For those who tend to keep um short...

1st, I agree that knowmy knows his shit and has the Best Karma on the board...lol, and you are right
bob bobb; Knowmy said, "Nothing about pruning".

Pruning should only be done, when absolutely necessary*
In case of injury, disease, burns, etc...

If you cut off alot of Fan leaves you are disabling the plants ability to breath...which is just as important as nutrients water and light. LIP is 'right on' this time...KUDOS...LIP!

There is no increase in yield when you top** and/or prune a plant. In fact if you prune during flower photoperiod, you actually shock the plant, and instead of growing bud, It is spending important energy tending to the injuries instead of the buds...just to make it simple.

**topping basically allows you to control the height, and topped plants have a tendency spread out...thus creating the illusion of more yield. If you top; Yes you will create more budsites!!! But; they will be alot of smaller buds, than the plant that finishes 'un-toppped' and creates this Giant Mongo kola all the way up the stem.

However, when I repot into my biggest pot or transfer hydro vegging plants to the 'BIG' system...

*kickass tidbit of info:
I take off about 4-6inches of all the little crap, around the bottom of the stem. This is Good, because it allows air to circulate much better around the plant.

well I hope this sheds some light on the subject for you all, and this is one topic, that is actually pretty much factual, not just a matter of opinion. afterall. lw

Quote:

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I need to keep the plants as small as possible.

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Te best way is work with clones and put it to flower just rooted.

Ill detail some tips to mantain plants as small as possible, for all kind of growing styles.

It refer basically to the first 2 weeks after flip the photoperiod, when most stretching suceed.

-Temp control. Mantaining day and night temp very close (less than 2º) minimize stretching. Is reasonable with DIFF below 5º and increase exponentially up to 10º.

-Watering control. In this stage, extend the maximun possible period between waterings. You must watering only a bit before the leaves drop. Only experience with your plants get you the exact point.

-N control. Usually your plants reach this period with a lot of N, because the veg feeding. Cut completelly any apport of N in this period, or minimize it at maximun. If leaf begin yelowing, apport some quick absortion N fertilizer (like NH4).

-Light control. As more light intensity, more compact plants. So put the bulbs as near the temp permits you, and with good reflector/s, wich are esential for max intensity. And using a rich blue light in this period helps too. Using or supplementing with cold fluoros or CFL work fine in 2 first weeks of flowering.

-Using a short light schedule. I work with 6/12. It induces flowering faster and short the stretching period. I would use it for 2 weeks max (if they grow too short, only for 8 or 10 days). Then flip to 10/14 or directly to 12/12. I use often 13/11 or 14/10 from the 3th of 4th week, looking for more THC.

You can use one or all at time, but go learning step to step how your plants react to each treatment, and improving it.

I use this and harvest 15" tall plants as maximun.

knna

Knna...that was a great response to his original question!

I would like to add...I have read alot about the shorter light periods...It seems that there are alot of growers that induce at 10/14...then switch to 14/10 after the transition/stretchy period. good info.

I also want to add, just for the hell of it. I veg at 15/9 14/10. I believe the shorter veg photoperiod helps produce more females. It is more like the length of a real Day...long summer day...

I got the theory out of The Indoor bible, and It came from an article published by 'Henk', Owner of Dutch Passion Seeds.

lw

knna...I would like to do a thread with you; On these much shorter photoperiods...:thumbsup:

Oh, by the way...My plants are growing as big/fast as ever.
Using this method. and I haven't had a male from seed in a few months...probably the superthrive...LOL

lw

lw, good idea that thread about alternative photoperiods.

I think is good advice for the begginers start with "standard" photoperiods and concentrate in watering/feeding and learning how plants grow and react, but there is enough aknowledge and experience on using other time schedules wich can improve our grows, and it is an issue too much often forgotten.

BTW, very interesting your veg photoperiod to increase female ratios. I havent heard it before. Im used to grow from clones, and have my own tips on moms photoperiods :D

But it would be nice if we put all this info deeper in details in a specific thread.

knna