Why Top Cannabis Plants?

As a cannabis plant grows, it produces hormones that affect the growth of the plant. These hormones control if a plant will grow tall and lanky, or short and bushy. They are activated and controlled by conditions both inside as well as outside of the plant. The hormone in control of branching activity is called auxin. It creates a loop in the plant up the main shoot. Auxins are produced in the growing shoots of the plant, as well as the root tips. As auxin travels down the main shoot it inhibits the growth of side branches. These auxiliary branches are nature’s way of protecting the plant if its main shoot is damaged. Once that main feedback loop from the shoot to the root is broken, these side branches spring to life. Up and down the plant shoots will jump out as if main branches themselves. Fighting and clawing their way to the light, and pollen, first.

The Myth: Topping Autoflowers Stunts Growth.

A common feature among autoflower guides is the instruction to not top autoflowers. As beginner advice this might hold water. Because the life cycle of these plants is so short, the trauma caused by removing their top does slow their growth. Done at the wrong time it can also promote the plant to stop growing and start flowering. Its an obvious no to any action that can reduce yield, right?

Fact: Topping Autoflowers at the Wrong Time Stunts Growth

There, I said it. Bring out the pitchforks and tar and feathers! After successfully attempting this training tek on over THIRTY strains of autoflower cannabis from the largest breeders today, we can safely say the topping myth holds no water.

Timing is Everything

The key to topping autoflowers is to take as little actual plant as possible when doing it. By minimizing the overall trauma, we speed up recovery. Also, timing it when the plant is still very young the stem hasn’t begun to harden, and the plant can quickly and easily throw out auxiliary branches. Often I notice no shock, and the plant powers through like nothing happened.

So when is this magic timing? It can vary much like everything involving autoflowers. As soon as a razor can seperate above your chosen node, its time. It might not seem like much, but that tiny tip controls the growth of the whole plant. Often we will remove as soon as the third and fourth node separates. After removing the shoots of the first node, which often underperform, we leave nodes two and three. This creates four main shoots in place of one. Topping above the fourth node would add two more, to six. Plants with four branches tend to grow taller than those with more.

Feel better yet? The only cure for butterflys is action! Pop a bean with the sole intention to top it understanding it might not be the biggest plant. Then surprise yourself!

Until next time,

Trion.thc