Can topping a plant (from clone) too many times actually hurt yield?

[overmyhead]

I've got some clones veggin and won't be able to flip them for 3 weeks, can I just keep topping them to keep them the height I need or will I be limiting the size of the colas? Anyone experimented with this on a known (to them) strain?

 

[ElfstoneStrider]

I've got some clones veggin and won't be able to flip them for 3 weeks, can I just keep topping them to keep them the height I need or will I be limiting the size of the colas? Anyone experimented with this on a known (to them) strain?

I top like MAD! Most of my plants are 4-8 stem tops. I do find that multi-topped plants take a bit longer to finish flowering, at least the plants I've grown both ways. In general though, if you're worried about yield only you're good.

 

[overmyhead]

I top like MAD! Most of my plants are 4-8 stem tops. I do find that multi-topped plants take a bit longer to finish flowering, at least the plants I've grown both ways. In general though, if you're worried about yield only you're good.

interesting, that makes a lot of sense as It seems like I've always topped to get a beachball shape and they always seem to take weeks longer than they were supposed to according to the seed co's or those who gave me cuts. Thanks!

 

[randm999]

It is really strain dependant. I have a Chronic strain that if I topped it the yeild would be decreased, so I leave it untopped. That said, on most of my plants I do top at least once. I find that a combination of topping once, and then lst the 2 main branches I do quite well with as the combo gives me about 6 to 8 'main' branches. I feel that doing this too much will result in a bunch of smaller colas decreasing yeild. I usually leave it at 1 topping + lst. Again it is all strain dependant and what works for one doesn't always work for all.
Rule of thumb is sativa dominant strains I definately top /fim /lst as they tend to grow upward rather than outward. Indica dominant strains tend to be more bushy and need topping less.
Its also dependant on how much headroom you have in your grow room. I have plenty so I don't worry too much about it but if you have very little room for upward expansion then you would want to top to keep the plants lower and to keep an even canopy.
Sme with lighting. If you are running a 1000 wat lamp you have deeper penetraion than you have with a lower wattage lamp, so a larger and taller plant would be no problem. However with lower wattage lamps thaen the penetration to the lower growth would be limited and you would want a shorter and wider bush so as to maximize the light to the maximum effect.
As an experiment why not take two identicle clones and top them differently just to see what yeilds the most in your situation?

 

[willyweed]

very strain dependant ,when you take the clones from the mother plant try and get 2 x heads on each clone and this will help a bit,but that said the best way to learn is to try a couple of different methods,topping, bending f.i.m.ing and see which one works best for you,i try to get as many bud sites as i can all at the same height then switch to flower !

 

[Iffy]

Topping

Topping

At the end of the day, if you've reached the height you need (You may be height restricted like me, in a loftie) or are forced to keep - you have to top!
The key is better timing on your next grow.
Stay safe