Topped, Please clarify for a newbie

[Chronic Chrissy]

While I have your attention KP I have another question for you....

Chronic Chrissy Reviewed by Chronic Chrissy on 01-06-2007. Topped, Please clarify for a newbie I think I get the basic concept. You take off the top of the main stalk and usually two grow in it's place. But tell me more about it. When do you do it? How much do you take off? Is it a good idea to take off enough for a clone? And what about yeild? I've read that when multiple branchs bloom it doesn't mean you get more bud you just get 2 buds half the size. I'm also wondering if the secondary branches that are coming out will form little buds alongside the big one(making one big fat bud), or Rating: 5

[Chronic Chrissy]

I need to flush tommorror and I've never done it and I'm a little nervous because in the past I've had a tendency to over water and problems with root rot, so I like to be careful now. The soil is a little damp today and should be dry by tommorrrow, is this a good time to do it? And how do I know when I've flushed enough. And is there any instruction for how to follow up with nutes? I'm a spong for info so I'll take any you have honey.

[kindprincess]

set your plant in the bathtub and run lukewarm water (easy, now) to flush. just keep watering until the drainage is crystal clear. then, to add nutes, go with 1/4 strength, alow soil to dry out, nute with 1/4 strength again and go back to your schedule.

i'll be here for a few, so if you need anything else...

kp

[dutch.lover]

Hey, I'm not KP but I will try to answer your questions. To flush, it doesn't really matter when you do it, just make sure you allow your pots to dry out completely before watering again in the future. And when you flush, to do it completely, flush with about 3x the amount of water your pot holds. ie. 3 gallon pot=flush with 9gallons of water. After you flush, i would follow up with lighter than full strength nutes.

[dutch.lover]

oops KP answered anyways. lol. the bathtub idea is a really good one actually, that's what i use when i have severe salt/nute buildup in my soil. it clears everything out.

[Abattoir Dream]

When do you do it? How much do you take off? Is it a good idea to take off enough for a clone? And what about yeild?

do it between 4th and 5th node if possible, just cut off the little leaf bud right at the top, the only way you could 'clone' a topped head would be if you use tissue culture, which is a pretty advanced way of rooting small cutting, from what i can gather.. yeild it can affect, but if you give it enough time to grow back enough you should be fine...

just my two cents...

[Weedhound]

Ask and ye shall receive....

[Nocturnal Stoner]

can someone post a pic of them topping their plant or something cause that would help a bit more for us noobs lol

[kindprincess]

i'll post several examples tonite, prob around midnite... i gotta cut clones, so i can give you 50-60 examples if you want,lol

[Duke420]

KP to the rescue!!