Naive Newbie Needs Knowledgeable Nudging on Nipping Nuances

[ThreeHit]

Warning: Longwindedness ahead.

While awaiting seeds for my first grow, I have been trying to learn as much as possible and to get my grow room together. One area that has been challenging for me, for some reason, is understanding all of the various ways to crop/nip/trim/train and, especially, how to choose one over another for my particular situation.

That having been said, I'm not too worried about it for my first grow or two (or more); I'm planning to keep my first grows as simple as possible to make it easier for me to understand and learn. I figure there's plenty of time to make things more complicated later on once I know the basics.

I'm looking at a space that's about 5' wide by 10' deep by 10' high and at least on 1 kW HPS (or possibly multiple lower-wattage lights), so I should have more than enough room to take care of my personal needs. My desire is to not grow continually but instead to grow for as many months as I need to grow what I need for a while and then shut down completely for maybe a year or more. My first grow will be bagseed if I can find some. If not, it will be Northern Lights #5 or something equally easy. Eventually, I would like to grow three or four strains during my grow season, so I have some of each during the non-growing months. I'm thinking a couple of indicas and one or two indica/sativa strains. I'd like to regurgitate what I think I've learned about some of these methods and get any feedback anyone cares to provide. Not so much for my first grow or two but just so I might know about any implications on how I build my grow room beforehand. Here goes:

No topping: With no topping, the light is changed to 12/12 when the plant is about 1/3 to 1/2 the desired height (depending on strain) and nature takes it's course during flowering.

Topping: Topping increase the number of colas at the top of the plant and increases the number of buds that get the primo light. Can be done aggressively or lightly. All cuts slow down growth while plant recovers.

SOG: Group of clones of exact same age and condition whose consistent height increases the effectiveness of the light. Can decrease grow time by having next batch of clones ready to go at harvest of last batch.

LST/ScrOG: Bends the main stem and branches instead of cutting, with ties/strings/hooks or with a wire screen. Gives buds along the stems/branches a chance to grow straight up into the free air above them where they can bask in the herbalescent light. But doesn't stress the plan as much as cutting nor stop growth like cutting.

Based on this, I have three questions.

1) Am I in the ballpark with my understanding of these?
B) Am I correct in thinking that I should not try to take on SOG/ScrOG/LST on my first few grows?
III) Everywhere I read about these techniques, there were statements about various strains being more or less tolerant of topping or training than others but I haven't been able to find anything in any of the strain guides or seedbanks that shows which strains or types of strains are suited or not suited for which techniques. Are there any sources for this sort of information?

Thanks for any feedback you'd care to offer.

Peace, baby.

ThreeHit Reviewed by ThreeHit on 12-21-2006. Naive Newbie Needs Knowledgeable Nudging on Nipping Nuances Warning: Longwindedness ahead. While awaiting seeds for my first grow, I have been trying to learn as much as possible and to get my grow room together. One area that has been challenging for me, for some reason, is understanding all of the various ways to crop/nip/trim/train and, especially, how to choose one over another for my particular situation. That having been said, I'm not too worried about it for my first grow or two (or more); I'm planning to keep my first grows as simple as Rating: 5

[stinkyattic]

LST can be done just fine by a noob.... there's a couple people on here who are good at taking pics of their training... check out Splifted's grow... has some good examples.

SOG- probably not great to try for first grow, especially from seeds, too many variables and the canopy won't be as even as you'd probably like.

I'd suggest trying to treat your plants a couple different ways since their response will be strain dependent.

So if you start 10 seeds, LST 3 of them with topping of FIMming, leave 3 of them for single cola, and maybe try to train 3 of them diagonally with no topping... see what gives good results for that strain...

when you get a female to save as a mother, then you will be able to learn cloning and SOG or SCROG would be more appropriate if you choose to go that route.

Oh and lights... Multiple lower-watt lights ARE actually a good bet. 3 x HPS600 in that space will give you good light. And obviously for your first grow you won't fill the whole space right away so you can bunch them all close together and cram 1800w over your smaller # of plants!

I also suggest looking into a 2-room perpetual cropping system. My grow has always been one right from the start and it's both flexible and rewarding.
Best of luck!

[CityBoyGoneCountry]

^^ what she said

I top the taller, more vigorously growing plants and allow the smaller plants to grow naturally. That helps to keep the canopy relatively even, but of course no canopy will ever be perfectly even, unless like you said they are all clones of exact same age and condition. This is easier said than done because not all of your clones will root at the exact same time.

I don't train tops unless a plant just gets too tall on me during flowering when it's too late to top it again. For me, training is just a hassle that I rather not be bothered with.

[dutch.lover]

i am a noob grower as well, although i have definitely learned a lot over the months i have been on here. anyways, i have topped my plants, and lst'ed them- with great results. i would suggest topping a plant that is either too tall, or topping a plant that is sort of a slow grower and isn't putting out any side shoots. i would highly reccomend lst'ing. for one, it's lots of fun being able to manipulate your plants into whatever shape you want, and it's cool watching the plant perk up and start growing straight up towards the light if you bend it over or tie it down. the benefits to the plant are great- because it allows more of the plant to get light, and can even up your canopy if that's what you desire. currently, my pride and joy is my champagne plant, which i topped, then bent over. it grew four major shoots, which i tied down to the sides a bit to spread them out. it's now in flower and is the shape of a square, four large colas and lots of light getting to all the little buds in the center. it's awesome. the link in my signature goes to the pics of that plant.

[the yeag]

no naughty noob no nice nugs no not never... niet

[ThreeHit]

no naughty noob no nice nugs no not never... niet

ROFLMAO

[ThreeHit]

Great information; thanks. I think maybe I'll try to LST a couple of plants on my first grow. I hope to be using bagseed; so there's no telling what will happen.

Thanks, everybody.

"Makes your eyes red just thinking about it, doesn't it?"
-- Cheech & Chong

[Zoidberg]

I'm also looking into lst for my latest grow. Been looking at some good posts but does anyone have a particular post/guide they could recommend?