Hey OldMac,

.but I'm only interested in the part of the plant that I use, the bud. The branches, extra leaves, extra stalk and even the roots, are all parts of the plant I'm going to throw away anyway. Why spend the time and money to grow all that stuff when all you're going to do is shit can it?

I definitely see your logic.. don't I remember some crazy aero system you have that has some obscene number of plants?

During my veg cycle, I trim the wimpy ass branches from the bottom to push the energy toward the canopy, while also topping the plants to create a larger canopy on each plant. Seems to create a more nodes and ends up kinda like a bush atop the stalk (at least on one strain I have). I ended up going back to this style after getting somewhat fed up with aero/nft after realizing the yield really wasn't much different than growing in pots with soilless mix.. I also have dedicated rooms for each cycle allowing me to go this way. I think if I had just one room, SCROG would be the way for me too..

As far as shit canning the trash, I generally turn the crappy lower buds, along with the trim into hash.

In regard to clones being smaller, not sure I agree.. out of the gate, seed do make much bigger stalks, however; those trees I grow are all from clones, just takes more time in veg.

Peace, Farmer Rich