Ok so the drawing on the left is a typical plant in veg. We got good branching and some growth underneath. The growth underneath likely wont amount to anything but wasted energy in flowering to try and get those branches closer to the light. When using this method I keep all of the growth as it helps the plants infrastructure to get bigger and the more leaves the more growth that is supported.
Once flowering is about to be triggered I clear all of that lower growth so it doesnt leech from the higher growth that will reach the lights.If you lst all you do for stepping is lst your branches up towards the lights diagnolly. This creates the impression to the plant that there really is more space then you actually have because everything is spaced so that nothing is being blocked out by leaves due to the angle. The way it will look is: Do you remember playing mario? The platforming sections where you have to jump to the next block higher and then again and again. Well imagine those platforms as going all the way around your plant as a spiral staircase of platforms. In order for this to work you will need to bend the branches to become soft and bendable. This works for even harder thick branches. Dont forget to knuckle them so they support even heavier buds. I start knuckling in veg at around the 5th or 6th node because when its time to switch that will all be cleared below the first node you knuckled. So lst the branch facing diagnol up. Remember to reorient according to your light. So if your light is overhead you want all the colas facing the highest possible point they can be at without shadowing lower steps. If your lights are oriented vertically then you will want your steps to be straighter towards the light instead of diagnol. Using this method your plants will use the light more efficiently without the need for a screen if you dont prefer to mess with those or just dont have the room. The stepping gives the buds more room to grow without the need to hack all of your leaves off as you go. Hope this explanation helps and makes sense. I wish I had a plant ready to sow you this right now but since my plant just started flowering it wouldnt be a ideal time to show you on the plant as the steps are just starting out.
I almost forgot. Your plant may not and probably wont grow the branches where you need your next step. Sometimes the plant doesnt grow symetrical. In that case you lst a branch from the opposite side to where you want your next step to be. Each step is always a bit higher and spread out a bit further as you go. You spread them further as you go so that there is nothing obstructing light between levels of the steps. If certain branches arent big enough for the step then you just rotate your container so that the light focuses on that part to make the step the size you require. Some steps may be missing for a bit and thats ok as long as you fill it in by lsting from the other side eventually. The cola is made of many small branches with flowers. Feel free to lst those small branches as they will seperate themselves from each other with many main colas growing ever bigger instead of just 1 main cola. Every step will end up being a nice sized cola but this process will significantly reduce any popcorn buds as the middle of the plant will not let much light pass down below to where you trimmed. It wont regrow but if some light gets through make sure to keep trimming that undergrowth
