Early growth Topping / Pruning Questions...........

[pokearound]

Greetings All ! New guy here, somewhat seasoned gardener, always learning more. A couple of questions regarding topping and pruning........

I have starts in Ocean Forest soil, 2.5 quart containers, 3.5 weeks in container. 3.5 more weeks til move in 5 gallon pots in flower room. The starts are 6-8 inches tall and with between 7-10 nodes.

I think I am ready to top them, height in flower room is a little bit of a concern. I only want to keep 3-4 main branches alive.

Question:
Should I top at the very top of the plant, then prune the lowest branches, so that I have the desired 3-4 main branches remaining?
Also, when I transplant these is it OK to bury the main stem a few inches deeper, for height control, than it was originally?

OR should I top the plant (more or less in half) so that just the lowest 3-4 nodes remain? Thus keeping a very sturdy, robust, healthy, short and stout plant?

Hopefully I expressed my inquiry clearly enough.......
Thanks for reading and any input!

 

[s00thsayer]

A Complete Guide to Topping, Training and Pruning
https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=115377

 

[pokearound]

Thanks for some input sOOthsayer.
I read the first half of that thread a few weeks ago, when I first registered, and still have my questions.

1) Does it matter if I top it at the peak of the main stem vs. mid-stem on a 6 inch tall clone?

2) When I transplant a clone into a larger pot, is it acceptable to bury the main stem a few inches deeper so that a few inches of previously exposed stem is now underneath soil? (Or will this cause rot?)

Thanks

 

[Avinash.miles]

id say take the peak of the main stem, like top 3 nodes or so, dont go mid stem, any time u take more than 40% or so of the plant at a given time u put in shock, so my advice is to cut top, wait a few days, then trim bottom branches.
my2c

 

[s00thsayer]

What avinash said. .....and as for question number 2, burrying the stem is fine.

 

[pokearound]

Thanks for the input sOOthsayer and Avinash.miles !

Making coffee and getting to work this morning. Cheers!