Time for the next step.... LST. YIKES!

[WickedMichelle]

Ok, time to learn how to make these things produce.

I topped at the 4th node. They are growing outward and getting bushy. I have seen some threads on this, some videos... but I still have a few questions.

This is my watermelon plant. One that I almost killed. As you can see, she bounced back well.

From what I have seen, I am assuming that I want to take the areas in white and get them horizontal. Is that correct? Also, should I cut those large leaves that are blocking light from the under plant? I marked in red. Some of those large leaves have very thick stems, maybe I need them?

This is the purple queen I almost killed. I added this one to see if I am on track and marked this the same, white horizontal and cut the big leaves.

The two on the bottom in this pic will be a little more difficult. These seem to be really dense in their leaf structure. The OG Kush on the left have very wide leaves. They are also younger and not quite there yet. I may have topped the one on the bottom right too soon but was at node 4. The OG has not been touched yet. The youngest. As you can see by the trimmings on the floor I did not do much. Just a topping and a couple of yellow leaves.

 

[Newty]

There's a few ways you can go about lst, my goal is to train them horizontal and get everything level at the top so when I flip and start flowering, everything stretches mostly together and even. My first step of doing that is getting the highest branches lower while the others have time to catch up. This can be done with plant staples, clips, wires, SCROG, or a combination.

 

[WickedMichelle]

The bottoms seem to get blocked by the higher branches. The tops do not seem long enough to make horizontal.

Basically I want to make space for them to grow upward without blockage.

 

[Newty]

The bottoms seem to get blocked by the higher branches. The tops do not seem long enough to make horizontal.

Basically I want to make space for them to grow upward without blockage.

It looks like you could use wire to lower the tops a little or put up a net/SCROG.
I like the scrog because they grow so quick and sometimes moving wire consistently can be a pain.

There will always be leaves/branches in the way. Slowly training your top branches will open up light penetration and give the lowers time to catch up. You can also start pulling the lower branches to the side with wire if you want but you need to eventually do something to the top ones or the lowers will never catch up.
After a bit, you can start removing leaves for more light penetration.

The pics I posted below are the seedlings that were the same age as yours back when you made some of your first threads.

I just went to my tent and took these pictures and trained a top so you could see the result.
I have my SCROG net up to start training.
Look at the branch I circled in red, it's blocking light in the middle of the plant and also blocking the lower branches circled in teal.
In the picture after, I tucked the top of the red circle to move it horizontal but to also open up light to the ones in teal, you can actually see the shadow over them is gone.
You can see how much difference it made to those lower branches and the middle of the plant. Gives them time to catch up as well and when they do, they will start being tucked into the net also.

 

[WickedMichelle]

In the picture after, I tucked the top of the red circle to move it horizontal but to also open up light to the ones in teal, you can actually see the shadow over them is gone.

Thank you! So it is ok to bend the top like that? I have a net, I guess it's time to pull it out.

Is it too early to start trimming the large leaves?

 

[Sunin]

I have all tops bended- you want them on the side and then you need counterbalance for that and directing all the other branches to create kinda circle when they catching up to bended main.
And I do bend below or under viable shoot so it can shoot up strengthening the bend of main cola in the middle and take a space in the light
Would start with that as after moving main you will see how rest of them behave and decide what to do each plant is different
Main stem is very strong and stubborn so you can shape it how you want next few weeks but that first bend when you deciding where it goes is the most important
greets

 

[Newty]

Thank you! So it is ok to bend the top like that? I have a net, I guess it's time to pull it out.

Is it too early to start trimming the large leaves?

Set your net up so it's a few inches above the tops of your plants, wait for the plant to start growing into it and then start tucking.

If you're worried about breaking anything, use your other hand to support the branch while you use your other hand to tuck them under the net. They are much more flexible then you would think.

You can take a couple leaves off here and there, I wouldn't do a large amount quite yet.
Once mine grow into the net a little, I remove quite a bit from below the net. They call it lollipoping.
Here is a pic of the lollipoping I did in my current smaller tent grow.

