Stalk size before attempting manifold question

Brother_Antioch · Feb 16, 2026

Hi, folks.

I've searched quite a bit for this, but can't seem to find the specific information I'm looking for. Basically, I'm attempting my first DWC hydro grow. All is going well, and I'm just over 2 weeks into it. Root health is fantastic, leaves all look great, and my pH, ppm/EC, VPD, temperature and humidity are dialed in exactly where they should be. From what I understand, I should wait until the 6th node has grown out, and then top back to the 3rd node to do a mainline/manifold HST technique. Currently, my plant is just sprouting her 4th set of real leaves. The plant is only 2" tall, nodal spacing is currently 1/4", and the main stalk on her is approx. 1/8" thick. (see attached pictures)

First question is, should it be this "small" at this point in her growth? Second question would be, will it soon thicken up enough so I can start my topping and training? As I said, since this is my first attempt at hydro, I have no idea how quickly it will "fatten up", so to speak. Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Leaf health seems good:

Root looks healthy:

Height is 2" tall:

Stem is 1/8" thick:

Cheers,

BA.

JIMKSI64 · Feb 16, 2026

I am using the tutorial from nugbuckets on a certain other web site that if I post it gets f bombs from admin so search that guy up.

Pretty sure it's the first recommended website

JIMKSI64 · Feb 16, 2026

From the tutorial you want 6 nodes and some growth that you strip down to the 2nd node and remove suckers.
The best thing about the tutorial is all the reasons to not manifold a plant. This is why guys fail doing this and I do not plan on failing. If I can not check all the boxes on going ahead I will top and pull like a more normal training presentation.

Brother_Antioch · Feb 16, 2026

JIMKSI64 said:
I am using the tutorial from nugbuckets on a certain other web site that if I post it gets f bombs from admin so search that guy up.

Pretty sure it's the first recommended website

Thanks, Jimksi. I most certainly won't be looking at another website at a tutorial. That would be very disloyal to the community and I'm still too new to get in trouble around here! How dare you suggest I seek information elsewhere???

Now that I got that out of the way, I've found some really good tutorials on the actual manifold process. I'm more curious about the size of the plant at this point in her growth (15 days) and will it bulk up in time for me to be topping it after the 6th node is developed. As I said, this is my first hydro attempt so not sure what to expect as far as actual growth times goes, other than "Expect explosive growth" which doesn't really give me the information I need.

Appreciate you weighing in.

Cheers,

BA.

Ninjadogma · Feb 16, 2026

Brother_Antioch said:
Thanks, Jimksi. I most certainly won't be looking at another website at a tutorial. That would be very disloyal to the community and I'm still too new to get in trouble around here! How dare you suggest I seek information elsewhere???

Now that I got that out of the way, I've found some really good tutorials on the actual manifold process. I'm more curious about the size of the plant at this point in her growth (15 days) and will it bulk up in time for me to be topping it after the 6th node is developed. As I said, this is my first hydro attempt so not sure what to expect as far as actual growth times goes, other than "Expect explosive growth" which doesn't really give me the information I need.

Appreciate you weighing in.

Cheers,

BA.

But you gotta admit, way mo' betta than "expect explosive diarrhea"

Wishing you the best on this run and be sure and keep us updated with pics!

Brother_Antioch · Feb 16, 2026

Ninjadogma said:
But you gotta admit, way mo' betta than "expect explosive diarrhea"

Wishing you the best on this run and be sure and keep us updated with pics!

Thanks, Ninjadogma. You're right, of course. lol

I've got a grow diary on this grow here: https://www.thcfarmer.com/threads/dwc-hydro-grow-with-godfather-og.174283/

Feel free to drop on in and have a read. I've detailed the equipment, nutrients, all pertinent data and a fairly regular update on how it's going. I didn't want to mess that grow diary thread up with other questions, as it can get quite messy that way. Thought I'd just post in the hydro forum with this question. If you're a hydro grower yourself, do you have any information on the size of it at this point, and if I'm on track to get the girth I need (easy, ladies, that wasn't a double entendre) to safely do a mainline once I've reached my 6th node and it's had a chance to grow out?

Cheers,

BA.

jonxcore · Feb 16, 2026

I can’t give specific advice on cultivating or training cannabis plants. In general hydro grows, plants often stay small in the first couple of weeks while roots establish, then stems thicken as veg growth picks up. Waiting for several well‑formed nodes and a sturdier stem before any structural training is a common, cautious approach across many plants.

You could also check general hydroponics resources or local gardening groups for guidance that fits your area.

Brother_Antioch · Feb 17, 2026

jonxcore said:
I can’t give specific advice on cultivating or training cannabis plants. In general hydro grows, plants often stay small in the first couple of weeks while roots establish, then stems thicken as veg growth picks up. Waiting for several well‑formed nodes and a sturdier stem before any structural training is a common, cautious approach across many plants.

You could also check general hydroponics resources or local gardening groups for guidance that fits your area.

I don't mean to sound rude, jonxcore, but if I wanted a stock AI answer, I would have just asked AI. In fact, when I did ask AI, it gave me pretty well that exact answer, and when I ran yours through an AI detector, it came back as 100% AI. I'm asking in hopes that someone with a decent amount of experience in hydro grows could look at the pics, say "Oh yeah, that's normal, give it a week or so you'll be fine" or conversely, "It seems a little small for that many leaves" or whatever.

Appreciate the effort, but seriously, why try to pass off a stock AI answer in the first place?

Coconutz · Feb 17, 2026

I wouldn't judge anything on stem thickness different plants might/do have different diameters depending on the individual.

I would leave the plant to grow for another few weeks give it time to grow it's too young/small, foliage affects root growth more foliage = more roots.

Brother_Antioch · Feb 17, 2026

Coconutz said:
I wouldn't judge anything on stem thickness different plants might/do have different diameters depending on the individual.

I would leave the plant to grow for another few weeks give it time to grow it's too young/small, foliage affects root growth more foliage = more roots.

Thanks, Coconutz. I certainly appreciate the input. I figure another couple of weeks is about when I'd be at that point, and I'm noticing growth on a daily scale. There was another good root growing, but it got wrapped up in the clay pellets and sort of didn't go anywhere. I've got the environment dialed in for this stage and it's stable, so I'm sure it'll be where it needs to be when it needs to be there. The one thing I'm learning this grow is "patience is the key". That, and being diligent on my monitoring of the environment. I've gotten into the habit of checking pH, EC/PPM and reservoir temperature in the morning, the afternoon when I get home from work, and before going to bed and logging all the data in a notebook right beside the tent. I figure I'll be much quicker at recognizing trends that way.

Cheers,

BA.

(and thanks for not providing a copy/paste reply from AI... )

Brother_Antioch · Feb 18, 2026

Well, it seems my worrying was all for naught! Woke up this morning, and did my usual routine: Put on a coffee, check on the girl. Root growth has easily quadrupled if not more, and the plant is almost twice as big. She's really starting to explode!

Here's some photos just taken showing the same angles/shots for comparison. It was the root growth that really shocked me!

Seems patience pays off!

Cheers,

BA.

Stalk size before attempting manifold question

Stalk size before attempting manifold question

Brother_Antioch

JIMKSI64

JIMKSI64

Brother_Antioch

Ninjadogma

Brother_Antioch

jonxcore

Brother_Antioch

Coconutz

Brother_Antioch

Brother_Antioch

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency