Noob's First Grow: Indoor, Coco, 4 Plants

[Old Salt]

Hey ... you wouldn't happen to know if I prune any stem on the plant, or if I accidentally break a stem bending it, if the stem will grow two new growth nodes. I understand and have done topping to get two new colas, but I'm just not sure if the topping technique works on every stem we top or prune.

I've used NugBucket's Mainline/Manifold method for all of my previous grows. Essentially, you top to get two main branches. You top those two branches to get four branches (eight if you use the modified method). You then top the four branches to get eight.

So yes, topping the main stem or any branch will give you two branches, from every node on that main stem or branch. A single node, yields two, two nodes yields four, and three yields six branches, etc.

 

[Tomuk17]

Just like @Old Salt said spot on there mate, I've doubled topped my gelato at min and 4 lower branches and is now a little Bush

 

[SQl2kGuy]

I've used NugBucket's Mainline/Manifold method for all of my previous grows. Essentially, you top to get two main branches. You top those two branches to get four branches (eight if you use the modified method). You then top the four branches to get eight.

So yes, topping the main stem or any branch will give you two branches, from every node on that main stem or branch. A single node, yields two, two nodes yields four, and three yields six branches, etc.

Hey @Old Salt ... nice to see you again ... it's been a few weeks.

That is the answer I was looking for, but I wasn't 100% sure. In my current grow I am doing quadlining ... which is four branches off the main vertical stem. We force the branches (lines) to grow horizontally because the light is fixed above. As the four branches grow outwards, they spawn new pairs of branches which I try to force to grow upwards. Each new vertical branch coming off a horizontal line will be able to support a single cola when it flowers. I try to keep all the ends of the vertical branches at the same height (even canopy) to give consistent growth/light to each cola and prevent shading.

Right now I am about 2 weeks from flipping to 12/12 ... so I am "topping" the end of each of the four lines. This means that I will have eight colas instead of four growing upwards at the end of the lines.

The trick really is to bend the inner branches to let the outer branches get to the same height (even canopy).

I now understand, that I can "top" any of the vertical branches coming off the four horizontal branches (lines) to get two new vertical branches.

Got it ... a branch is a branch is a branch ... whether vertical or horizontal ... and topping has the same effect everywhere.

It's just really important for me to understand the process ... and not just do something. That way, I can plan and control the growth of the plant better.

I know this is a lot ... but if I could trouble you for one more quick question, that would be great:

I am currently growing my photoperiods indoor in soil in 5 gallon pots ... is this adequate, or have others found better results using 7 gallon pots?

Thanks for the education amigo!

 

[SQl2kGuy]

Just like @Old Salt said spot on there mate, I've doubled topped my gelato at min and 4 lower branches and is now a little Bush

Thanks @Tomuk17 ... it's good to see a working example.

Man ... this is just a plant ... I can't believe how much there is to learn and how much variation there is to quality and yield!

And @The Bard ... thanks for letting me hijack your thread for a bit to learn some more theory

 

[Tomuk17]

Thanks @Tomuk17 ... it's good to see a working example.

Man ... this is just a plant ... I can't believe how much there is to learn and how much variation there is to quality and yield!

And @The Bard ... thanks for letting me hijack your thread for a bit to learn some more theory

I've also been tying down the centre branches that shoot up so it stays fairly even, this was a week ago

 

[Tomuk17]

Thanks @The Bard for the short hijack also

 

[SQl2kGuy]

I've also been tying down the centre branches that shoot up so it stays fairly even, this was a week ago

Actually that's a good point. To slow down the center branches, I first tried pruning the fan leaves, second I tried bending, and finally today I bent them and tied them down. I heard super cropping slows them too ... but I haven't perfected that technique yet.

 

[The Bard]

No problem at all, guys. Learning right along with you!

 

[Tomuk17]

Actually that's a good point. To slow down the center branches, I first tried pruning the fan leaves, second I tried bending, and finally today I bent them and tied them down. I heard super cropping slows them too ... but I haven't perfected that technique yet.

I haven't tried supcropping either yet, and yes it does seem to slow the growth slightly, I decided to top twice as I think 3 times would get a bit messy lol, I tried mine on Saturday I think it was and today its abit messy already but can tell theres gonna be lots of tops

 

[Old Salt]

I am currently growing my photoperiods indoor in soil in 5 gallon pots ... is this adequate, or have others found better results using 7 gallon pots?

I'm a coco/perlite grower. My containers are 11 l/ 3.8 US gal DIY caged grow bags. With four plants, eight colas each I was getting just under 8oz from a 2' X 4' tent. The light an actual 300W COB based 'blurple' wasn't the best by a long shot. It's all I ever used.

I've read that with soil you control the size of your plant with the size of your pot, and the time spent in the vegetative stage. I see a lot of soil growers here with either 7 gal or 10 gal pots. What you use depends on the size you want your plants to be at harvest time for a soil grow.

 

[Dutchman1990]

I use either 5Gal or 7Gal pots for flowering and I run Promix HP. For a perspective in size this is my current Pheno Hunt girls in a 4x4 tent. 9x plants in 5Gal fabric pots.

