LST and transplanting

[disABLEme]

My transplanting scheme is from large styrofoam cups (20 oz I think) to 1.6 gallons to a final size of 4 gallon pots. If I start training in the 1.6 gallon container wouldn't that mess up optimal training for the 4 gallon because of the different sizes? I figured I'd train it in circles like the guy does in the LST tutorial that can be found at numerous forums. Would it be better just to tie the branches down? I was thinking I could put skewers in the sides of the 1.6's to do the circular growth pattern so it could fit perfectly around the rim of the 4's after transplanting. What would you do? Going from the cups to a 4 gallon would take up too much space because my veg room is also my mother/clone room. I'd probably transplant to the 4's when I flower or a little bit earlier.

[stinkyattic]

Cups to 4 gallon is a very inefficient transplant so it's good you decided not to do that.

Try pruning and training as for a rose bush: Pinch quite young, after the 5th node. Train side branches straight outwards- 4-6 main leaders is plenty. Anything (branches only, not leaves!) in the middle should be either trained outwards or removed so that the canopy is quite flat and a lot of nodes are exposed along the original 4-6 main leaders. When the leaders are as long as you would like (setting the basic framework for your plant), you can pinch the tips and allow the center of the plant to fill in. Wait 3 weeks after the last pinch to initiate flower.
I find the circular training cumbersome.