the 2 side branches growing they should just be super small cut just above them.
But if you are not chasing uniformaty you can do a simple lst and give light to thw side branches thwy will grow and you will keep your 7th node.only problem with that is that one side will grow faster than the other

 

[Galgrows]

Post a pic of what you are asking about?

 

[trustyagut]

I didn't top this run, just a little bit of LST and there's still a couple dozen heads on each plant all nice and level, plus a heap of stuff under the canopy. 4 plants in 20gal pots is plenty enough work for me. I'm in wk4 now.

 

[BaldrickTX]

Post a pic of what you are asking about?

I went ahead and topped them this morning. Turned out that I was a little bit late to do it.
They were snipped after the 6th node.
Thanks

 

[amneziaHaze]

I didn't top this run, just a little bit of LST and there's still a couple dozen heads on each plant all nice and level, plus a heap of stuff under the canopy. 4 plants in 20gal pots is plenty enough work for me. I'm in wk4 now.View attachment 2298070

i never manage to get it to be same height main top allways goes faster then the rest.

 

[cbrians]

Nope. No way. I wasn't built for the heat. I'm from England where it's nice and cool.

I will literally live in my basement every summer from now on, coming out only early in the morning, or when it's absolutely necessary. Summers are torturous these times.

I would love a basement. Honestly always wanted one but they’re few and far between here.

I remember when october would be cool. It’s finally coming down to 90’s today. I work tonight, and I work graveyard to avoid traffic/people/heat, but with equipment running it probably won’t get below 90 at work tonight. Even being outside.

Stops me from getting much fatter though.