 

[WickedMichelle]

Set your net up so it's a few inches above the tops of your plants, wait for the plant to start growing into it and then start tucking.

The tops have some growth on them so I brought the net to them. I was gentle while gliding it down to the tops and bent before I lowered. I tried to reposition them so the the under plant will get more light and start growing upward. I was able to bend 2 plants, the other two will grow into it as you mentioned.

Do these look OK?

Am I correct in assuming that those bent ones will start bending back up toward the light? Those are the two that started where I topped.

 

[Newty]

Looks great to me!!! You will see the difference it just a couple days!
Yes, the tops will turn back up toward the light. Once they grow enough to reach the next square in the net, you will want to tuck them again. Just keep tucking and letting it grow, once you have most of the net filled up then you can flip them.

 

[BudRanger1919]

Do these look OK?

YES! Well, not "OK", they look "great", you got it. A trellis net can be a little annoying but it is so worth it. People who start with trellis nets often get a much better spread far earlier than just tying tops to rims of pots. You spread those plants out really well they all look level, I love it.

I just did the same to my girls in my 5x5, spread out under a trellis I mean. I spread them out 24 hours ago and their tops are already turned back up towards the light. It happens fast.

 

[Captspaulding]

Here are some pics of stakes and clips respectively that may help. Like @Newty was saying, it’s all about getting top sites to the same height. That way you will get more over all light to more overall leaf surfaces. Then pop the pins and let them eat!!!!

 

[Newty]

Here are some pics of stakes and clips respectively that may help. Like @Newty was saying, it’s all about getting top sites to the same height. That way you will get more over all light to more overall leaf surfaces. Then pop the pins and let them eat!!!!

Hey Capt, have a question for you!
I'm trying to grow my first Autoflower in a pretty small space 20"x20"x36", just 1 plant and just to see if I can do it!

I'm having to rethink lst for this small space grow and have never used clips before, just wire.
Do the plants outgrow those red clips pretty quick?
Do you use actual garden staples or are you using wire you shaped into staples?

Have you ever used the adjustable 360 clips or the other clips I posted in the pics below?
I just don't want to waste my money, appreciate any feedback!

Not trying to Hijack your thread Michelle, figured my questions would help us both!

 

[Sunin]

and here's Captain with his extreme bondage I have a feeling we would grow together in harmony lol bending them extreme

It all depends- I would lower that net a bit or wait- I will be scrogging first time and I have full intention of slapping it on them with around 10-15 cm of squash and wait until they turn to put them in flower. Till then I prefer normal bondage to give plants the shape and I want shoots that will go under the net crawling.
There are many ways to skin the cat you see.
All of them somehow right
It all depends what suits you and what works for you and plants. And cannabis is easy and resistant enough to facilitate us all
Trellising is not for me unless for Clematis and Jasminum outside

Here's half of my work done (after that I run out of zip ties and went for a pint or two with friends)
Sorry for the quality of the photo as it's just phone
You can see 3 plants LSTed and 3 not.
Difference in the footprint, light penetration is enormous. Not to mention about vent between the leaves- less humidity, overlapping- etc
It looks rough just after the making but next day floor is back

You will learn on the job- like all of us (most) :D
Enjoy the bending
ps: if you want to solidify the bending you just need to crush it (super cropp it) after few days

 

[WickedMichelle]

Here are some pics of stakes and clips respectively that may help. Like @Newty was saying, it’s all about getting top sites to the same height. That way you will get more over all light to more overall leaf surfaces. Then pop the pins and let them eat!!!!

The green wire you are using look like what I purchased at the hardware store. Plant wire, a little cushion to it.

 

[WickedMichelle]

WOW, only 12 hours and they are already vertical again.

 

[WickedMichelle]

Not trying to Hijack your thread Michelle, figured my questions would help us both!

No worries...

 

[AZreefer]

Lets see then. You know we like pics!

 

[AZreefer]

I tried one similar to the caps pics. Nowhere near as pretty. Im blown away by how quickly they perk back up.

 

[WickedMichelle]

Mine are not so pretty.

 

[AZreefer]

Mine are not so pretty.
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Yours look healthy af