Quote Originally Posted by JoeBlow78
Okay so here is the question / problem:

What’s the best method of training /organizing the plants to maximize my flowering space and light?

LST
FIM
DEFOLIATION
LOLLYPOP (SEE OF GREEN)
NATURAL AND PACKED TIGHT?
OTHER- PLEASE SPECIFY
These are all kinda 6 of one, half dozen of the other kinda circumstances.. One thing for sure.. you DONT want them packed in there too tightly.. the light will only penetrate so far into the canopy.. so you want to make sure you have some space between the plants and branches to allow the light to hit all sides of the buds.. I highly recommend a combination of Lollypoping, FIMing, and LST.. but it sounds like your plants are already much too big to start this type of training.. If you are going to try it.. I recommend being VERY careful.. the thicker the stems are.. the easier it is to snap them when you try to tie them down.. I dont like the idea of defoliating the plants.. the leaves are what allows the plant to photosynthesize.. so by removing them.. you are less of the plant to do the ACTUAL work of converting light to plant energy... I usually lollypop my plants a few days into flower by taking the bottom 3 or 4 branches off.. then I dont remove any other leaves through the rest of the grow (unelss they have died and fallen off). LST is a great way to seperate the branches of the plant.. I highly recommend it if you can! It allows all the smaller side branches to reach up towards the light.. so you actually wind up with 5 or 6 tops on each plant.. This is also a really good technique for height control.. but it doesnt sound like you have that issue! once the plants are bent an lollypoped, I use the FIM technique to regulate the height of the canopy and keep it uniformed.. A uniformed canopy will help greatly to increase your yeild and make the most out of your lights! As for your mother plants.. there are various ways you can keep them from gowing really quickly.. Move the lights further away, and decrease your nutrients.. it may cause some slight deficiencies in the veg stage.. but this will effectively slow the growth of the plant.. and then you can nurse it back to good health before you pop it in the flower room.. another thing you can do is top the plants you have in veg.. cut each branch just above one of the lower nodes and then let that node re-grow into another branch.. Essentially making the plant "start over" from a lower point on the plant.. There are lots of ways to control how the plants grow.. the best is to decide plant by plant what needs to be done.. some of them will grow short and bushy.. not needing much height control.. but needing lots of leaf thinning.. some may grow super fast and need to be topped or bent to compensate.. the best method is whatever one the situation calls for! Good luck dude!
XXXJAYXXX Reviewed by XXXJAYXXX on . Growing bottle neck. Vote for the best solution. Okay so here is the question / problem: Whatâ??s the best method of training /organizing the plants to maximize my flowering space and light? Description of the room: Room: 10â?? X 3.75â?? X 8â?? High. (The room is a little longer but I need that part for equipment) Light: 1 - 1000W vertical bulb with a 3â?? parabolic reflector on a 6â?? light mover. These are the circumstances: Rating: 5