HELP! LST To cut or not to cut?

[408dano]

Hello all,
First time grower here. Growing a Afgoo White Widow that was acquired from a collective about a week ago. Due to hiding it, its in a tall PC case. One day as I was bending it over I acidently kinked the stem but it still continues to grow. Now I dont feel so confident in it being able to hold too much weight. So my question is should I cut the top off the plant where all they new leaves are coming? The other reason y I want to do this is to encourage more side growth as I should be able to train it better to take the whole space in the case. Also if I cut it, I will cut it in a way to try and clone it as well. Another question is recommendations on nutrients as I need to get some but was tryin to keep costs low. Any and all opinions are greatly appreciated!

Thx,
Dano

[pappabear]

Don't worry, the stem should harden or knuckle soon enough. It's continuing to grow because it's ok, welcome to supper cropping. If you feel it needs it, support the weight with a stick and a tie. :hippy:

[408dano]

Thanks papabear. I have heard that from a few friends. I thank you for your answer. Do you think I should cut the top to promote side growth?

Thx,
Dano

[Vancefish]

Yea don't worry about the kink. Just be careful when bending in the future. Do it when the branch is still soft. You can also bend it a little more each day to get it where you want.

As to if you should top it. I say NO. :D When doing LST you continue to bend the top around the pot. Then tie branches back (as they form) to fill gaps.

With clones I've found they build single leaf/single branch nodes for a bit. Which is easier then a seed plant, because seed plants put out two leaf/two branch nodes. With twice the number of branches it get pretty crowded.

Here are some pics of my LST (from seed). So I only made it half way around the pot. :thumbsup:

[408dano]

Thanks Vancefish. Thats quite the LST u got there! Like you said it looks pretty chaotic! I finally c some good side shoots coming out so I will start training them. What kind of setup were you using there? Did you only LST because of space problems? U get your yeild yet?

Thx,
Dano

[Vancefish]

I'm two and a half weeks into flower now. So no on the yield question. Pretty exciting to see every day though.

This is my first grow. A friend gave me the seeds from a plant that grew in her yard. It was better then Mexican brick, By far. However the father of these is an unknown. Smells a bit skunky though.

Here is my log : http://boards.cannabis.com/grow-log/179056-kinda-wild-trial-grow.html

This grow was just to apply what I learned, from reading this forum(and other sources). In the log you'll see I got two clones. Those are currently growing to where I can pull clones (to attempt that). Plus I plan to bonsai a couple (to try that).

However I did kink a branch or two in the entire process. Never seemed to cause much of an issue. I had nute burn, nute deficiency, root binding,... All were good to experience now, before I start a "real" grow. My newest challenge are spider mites. :(

I didn't expect to find females either. Out of three one turned hermi.

These pics are about a week ago.

[stormin94]

Let it grow. It's not even developed yet.

[408dano]

I will Stormin.

Thx
Dano

[408dano]

Hey Vance,

Just finally made it through your thread! Wow. The plant you LST's is amazing. I hope I can get some density like that. Sorry to hear bout your Iggy as well. I got a Redtail and I would hate to give it up. I had a question about one of the pics you were bending the plant with a tape measure for tension? How does that work? Also my baby got her first 1/2 dose of nuits yesterday for my birthday and wow. What a difference that makes. Thanks for all your help and knowledge!

Dano

[Brainy]

Yeah no need to top her(hopefully). Just by bending the main stalk for a few days you will make the plant branch. And you should end up with more when you harvest. Bending the top and allowing the other branches to catch up will allow for a more even canopy. And as long as you pull the lower growth on the branches at flower time the energy will be concentrated toward all of the branches tops. Leave the fan leaves but pull the growths. They won't end up getting much light so its all popcorn buds and energy that could be used elsewere.

[Vancefish]

Hey Vance,

Just finally made it through your thread! Wow. The plant you LST's is amazing. I hope I can get some density like that. Sorry to hear bout your Iggy as well. I got a Redtail and I would hate to give it up. I had a question about one of the pics you were bending the plant with a tape measure for tension? How does that work? Also my baby got her first 1/2 dose of nuits yesterday for my birthday and wow. What a difference that makes. Thanks for all your help and knowledge!

Dano

The tape measure was to show how much the topped plant leaves had swollen overnight after topping it. Up to that point all three plants had very similar leaf structures(all seeds came from the same popcorn sized bud). However after topping plant2, it's leaves seemed to "swell" to a wider, thicker leaf. I thought it was odd. So I showed pics of two plants with the tape measure to show the difference. (That one hermi'd BTW).

