Topping and transplanting
- Thread starter dba1954
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Chrondocious
Well-Known Member
I'd transplant first, let them set in for a day or two, then top.
I wouldn't recommend it. Either, top it first. Or transplant and wait 10days to top.
If the plants are healthy then they should be able to handle being topped and transplanted in the same day.
Thinking about it this way....people have dropped their plants on the floor, spilled all the soil out of the container, damaged the roots and had broken off one or more branches. They pick the plant up, get some soil, put the plant back and water it and toss the broken off parts. The plant survives and barely shows any signs of anything gone wrong.
Doing a bit of topping and then not damaging the root mass while tranplanting is not going to be a problem for the plant. These plants are not delicate little princesses; they are weeds, kinda like a massive bulldog and they will take a lickin' and keep on tickin'.
.They are a weed and all that.
I've done both. If you have a tendency to make a mess and end up with a droopy plant for a few days after transplanting you might want to separate them by a few days.
I didn't notice any difference between waiting and doing both at the same time.
I didn't notice any difference between waiting and doing both at the same time.
If you are careful in your transplanting then the plant will hardly notice. I would still do one, then the other.
I'm in the @SmokingWings camp - the plants I have ATM had roots growing into a mesh mat beneath them
I dropped the new lamp on them, so moved them, tearing the roots out of the bottom [d'oh!]
Looked a bit sad for a couple of days but they bounce right back
I think topping at the same time might actually encourage better root growth for a short period
I dropped the new lamp on them, so moved them, tearing the roots out of the bottom [d'oh!]
Looked a bit sad for a couple of days but they bounce right back
I think topping at the same time might actually encourage better root growth for a short period
The redistribution of growth hormones from topping having an effect on the roots?
Sounds plausible to me.
From what I have read is that plants have a balance between the root system and the stem & leaves above ground. If the plant were to loose a bunch of its stems and leaves then there is an inbalance and plant will produce more of those pesky hormones that promote stem and leaf growth until the balance is back in line. Same sort of thing if it looses a chunk of the root system. The top will wilt for awhile and stop most new growth until enough of the root system is regrown to support what is above ground.
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- #10
fyi, I transplanted, the roots were pretty bound, starting to wrap around the container
So that would be the balance of cytokinins vs auxins?
If I remember correctly a higher ratio of cytokinins to auxins results in the growth of more shoots, while a higher ratio of auxins results in apical dominance and root growth, correct?
Good to get them transplanted then!
Doing more reading it looks like waiting between transplanting and topping would be the best plan.
Copied from another site: As stated above, auxins start at the growth tips and travel down the phloem towards the root tips to encourage roots to grow. Cytokinins start at the meristem cells located at the roots and travel up the xylem to encourage shoot cell division (growth). Because of this, damage to the growth tips will reduce the auxins needed for root development, stunting the roots, and damage to the roots will reduce the cytokinins needed for shoot development, stunting the growth tips.
Copied from another site: As stated above, auxins start at the growth tips and travel down the phloem towards the root tips to encourage roots to grow. Cytokinins start at the meristem cells located at the roots and travel up the xylem to encourage shoot cell division (growth). Because of this, damage to the growth tips will reduce the auxins needed for root development, stunting the roots, and damage to the roots will reduce the cytokinins needed for shoot development, stunting the growth tips.
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- #13
Chrondocious
Well-Known Member
Actually they are an annual.If the plants are healthy then they should be able to handle being topped and transplanted in the same day.
Thinking about it this way....people have dropped their plants on the floor, spilled all the soil out of the container, damaged the roots and had broken off one or more branches. They pick the plant up, get some soil, put the plant back and water it and toss the broken off parts. The plant survives and barely shows any signs of anything gone wrong.
Doing a bit of topping and then not damaging the root mass while tranplanting is not going to be a problem for the plant. These plants are not delicate little princesses; they are weeds, kinda like a massive bulldog and they will take a lickin' and keep on tickin'.
They are a weed and all that.
It has been awhile since I had the classes that forced us to pay attention to what the many plant hormones did so I did some limited reading up on them.
Basically along those lines. Little things involved like the amounts of the cytokinins can direct whether the roots branch more or do less branching. Combine with other hormones and it can get even more interesting. There are hormones that will move up from the root system to the flowering growth area and increase the amounts of "feminism" in the flowers which I took to mean it affected flowers that had both the male and female parts in the one bloom.
Back to the original question. Is topping the plant, which supposedly causes it to slow down while it rebuilds the growing tips, and then transplanting any different than topping and transplanting at the same time. Either way, it will take several days for the plant to recover. Will we see this slowdown if the plant has been on a decent watering schedule and is overall healthy? I doubt it.
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- #16
Wastei
Well-Known Member
Doesn't matter in the slightest, it's a weed and if it's healthy it can take a lot of abuse without being stunted.
If after a topping I doubt that it matters much.
If after a transplanting I like to wait about 2 weeks which allows the roots system to grow into the new soil and take advantage of the increased source of nutrients. That and I figure the plant slows down root production after it starts the growth of flowering buds.
I usually give them enough time to build up the top two shoots a bit, if I'm not combining topping with LST.
Letting them get a couple of nodes before flipping let's them develop into larger colas, unless you spread them out to maintain a level canopy.
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- #20
so, with lights all the way up I have 53" space from the dirt level of the soil. I need 12" below the light. That leaves 41" .... When they say it will stretch 2-3 times the height is that additive or total height? At what plant height then should I flip?
i have my answer
i have my answer
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