when and where to pinch?
- Thread starter juicyjays
- Start date
Have you noticed where the little "starts" of other branches have begun in the crotches of the stems? That's the same all the way up the plant. Wherever you cut the main stem those next little "starts" down the stem are what will make the two new top shoots.
So, I had to snap this pic fast as it started to rain on me, but here's the deal.
In a growing tip there are certain plant hormones (auxins) that let the plant know it's the growing tip. If you carefully snip off the growing tip, those hormones get shifted to the next two nodes lower down and the plant makes both of these new growing tips. If you are ham-handed about it, though, it can take the plant quite a while to recover and begin sending out new tips. However, if you're careful this is a really good way to keep plants low and to increase the number of bud sites. Don't over-do it or you may stress the plant too much, though. I look at mine only once a week and generally can top every two to four weeks. the structure of the plant should guide your decision.
So, after all that, here's what you do. Look at the picture below (or, better yet, at your own plant). Look very carefully at the tip you want to top. There will be one 'bundle' of just-emerging leaves and two very small leaf sets that are even less developed. If you carefully pull the topmost bundle away from the stem you’ll see a very short stalk the top bundle emerges from. Snip this stalk being careful not to nick the two smaller leaf bundles on either side. In the picture I’ve circled the two small bundles and made a red line where one would cut this tip. Use sharp scissors and don’t just pinch off the tip. If you pinch, you’ll most likely take that second set with you as well and you’ll set yourself back a couple weeks instead of doing yourself a favor!
Hope all that helps and good luck this year - Butte
In a growing tip there are certain plant hormones (auxins) that let the plant know it's the growing tip. If you carefully snip off the growing tip, those hormones get shifted to the next two nodes lower down and the plant makes both of these new growing tips. If you are ham-handed about it, though, it can take the plant quite a while to recover and begin sending out new tips. However, if you're careful this is a really good way to keep plants low and to increase the number of bud sites. Don't over-do it or you may stress the plant too much, though. I look at mine only once a week and generally can top every two to four weeks. the structure of the plant should guide your decision.
So, after all that, here's what you do. Look at the picture below (or, better yet, at your own plant). Look very carefully at the tip you want to top. There will be one 'bundle' of just-emerging leaves and two very small leaf sets that are even less developed. If you carefully pull the topmost bundle away from the stem you’ll see a very short stalk the top bundle emerges from. Snip this stalk being careful not to nick the two smaller leaf bundles on either side. In the picture I’ve circled the two small bundles and made a red line where one would cut this tip. Use sharp scissors and don’t just pinch off the tip. If you pinch, you’ll most likely take that second set with you as well and you’ll set yourself back a couple weeks instead of doing yourself a favor!
Hope all that helps and good luck this year - Butte
Mayor Uhana
Member
awesome advice Butte.
I like to top the highest branches to let the smaller ones catch up.
GL
Uhana
I like to top the highest branches to let the smaller ones catch up.
GL
Uhana
tankgunner
Member
hope all that helps? are you kidding me? man you just tought me something tonight i have been trying to learn for a long time. thanks!!
alrighty...u just leave a little xtra leaf matter...just make your cut a little higher then the red line leaving some of the original top behind...then it still splits, but also repairs itself so your guarenteed 3 but normally you get 4-6...some people claim they've gotten 8 but i've gotten 6, so instead of turning 1 shoot into 2, then them 2 into 4, you get to turn 1 shoot into 3-8 and them 3-8 shoots into 3-8 more....indoors or outdoors you can get mega bushes!!
I agree. FIM is the way to go, especially outdoors. More tops means more fat colas basking in the sun, in which equals to a fat harvest. Good luck man.
dutchmasters420
Active member
how much lower can you keep your plant with this method, would it be possible to keep a outdoor grow under 2 or 3 feet but still get a good yeild?
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tankgunner
Member
yea thanks butte and mustard! and you all explain it well too i cant wait to try it
G
Guest
great advice and very clear/easy to understand. nice job guys
G
Guest
i just want to add that you could pinch any growth tip to 'guide' the plant to what you want the final shape to look like.
sort a how a gardener will trim a hedge to a cirtain shape the same is done with your mj plants just that you dont use a hedge clipper because that will take of too much of your plant so you just pinch off a little of the ends
i have had 4 foot tall plants with 70+ growth tips
sort a how a gardener will trim a hedge to a cirtain shape the same is done with your mj plants just that you dont use a hedge clipper because that will take of too much of your plant so you just pinch off a little of the ends
i have had 4 foot tall plants with 70+ growth tips
G
Guest
yes but with lst you have to grow your plant up first when you want a short plant in the frist place and the main stem is weak so when the weight of the budds form on to the plant it falls to the dirt ruining your buds.
And Lst is so time consuming plus i dont like all the tieing and stuff i grow out doors and and not every one knows whats weed looks like but if they see a tree all tied up and shit they will know that something is up.
And Lst is so time consuming plus i dont like all the tieing and stuff i grow out doors and and not every one knows whats weed looks like but if they see a tree all tied up and shit they will know that something is up.