I would agree with brainy. However ALL my bud sites are exposed to light. Thus I havn't removed anything that didn't die and fall off. I do go through and push larger leaves under the bud sites (when I find that they don't get light, DUE to those leaves), However I haven't cut any off.

Oh and some good advice,... The branch side of a tie back string needs to be loose. The stems will grow and eventually get strangled by to tight a string. So, watch that. :thumbsup:

[LLLou2]

why are you growing in a PC cabinet?

[408dano]

Yeah no need to top her(hopefully). Just by bending the main stalk for a few days you will make the plant branch. And you should end up with more when you harvest. Bending the top and allowing the other branches to catch up will allow for a more even canopy. And as long as you pull the lower growth on the branches at flower time the energy will be concentrated toward all of the branches tops. Leave the fan leaves but pull the growths. They won't end up getting much light so its all popcorn buds and energy that could be used elsewere.

Thanks Brainy. Good lookin out I apreciate it!

Dano

[408dano]

Hey Vancefish,
I feel like a idiot now! I thought it was some secret way to bend the stem without breaking it! LOL In my defence I wasn't all here when I saw that. Thanks for the string info aswell. Due to being a electrician, I have been using wire but I think I am gonna switch to string soon when I cant attatch it to the pot.

Thx,
Dano

[408dano]

why are you growing in a PC cabinet?

LLLou,

The reason for growin in a PC case is I cant get caught growing and I need to prove to some people that you can grow in a PC case as I am gonna try to sell a couple of them. My next undercover grow is gonna be in a tall floor speaker box.

Dano

[408dano]

Hello all,

Got some pics here to get some feedback. Also I have 2 leaves on the plant which are next to each other which at first were a little yellow. Now they have darkened a little but they are always wilted. The rest of the leaves stand strong both before and after that node. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on that? Also was wondering if I should remove them since there is a new shoot at that location.

Pic 1 the 2 leaves I was referring to are the farthest ones on the right.

Pic 2 Plant before latest LST training

Pic 3 Latest LST

Pic 4 Latest LST

Pic 5 Latest LST

Thx,
Dano

[Vancefish]

Might already be root binding. Mine looked similar after a month in a 6" pot.

Don't cut anything off! :thumbsup: (you seem to WANT to cut some of it off)

Pics 1,2 are before repot (edit: after repot but JUST after, hadn't recovered yet, but looked the same, just in a smaller pot. :D)

Pics 3,4 are After repot

[408dano]

Might already be root binding. Mine looked similar after a month in a 6" pot.

Don't cut anything off! :thumbsup: (you seem to WANT to cut some of it off)

Pics 1,2 are before repot (edit: after repot but JUST after, hadn't recovered yet, but looked the same, just in a smaller pot. :D)

Pics 3,4 are After repot

Hahaha!

I know Vance! I have always had a problem with trying to keep things perfect. I guess I should just leave them alone. Or leave them till they turn yellow right? Thanks for the feedback. I c what you mean by yours looked the same. (wilted) But yours was the whole plant and mine is always those 2 dreaded leaves. I wish I could re-pot but I think thats as big of a pot I can use for my grow space right? 21/17/8" ? Its depressing to try and grow something so beautiful in something so small! My damn snake has a 6'x2'x2' cage and he aint gonna give me nothin to smoke! lol

U the man,
Dano

[Vancefish]

Well lets get some questions answered.

First, Was the plant in that pot when you got it? And What size is the pot?

My best guess is it's been in that pot just under two weeks. So, next question would be how large a root ball, or how many roots did it have? (if you just got a rooted clone)

I see slightly browned leaf tips. So you might have over nuted a little too (just a guess). If this continues you might lighten the nutes, and use plain water the next watering.

You could also be over heating it. What are lights on temps like?

Next, what temp bulb are you using? I'm guessing CFL. However what K rating? Like 2300K, 5000K...(usually on the ceramic part of a CFL)

Lastly, how dry do you let the soil get before you water?

It's also plausible the plant is stressed in some way. It may improve with time. MANY people say to do what nature would do. Because it IS a weed.

Think about this. If a deer stepped on a wild hemp plant. Do think the plant would die? Probably not.:D

You might find these links useful too. First shows pics of damaged leaves and why. Second is how to Bonsai. It's not really what your doing but shows how much abuse a plant can take. For many years.

Marijuana Plant Abuse (http://www.greenmanspage.com/guides/plant_abuse.html)

mums (http://www.cannabase.com/cl/pages/mums/mums.html)