When to top? large full term outdoor girls

[mossyoakle]

In the past, I've topped at planting time(rooted in 5 gallon pot, about a 4 foot plant).

I was thinking that doing it earlier or later has its own advantages....

Earlier - lots of time of veg growth without a shock.

Later - easier to support with caging BC the main stalk is longer.

What are people's thoughts? Not looking for a top or no top discussion. Just the right timing! These are in 200 gallon pots going full term.

 

[Nish]

4th node is probaly ideal

 

[jay-toker]

.

 

[DuskrayTroubador]

Take a look at Schrews' plants. IIRC he doesn't top at all, he just trains the plants to form an even canopy through the caging.

 

[Holistic Farms]

Dont top seed plants you only slow them down and potentially cause yourself problems later on.

 

[DuskrayTroubador]

Dont top seed plants you only slow them down and potentially cause yourself problems later on.

I didn't wanna be the one to say it but this is my perspective as well. IMHO you're better off not topping at all and supercropping instead

 

[mendo-local]

Some plants I top, some I leave alone. My goal is to have a 10 x10 or bigger round ball plant. Most plants will do this on their own but some try to go 5x15 on me so I top at around 4 feet tall to encourage side growth. I have never seen topping, even multiple times slow a plant down.

 

[HillBilly1]

I like a bush, I can't climb ladders anymore but I get
A 8x8 bush and works great I. HBLST till the first week
Of flower, but I do top young.. My goal is the lowers
The same height as the tops. I can reach 8'2" so
That's where I like them to stop lol

 

[al70]

Strain dependent, I've topped at three weeks from seed, the afgooey I'm runnin now would shit themselves if I even showed em the snips now and there at 5 weeks, I haven't even touched em yet, they're gorgeous but not ready for rough, goodluck

 

[Holistic Farms]

I feel topping a plant weakens them later on. We have had more problems with stems breaking and snapping on topped plants. If height isnt an issue in your lacation let them grow naturally IMO.

 

[mossyoakle]

I agree, the plants are a lot harder to cage and keep unharmed after topping them. If the main stalk goes all the way up, then its easy to keep them contained.

The main issue with most strains, especially the indica dominant, are the giant colas . The mold eats them up in the fall and even without mold they have a lot of interior white spots after being broken up.

In my experience, topping allows for many more medium sized colas that turn out way better.

I definitely agree that some strains don't need it, but those pyramid shapes with 10 main tops aren't the way to go.