46A0AD5E-DA70-4294-A7A0-A2A8F9500E45.jpeg

• Dutchman1990
• Jul 2, 2019

7224BDB7-7717-4114-9235-550126A4A02C.jpeg

• Dutchman1990
• Jul 2, 2019

2E4A97A5-09C6-4E35-BD49-D48CF3AA7F2B.jpeg

• Dutchman1990
• Jul 2, 2019

 

[Tomuk17]

I use either 5Gal or 7Gal pots for flowering and I run Promix HP. For a perspective in size this is my current Pheno Hunt girls in a 4x4 tent. 9x plants in 5Gal fabric pots.

46A0AD5E-DA70-4294-A7A0-A2A8F9500E45.jpeg

• Dutchman1990
• Jul 2, 2019

7224BDB7-7717-4114-9235-550126A4A02C.jpeg

• Dutchman1990
• Jul 2, 2019

2E4A97A5-09C6-4E35-BD49-D48CF3AA7F2B.jpeg

• Dutchman1990
• Jul 2, 2019

Always a excellent garden mate

 

[The Bard]

I use either 5Gal or 7Gal pots for flowering and I run Promix HP. For a perspective in size this is my current Pheno Hunt girls in a 4x4 tent. 9x plants in 5Gal fabric pots.

46A0AD5E-DA70-4294-A7A0-A2A8F9500E45.jpeg

• Dutchman1990
• Jul 2, 2019

7224BDB7-7717-4114-9235-550126A4A02C.jpeg

• Dutchman1990
• Jul 2, 2019

2E4A97A5-09C6-4E35-BD49-D48CF3AA7F2B.jpeg

• Dutchman1990
• Jul 2, 2019

Thanks for stopping by, Dutch. Beautiful plants, as always.

 

[SQl2kGuy]

I use either 5Gal or 7Gal pots for flowering and I run Promix HP. For a perspective in size this is my current Pheno Hunt girls in a 4x4 tent. 9x plants in 5Gal fabric pots.

Perfect! I appreciate the perspective @Dutchman1990. I will stick with the 5 gallon pots for this grow and see if I can fill up the tent like you have.

Have a nice night everyone ... we're off to a car show now ... make sure ya'll get out and enjoy the summer!

 

[Dutchman1990]

Always a excellent garden mate

Cheers Tomuk! I think if I went to 7Gal pots I would of been in trouble this round haha!

Thanks for stopping by, Dutch. Beautiful plants, as always.

Thank you Bode the pleasure is all mine! Hope things are well!

 

[The Bard]

Afternoon, everyone,

Just a quick update today on my three photoperiod girls. Today is:

DAY 123 from seed
DAY 48 from flip to 12/12
DAY 44 from first pistils (they vegged almost 80 days)

So they are starting the 7th week of flower.

GSC:

GSC 1.JPG

• The Bard
• Jul 6, 2019

GSC 2.JPG

• The Bard
• Jul 6, 2019

Trainwreck:

Train1.JPG

• The Bard
• Jul 6, 2019

Train 7.JPG

• The Bard
• Jul 6, 2019

Green Crack:

GC 1.JPG

• The Bard
• Jul 6, 2019

GC 2 (2).JPG

• The Bard
• Jul 6, 2019

I am pretty happy! Tent environment continues to be good. Humidity steadily in the 40-50% range. Temps peak at 82F during lights on, and then 75F with lights off. They continue to drink lots and lots of water (and lots evaporating too given lower humidity).

Did a quick trich check with the lope. I *think* the Green Crack will be ready first, followed by GSC, and Trainwreck last. For my Purple Kush harvest last month, I was looking for about 25% amber, to use as sleepy medicine. For these three gals, given they are meant to be more daytime/energetic, I'll only be looking for a touch of amber - like 90% cloudy, 5% clear, 5% amber. Does that make sense?

Still fresh new pistils popping out, girls are drinking and trichs not ready, so probably have a week, maybe two. Will pull out microscope next weekend for a closer look.

Thanks for stopping by!

 

[The Bard]

I meant to ask... has anyone ever hit harvest time without the big fan leaves looking rough? As far as I can recall, all the harvest-day pictures I have seen show that the fan leaves have turned yellow and dry out, as the plant starts to shut down (along with drinking a lot less). My girls are still drinking lots, and fan leaves look healthy and green (see pics above). Leads me to believe that I am still a ways away, and trichs seem to confirm that right now. Will do microscope pics later this week.

 

[Derbybud]

I've had them both ways. Fans looking like crap and others look as green as when it was in veg. Only way to tell is trichomes.

 

[The Bard]

I've had them both ways. Fans looking like crap and others look as green as when it was in veg. Only way to tell is trichomes.

Thanks Derby. Was just curious if I could use the leaves as a "cheat." Will pull the microscope out today.

 

[The Bard]

Evening everyone....

Trich shots to share today, and get your feedback. I am shooting for almost all cloudy, with very few clear, and very few amber. More upbeat and energetic (I was going for sleepy with my Purple Kush a month or so ago). What do you guys think?

GSC:
My opinion: getting really close, a few more days.

GSC 07 09 19

• The Bard
• Jul 9, 2019

Trainwreck:
My opinion: several more days, perhaps this weekend.

Trainwreck 07 09 19

• The Bard
• Jul 9, 2019

Green Crack:
My opinion: longer still, perhaps a week

Green Crack 07 09 19

• The Bard
• Jul 9, 2019