Extreme topping?

[DanTheReggaeFan]

I have some plants in my veg chamber that have become way too big too soon. I thought I could veg them whilst some others were flowering but I forgot how fast they grow in coco and now they are growing into the light but I still have about 6 weeks before I can put them in the flower chamber. I've taken some clones but just in case they don't root I was going to give the current batch a severe topping. I need to take at least a foot off each and was just wondering if anyone knew if they would be alright. If I do this would it just be like a normal topping and then make them bush out even more?

 

[Creeperpark]

Some plants can take heavy pruning but others can't. The only way to know is by trying it. Sativas are vigorous and can take some pruning. I would not cut more than 1/3 % of any plant.

Cut to the node and don't leave any stem so the plant can recover faster. If it's safe for you, post a before and after photo. We will ride alone with you.

 

[DanTheReggaeFan]

Some plants can take heavy pruning but others can't. The only way to know is by trying it. Sativas are vigorous and can take some pruning. I would not cut more than 1/3 % of any plant.

Cut to the node and don't leave any stem so the plant can recover faster. If it's safe for you, post a before and after photo. We will ride alone with you.

Thanks man. 1/3 might be doable but I think I'd then have to do it again at some point because of the rate of growth. These are indica dom hybrids. As you can see they're either in the light or above right now and I realised it's actually about 8 weeks before they can go into flower because I forgot I actually dry in my flower cab so have to add roughly another 2 weeks. The 2 middle solo plants are ok for now but will be too big soon. The first solo plant is now touching the light and the last solo plant is actually above the light.

 

[Loc Dog]

They sell pruning sealer which prevents mold or bacteria getting into wounds. Also make sure tools are sterile.

 

[DanTheReggaeFan]

Just thought I'd post an update if anyone cares. I ended up going extreme and chopping about half maybe a little more off. I've got more seeds that I can start if they don't recover, just hoping the Key Lime Pie x Dosidos survives because that's my last seed of that one and they're sold out everywhere I've looked. It's only been 1 day since the chop but the wounds seems to be sealing themselves. The only one I'm worried about is the Banana Gluckies because those stems were hollow. I could see really far down inside them when I first cut them but today they seem to be closing up themselves so it will be interesting to see what happens. I also had some nutrient lockout problems at the start of the grow so these bottom leaves don't look the best but all the newer growth up top that I cut off had recovered and they were growing good until the chop.

Left to right: Banana Gluckies, Tropical Punch, Key Lime Pie x Dosidos and Endgame Rbx (The Punch Line)

 

[GMT]

They'll be fine. I'm just finishing something I had to do the same with. You'll need to go back in and thin out some of the new growth though. It's going to get really bushy in there.

 

[Creeperpark]

Just thought I'd post an update if anyone cares. I ended up going extreme and chopping about half maybe a little more off. I've got more seeds that I can start if they don't recover, just hoping the Key Lime Pie x Dosidos survives because that's my last seed of that one and they're sold out everywhere I've looked. It's only been 1 day since the chop but the wounds seems to be sealing themselves. The only one I'm worried about is the Banana Gluckies because those stems were hollow. I could see really far down inside them when I first cut them but today they seem to be closing up themselves so it will be interesting to see what happens. I also had some nutrient lockout problems at the start of the grow so these bottom leaves don't look the best but all the newer growth up top that I cut off had recovered and they were growing good until the chop.

Left to right: Banana Gluckies, Tropical Punch, Key Lime Pie x Dosidos and Endgame Rbx (The Punch Line)

View attachment 18870190 View attachment 18870191 View attachment 18870192 View attachment 18870193

Keep us posted friend.

 

[NEED 4 SEED]

How long did these take to overgrow your space? I would take into consideration that 6 weeks may be still too long, even if you top them radically. Only you can compare these facts and must make a decision based on these facts. Root mass can also become a problem. If I would let my hydroponic plants grow for an extra 6 week period then the container would not suffice for the developing root mass.
Sometimes it's better to start again, especially in a medium that promotes fast growth.
For all those reasons making notes of your grow parameters is without alternative if you want to compare your own data. Just count the days it took for an X amount of growth and interpolate this into the future.

 

[Old Piney]

I've done this a number of times outside .I've found as long as there are at least several good growing tips and leaves they will continue to grow .However if the growth tips are very small I've had plants die

 

[GMT]

Yeah you need enough green to support the roots just like you need enough roots to support the green.

 

[DanTheReggaeFan]

Keep us posted friend.

Will do. The small shoots at the nodes already look like they are starting to grow so I think they'll be alright.

 

[DanTheReggaeFan]

How long did these take to overgrow your space? I would take into consideration that 6 weeks may be still too long, even if you top them radically. Only you can compare these facts and must make a decision based on these facts. Root mass can also become a problem. If I would let my hydroponic plants grow for an extra 6 week period then the container would not suffice for the developing root mass.
Sometimes it's better to start again, especially in a medium that promotes fast growth.
For all those reasons making notes of your grow parameters is without alternative if you want to compare your own data. Just count the days it took for an X amount of growth and interpolate this into the future.

That was about 7-8 weeks. I think you're right and I will have to do it again at least once at some point. I've turned the light down to try and slow it a bit but don't think it will help much with how vigorous they were even when I had lockout problems.

 

[DanTheReggaeFan]

I've done this a number of times outside .I've found as long as there are at least several good growing tips and leaves they will continue to grow .However if the growth tips are very small I've had plants die

Yeah you need enough green to support the roots just like you need enough roots to support the green.

I think I left enough on there. The small shoots on the nodes already seem to be growing so I think they'll be alright.

 

[DanTheReggaeFan]

They'll be fine. I'm just finishing something I had to do the same with. You'll need to go back in and thin out some of the new growth though. It's going to get really bushy in there.

That's one of the things I'm worried about. Will probably have to do this again at some point but hopefully not as drastically next time.

 

[GMT]

I left a bit too much on at first, but you can always remove it later, once there's enough to ensure success. Here's mine, turned out ok

Zoom out 😇

I can't be arsed running a full thread, but I do like to make notes, take a photo here and there, and generally have a presence here. So here is my presence, it won't be predictable or reliable though, but that just makes it more me 😁. Hamlet in her last couple of days, day 41 from 12/12...

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