Topping vs Cropping vs Pinching: Round 1

Ok.. i've been going back n forth with Zandor and HARDDON about this, debating the pros and cons and I just can't figure the damn thing out...

Topping:
After the 4th or 5th node, snip the main kola, thus forcing growth into the secondary stems, producing more bud.
-- With the Main Kola in tact, the secondaries won't produce as much.. but the main kola will produce.. Wouldn't this give a stale mate? or does the topping produce overall more bud?

Cropping:
WTF is it? Zandor says its practically the same as Topping, but that doesn't tell me what it is....?

Pinching:
After an unknown amount of time (PLEASE SPECIFY), you pinch the main kola at a certain node (PLEASE SPECIFY), those forcing the growth into reconstruction at the stress site. This should also force growth into the secondary stems, producing more bud.
-- Would this mean that the main kola would still be in tact, when it redevelops after the stress? And since the secondaries will develope and the main kola is still in tact, they should all develope.. correct?

So pinching would be better than topping, because it keeps the main kola alive? Topping removes it from the equation, but pinching thwarts its growth process for the time being..

To my knowledge, these will NOT stop the growth of the plants, but only thwart the growth process to focus on the rather "neglected" parts of the plant, developing the ENTIRE plant overall.

Do I have this right? This is to all the knowledge acquired from the constant debate and bickering back n forth. This is killing me..

and P.S. HARDDON mentioned pruning.. i'm not sure if he was sarcastic about it, but I haven't heard of that method yet.. What is it?

oops double posted

Still having problems with this? lol

They've already described it better than i could but since your still asking i'll have a go.

Quote:

---

Topping:
After the 4th or 5th node, snip the main kola, thus forcing growth into the secondary stems, producing more bud.
-- With the Main Kola in tact, the secondaries won't produce as much.. but the main kola will produce.. Wouldn't this give a stale mate? or does the topping produce overall more bud?

Cropping:
WTF is it? Zandor says its practically the same as Topping, but that doesn't tell me what it is....?

---

Cropping and topping are exactly the same except Topping is done more carefully like with a knife so it can be cloned. I think it depends on the size and type of your plant but i found cropping one of mine very helpfull. Although the main Kola is gone all the other shoots are much bigger and stronger so i started cropping them too and she's gettin even fatter. It does slow down the veg times but i think it's gona be worth it and it makes the shape and growth of the plant more manipulatable

Quote:

---

Pinching:
After an unknown amount of time (PLEASE SPECIFY), you pinch the main kola at a certain node (PLEASE SPECIFY), those forcing the growth into reconstruction at the stress site. This should also force growth into the secondary stems, producing more bud.
-- Would this mean that the main kola would still be in tact, when it redevelops after the stress? And since the secondaries will develope and the main kola is still in tact, they should all develope.. correct?

---

I think this is done after about 4 -5 node too and i would think you'd pinch the top but i'm sure someone else will post that. As you say it'l force it to concetrate on repairing the damage before growing taller and also growing secondary stems. The main kola should still be intact and will continue to grow.

Quote:

---

So pinching would be better than topping, because it keeps the main kola alive? Topping removes it from the equation, but pinching thwarts its growth process for the time being.

---

I don't think it's necessarily better just different and you will get different although similar results. I think toping/cropping will make it grow mostly out and not as tall and pinching will make it grow out more than normal but not as much as T/C and still grow taller but not as much as normal.

Kindaa went on a bit there so sorry if my ramblings made things worse for you lol Probly shouldn't of had that last bong ;)

I would call cropping as the end stage .Taking the crop.The finished product.Man there r heaps of names for the same thing.
Pinching ,Tipping,topping all the same thing.Then if u grow that tip u could call that a cutting , clone,ect..
When u do pinch the top out u wont at least 5 to 6 nodes for it to shoot from.Pinching bending or doing nothing at all depends on what results u r after ,usually depends on your grow room set up...

I like to leave the main cola...Like the hippies say "All the JuJu is in the cola."