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Training cannabis plants can increase yields and produce hardy and resilient plants. Emerald dives into the different training techniques, ranging from low-stress to high-stress, and the benefits of each.
There are many ways to train cannabis plants. Below is a breakdown of low-stress and high-stress methods.
Low-Stress Techniques
Tying Down
Tying plants down is a straightforward technique that involves using string or gardening wire. The art of tying down will open up the plant and allow more light to penetrate the inner parts, whilst causing a bushy and wider canopy. The goal is to lower the highest part as well as the side branches, allowing them to grow vertically within a few days. This in turn produces multiple crown tops, resulting in numerous main colas once the plant flowers.
Topping
Cannabis plants are an apical dominant species, meaning they will grow one main crown growth shoot. Topping prevents the growth hormone auxin to become disrupted and allows the two auxiliary shoots to become dominant. This results in two main growth sites instead of just one. Topping is done using a clean pair of sterile scissors, a sharp scalpel, or using the finger and thumb.
Fimming
Fimming is best described as a failed topping technique that can intentionally leave behind 30%-50% of the crown growth shoot, according to Sensi Seeds, the world’s largest seedbank. As a result, the plant will require five to seven days to fully recover and grow back, causing it to focus energy on the lower growth and produce a more prolific growth structure. When fimming, experts advise using a sharp pair of scissors and cutting horizontally.
High-Stress Techniques
Super Cropping/Stem Snapping
Super cropping means breaking the inner cell walls of the branches. This high-stress technique results in the plants distributing growth hormones to repair the break, in the same way a broken bone becomes stronger. Once a branch is snapped under pressure using a twisting and snapping motion, it forms a hardwood knuckle. This makes the plants stronger and more resilient.
Lolly Popping
The goal behind lolly popping is to prune away all the nodes beneath the highest point of the canopy. This can be performed using a scalpel or scissors by carefully slicing away the leaves and shoots. This technique prevents small buds from developing once flowered, as well as increases yields, according to Leafly. Also, it is an excellent time to take cuttings and allow cannabis plants to grow top-heavy colas.
Mainlining
This high-stress training technique is recommended for more experienced growers. Mainlining is a process that can last several weeks and incorporates topping, pruning, and tying down. The result will be a top-heavy canopy that diverts all the plant’s energy to the crown shoots and can be a highly productive way of growing cannabis plants. However, only growers who are familiar with the training methods above should perform this technique.
When to Start Training Indoor Cannabis Plants
The best time to apply low or high-stress training methods is during the vegetative stage. This is typically when the lights are set to 18 hours of light and 6 hours of darkness. The reason is that plants will have more time to recover, and will have not entered the flowering stage where they are triggered to produce a high level of growth hormones and auxin.
Some growers choose to strip and prune their plants as late as the third week of flowering. However, doing so may induce too much stress, resulting in hermaphrodites and potentially stunted growth. Therefore working during the vegetative growth window is recommended, explains the experts at Royal Queen Seeds.
3 Tips for Training Indoor Plants
Below are three tips for first time or novice growers that can make the process easier with optimal effects.
Use Sharp, Clean Blades
To perform topping, or pruning/lolly popping techniques, using sharp and sterile equipment allows the best results. A good tip is to clean all equipment beforehand with alcoholic wipes and 3% food-grade hydrogen peroxide, and use new scissors or scalpels.
Allow the Plants to Fully Recover
Cannabis plants should be left to fully heal and recover, regardless of performing low or high-stress training techniques. A good tip is to not be overzealous and be patient to avoid inducing too much stress or causing permanent damage, stunted growth, a reduction in yield, or worst-case scenario, hermaphrodites. Stress is a primary contributor to hermaphroditic cannabis, as explained by Advanced Nutrients, plant growth and nutrition experts.
Topping and Tying Down Reduces Plant Height
This is ideal for sativa or sativa-dominant hybrids, which tend to treble in size once timers have been changed to 12/12 (12 hours of light/12 hours of dark). Topping and tying down can significantly reduce the stretching phase. This also allows growers with smaller grow spaces to stay within a comfortable and easy-to-maintain zone and keep the final plant height more practical, according to Sensi Seeds, a long-standing source for cultivation knowledge.
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