advice needed please

[xaote]

Hi Guys, my 1st post here. I am new to growing and have come across a 'big' problem. I am growing 8 plants in an NFT system, but I think the plants are gonna out grow my space. I have just switched lights to 12/12 yesterday. Due to space issues, it will be very difficult to bend them over, so is it safe to cut the tops off the plants, or is this frowned upon?

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

xaote Reviewed by xaote on 06-28-2011. advice needed please Hi Guys, my 1st post here. I am new to growing and have come across a 'big' problem. I am growing 8 plants in an NFT system, but I think the plants are gonna out grow my space. I have just switched lights to 12/12 yesterday. Due to space issues, it will be very difficult to bend them over, so is it safe to cut the tops off the plants, or is this frowned upon? Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Rating: 5

[CanGroIt]

Forget about "frowned upon".... Do what you got to do to keep your plants from out growing your space...

Sativa strain???

CGI::::::

[Purple Daddy]

If it's only been one day then I'd switch the lights back, top them and wait for the new tops to form then change the lights back to 12/12. You might want to take the opportunity to trim any low branches as well.

[red662]

If it's only been one day then I'd switch the lights back, top them and wait for the new tops to form then change the lights back to 12/12. You might want to take the opportunity to trim any low branches as well.

thats the best idea, if ur too late n u cant do that try tie them down without snappin them they will eventuall grow in the direction u hav thwem tied rather than staright up, toppin supercroppin lstin fimmin all done in veg so i wouldn recomend any, i topped in my early days of growing a week into flower i sufefered my yield was hallved so big no no

[xaote]

If it's only been one day then I'd switch the lights back, top them and wait for the new tops to form then change the lights back to 12/12. You might want to take the opportunity to trim any low branches as well.

Done as u have suggested today, fingers crossed. I cannot thank u all enough for your prompt and helpful suggestions.

[Purple Daddy]

Done as u have suggested today, fingers crossed. I cannot thank u all enough for your prompt and helpful suggestions. >>>>>>>

Give them a couple of weeks and you'll notice multiple new "tops". Contrary to popular myth you're plant will not stop growing taller it just won't grow as tall as fast. I've bent top of a plant about a foot down, the branches along that stretch started to grow vertical and I had essentially four new tops which eventually grew taller then the plant was when I bent the top.

[xaote]

Would netting help prevent them from outgrowing the space?

[red662]

good question ill be lookin 4 the answer myself, one r 2 of mine r startin to get a bit too tall iv only bout 4 weeks left to harvest so im tryin to slow the biggist of them
any one know about nettin at this late stage?

[scrumby]

Sometimes I just bend/break them over, and hang a weight towards the end.

[xaote]

Sometimes I just bend/break them over, and hang a weight towards the end.

Can u bend/break the main stem this far into the grow, the stems are pretty thick.
Thank you all again for all your help and advice.