Pruning is removing leaves, small shoots and in general altering the shape of the plant. An example of pruning is when you take clones or just cut off the lower part of a single cola tree growth. You are making a lollypop plant, nothing on the lower parts where light does not penetrate. The plant looks like a lollypop on a stick. That is pruning.

Topping/Cropping is altering the plant by cutting the main cola. This will force the plant to grow short bushy.

Pinching is a stress technique where your crush the main stock. The plant is forced to spend its energy on healing its self thus growth is bushier then tall and the plant will grow out at the sides. Stress technique can produce more resin if itâ??s done at the correct time in the plants flower cycle.