Hello !
This is my report on the expermiments with 3 cuts instead of 1.
2 methods were used that can be summarized like this:
1st method: "1 stem has been topped 3 times" (plant at the right)
2nd method: "3 stems have been topped once" (plant at the left)
A little of lst has been used on both plants to spread the branches. it was easier on the 2nd method due to the more balanced size.
Details after pictures;
Blow Mind Auto (left) = 44 cm, Bloody Skunk Auto (right) = 54 cm . Big leaves have been removed.
1st method
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You top a first time at the 3rd node. When 2 new branches are born and can be topped, you top them too. You also cut the lower branches as soon as the upper ones have enough leaves not to suffer from the loss of the lower ones.
A lot of stress is put on 1 stem. The plant will grow the new branches as fast as it can, but in the meantime, the lower - untopped, branches will grow. The time that it takes for the 3-top to reach an "adult" size is too long and will bring you past the stretching period.
The result is a plant with big buds on the sides and a lot of smaller branches at the center.
Advantages of the method:
The shape is interesting for someone who seeks to produce a "SOG of taller plants" . The vertical structure may help densify the number of containers in the same room.
However, I beleive that the 2nd method described below is the best for auto-SOG.
2nd method:
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You top the main stem as you wish at 3rd or 4th node. At the same time, or as soon as you can a few days later, you also top the branches that have grown *below* the node that you topped. Ideally, everything should be at a similar "altitude" after topping, but this is not a major point. Then, you also cut the lower branches as soon as the upper ones have enough leaves not to suffer from the loss of the lower ones.
The big difference with the first method is that, during stretching, the plant will not show as much differences in size between topped and untopped branches. it is much more balanced. I also found that LST was easier.
Advantages of the method:
- LST was easier to do. -
- The buds are extremely dense, more than in the first method.
- It is also much densier than the same plant that I've grown previously and topped once only.
- All buds were very dense from top to bottom. It is all "A Grade", there is no "buds of lower quality" on that plant.
Second method seems perfect for auto topping-SOG (more plants in smaller growrooms), and same quality on the whole plant that deserves to be pointed out.
In both methods, little or no care was provided after the first few days after the operations (LST on big branches during a few weeks, eventhough the room was overcroweded so they could not expand horizontally, which is ok for SOG).
cheers
