Plant Training Techniques:
Training your cannabis plant is when you strategically bend or cut certain parts of the plant and manipulate its natural structure. This is usually done in an attempt to increase yields, to keep plants small or to maximize your growing space efficiently. Each cannabis strain grows with a different structure and certain training techniques may benefit some strains more than others. Training is only recommended for more advanced growers and you should generally only train plants with whose structure you are already familiar with. While various training techniques may drastically improve your yields, improper training can do the exact opposite.
Autoflowers have a short growth cycle (generally 10 weeks) , a shorter stubbier build, and a very short veg period (3 – 4 weeks), so training is often not needed at all.
Below are some common techniques used for training cannabis plant:
Topping:
Topping a cannabis plant is when you cut the top main branch off at the stem just below the node. This temporarily stunts your plants growth but it allows more light penetration and signals to the plant that the two adjacent branches should now stretch and become the new main colas. This training technique is used to make the plant grow more horizontally or bushier and not so tall. More of the side and bottom branches also get light, improving their growth and overall yield. Topping Autoflowers is generally not recommended and should only be done by experienced growers and on certain of our auto strains like Wedding Cake or Gorilla Glue which can grow extremely tall. Topping an Autoflower should be done in week 3 or week 4 just before the flowering phase begins. it does stress your plant and slows down growth so if it is not done correctly it should not be done at all.
Fimming:
Fimming is similar to topping but instead of cutting the plant top off at the stem you cut the main leaf head about 80% of the way down leaving just a little bit. Fimming correctly is more difficult than topping and is not recommended for Autoflowers or rookies. With fimming if done correctly the side branches will grow taller and the area which you cut may also bounce back to sprout two new heads effectively doubling your topping efforts.
LST – Low Stress Training:
Fimming is similar to topping but instead of cutting the plant top off at the Low Stress Training is the most commonly used training technique and often used by growers of all types of cannabis. It involves bending the plant without breaking it or causing excessive stress either down or sideways, and tying it to that position. This is done to increase light penetration, limit the overall height of the plant and stimulate new growth sites. You can perform low stress training from about week two right through to flower. Simply use twist ties or soft rope to tie down and bend the tallest parts of your plant, opening up its structure and allowing light to penetrate to other bud sites.stem you cut the main leaf head about 80% of the way down leaving just a little bit. Fimming correctly is more difficult than topping and is not recommended for Autoflowers or rookies. With fimming if done correctly the side branches will grow taller and the area which you cut may also bounce back to sprout two new heads effectively doubling your topping efforts.
SCROG – Screen of Green:
Screen of green is an indoor growing technique and extension of the Low stress training that involves multiple plants. By using a trellis net or sheet to aid in low stress training, a screen of green is a term that refers to an even canopy of buds. This is achieved by continuously bending the top branches down, under, and around the trellis netting in order to even up the heights and horizontal growth of all your plants. When all your bud sites and flowers are roughly the same height and your grow space is maximized horizontally it is known as a screen of green.
SOG – Sea Of Green:
Sea of Green is not a training technique but rather a growing technique where you plant as many plants in small pots in a space as possible and allow all of them to flower as soon as possible and to grow straight up. Each plant will only grow one or two main colas and can therefore be packed tightly together. This also creates an even canopy of buds similar to SCOG, but involves a high quantity of plants and is illegal in South Africa without the right permits.
Lollipopping:
Sea of Gree Lollipopping should only be performed in the middle stages of flowering. It is a low stress pruning technique that helps your plants airflow and energy efficiency by focusing its resources on its bud sites. It increases airflow at the bottom of the plant and lowers the chances of pests. Lollipopping involves removing and trimming off all or most the bottom leaves and weak bud sites on your plant. These areas that just take up nutrients, mess up your airflow and wont be great to smoke anyway. Generally the bottom 30-40% of your plant is pruned at about week 6 -7 of an autoflower growth cycle to maximise light penetration and nutrient uptake towards the topmost bud sites. By lollipopping correctly, you will end up with an overall heavier harvest and better quality yield. Be sure to do it in many stages over a couple of days to avoid over stressing your plantsn is not a training technique but rather a growing technique where you plant as many plants in small pots in a space as possible and allow all of them to flower as soon as possible and to grow straight up. Each plant will only grow one or two main colas and can therefore be packed tightly together. This also creates an even canopy of buds similar to SCOG, but involves a high quantity of plants and is illegal in South Africa without the right permits.
For more info on our cannabis strains and growing patterns click here
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