Key Takeaways –
- Topping is the act of removing the topmost growing tip of a plant in order to encourage more side branches and buds to form.
- It’s a common practice among growers and one that can result in bigger yields if done correctly.
- The best time to topping is when plants are young – around 6-8 weeks into the vegetative stage.
- Topping can be done by hand, with scissors, or with a sharp knife.
You’re probably wondering what topping cannabis plants is and why people do it. Well, topping cannabis plants is the act of removing the topmost growing tip of a plant in order to ENCOURAGE more side branches and buds to form (green fingers ready).
It’s a common practice among cannabis growers and one that can result in bigger yields if done correctly.
There are a few reasons why topping your cannabis plants might be a good idea. For one, topping can help you achieve a more even canopy, which is important for maximizing light exposure.
It can also help you control the size of your plants and keep them from becoming too tall or lanky. Finally, topping can trigger the growth of more buds, resulting in a bigger harvest.
If you’re thinking about topping your cannabis plants, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. First, you should ONLY top plants that are in the vegetative stage. Second, don’t top them too early – wait until they’ve grown at least three nodes.
Third, make sure to use sharp scissors or clippers when topping your plants, and be very careful not to damage the stem. Finally, give your plants plenty of water and nutrients after topping them to help them recover.
While you’ve had a good brief rundown, our topping guide for cannabis is here to give you the details and help you better understand how topping works, why it’s good, and also take you through some additional methods.
Top Plant: Why People Top Cannabis Plants
You might be sitting here wondering what is topping a plant and how does it relate to cannabis? Well, this classic gardening technique is about to become your best-kept secret.
Topping cannabis plants is a method of cutting off the top part of the plant to stop growth and force branching.
Cannabis plants tend to grow like weeds, and so topping marijuana plants helps to keep them under control and encourages strong lateral growth for the best cannabis cultivation.
This is often done during the vegetative stage of growth when the plant is young and has not yet entered the flowering stage. Topping can also be done during the flowering stage, but it’s generally less effective then.
Pro Tip – When topping cannabis plants, make sure to use sharp, sterilized scissors or clippers. You don’t want to damage the plant or yourself.
How to Top a Plant
When topping a plant, you want to hold the main stem and cut off the topmost growing tip, just above the first set of leaves. This will encourage the plant to send out more side branches, which will result in more buds forming.
Think of it as a Christmas tree shape that encourages vertical growth and helps your weed plant to reach its full potential. It’s the ultimate growth tip.
It’s important to note that topping the marijuana plant should only be done once or twice during the entire growth cycle, or you may end up stunting the cannabis plant’s growth.
If done correctly, topping can result in bigger yields from your cannabis plants. Topping for maximum yield is the main reason people go about topping weed, and it produces loads of buds to keep your stash going strong.
It’s a simple procedure but should be done with caution, as cannabis topping can also be damaging if done incorrectly.
How Early to Top Plants?
The best time to top your cannabis plants is during the vegetative stage when they are young and have not yet started flowering. Topping during flowering can also be done, but it is generally less effective.
Topping too early or too late in the plant’s life cycle can result in stunted growth or poor bud production.
From the time you plant your cannabis seeds, you have to keep a close eye on them and enforce the best plant training technique for good harvests.
How Often Should You Top Your Plants?
You should only top your cannabis plants once or twice during the entire growth cycle. Topping outdoor plants more than that can result in stunted growth.
When topping for the first time, you should wait until the plant has at least four sets of leaves before tackling the lower branches. For the second topping, wait until the plant has eight sets of leaves.
Topping any more than that is generally not advised, as it can severely stunt the plant’s growth.
When is it too Late to Top Your Plant?
It is generally too late to top your cannabis plant once it has started flowering. Topping plants at this stage will usually result in poor bud production.
If you absolutely must top your plant during flowering, do so with caution and only remove the very topmost part of the plant. Removing too much can result in the plant’s death ( trust me, I know a lot about killing plants).
When to Stop Topping Plants
Topping plants is a common practice among growers and one that can result in bigger yields if done correctly. But when should you stop topping your plants?
The answer to this question depends on a few factors, including the plant’s size, the number of leaves it has, and the growing conditions.
In general, the topping should be done when the plant is still small enough that all the new growth can be easily controlled. Once the plant gets too big, topping can result in uncontrolled growth and yield loss.
The best time to stop topping plants is when they reach the DESIRED SIZE. If you want to keep the plant small, topping can be done every few weeks.
For a larger plant, topping can be done every month or two. Once the plant reaches the desired size, topping can be stopped altogether.
Why Prune Cannabis Plants?
Pruning is the act of trimming away dead or dying leaves and branches from a plant. Pruning the cannabis plant also helps to stimulate new growth, which can be beneficial for topping plants.
Pruning should be done on a regular basis, especially during the vegetative stage when the plant is growing rapidly. Pruning too late in the plant’s life cycle can result in poor bud production.
When pruning, be sure to remove any leaves or branches that are dead, dying, or otherwise not producing new growth. Also, be sure to prune away any leaves or branches that are preventing light from reaching the buds.
How to Prune Your Marijuana Plants
Pruning your marijuana plants is a simple but important task that should be done on a regular basis.
Here are some growth tips for how to prune your weed plants:
1. Start by removing any dead or dying leaves and branches. These can be found at the bottom of the plant or near the tips of the branches.
2. Next, remove any leaves or branches that are blocking light from reaching the buds.
3. Finally, trim away any leaves or branches that are preventing air from reaching the buds.
4. Prune your plants on a regular basis, particularly during the vegetative stage when they are growing rapidly.
5. Once the plant reaches the desired size, you can stop topping it.
Pruning your marijuana plants is an essential part of plant care. By removing dead or dying leaves and branches, you can help the plant to stay healthy and produce more buds. Pruning also helps to stimulate new growth, which can be beneficial for topping plants.
Topping vs Fimming: What’s the Difference?
Topping and fimming are two common methods of plant training that are used to encourage more growth and larger harvests. But what’s the difference between the two?
Topping is the act of removing the topmost growing tip of a plant in order to encourage more side branches and buds to form. Fimming is similar to topping, but instead of removing the entire top of the plant, only the tips of the leaves are removed.
Both topping and fimming can be done during the vegetative stage, but topping is usually done when the plant is smaller, while fimming is done when the plant is larger.
Topping can result in more even growth, while fimming can result in more branches and buds.
Both topping and fimming have their own advantages and disadvantages, so it’s important to choose the method that’s right for your plant.
To Conclude
Topping and fimming are two common methods of plant training that are used to encourage more growth and larger yields. Topping is the act of removing the topmost growing tip of a plant in order to encourage more side branches and buds to form.
Fimming is similar to topping, but instead of removing the entire top of the cannabis plant, only the tips of the leaves are removed.
No matter which method you use, we hope that this guide has been able to help you better understand the process so that you can get the most out of your cannabis plants and enjoy your buds.
Sources:
https://www.leafly.com/learn/growing/marijuana-plant-maintenance/pruning-topping-marijuana-plants