LST, supercropping and topping in smart pots help, please

[MMAjay420]

Ok i have my clones in the 1 gallon pots for about a week now, in the greenhouse with a 400w light to add supplimental lighting to make the days 18 hours. After they get some size im planning on transfering to smart pots.

before planting i drilled holes around the edge of the pots so i could start tying these girls down when needed.


I want to incorporate LST, supercropping and topping but which technique should i use first? and in what order? to optimize the growth and keep em short and stocky.

Thank you in advance ICMAG'ers.....

 

[MMAjay420]

WOW! anyone? anything?

 

[MMAjay420]

Anyone EVER try this? i know I cant be the only one wondering...

 

[xmobotx]

lol

1 variation can be to top; then LST the 2 'mainstems' separately and ultimately use supercropping to even out the canopy

{perhaps this way you could put off LST'n for when they are in the final container}

you could also do the thing where you twist the stem slightly but IDK when would be the best time to apply that tech

 

[Crusader Rabbit]

These will end up growing in a greenhouse? How tall do you plan on letting them get? You could LST and supercrop the living daylights out of them, but if they then grow to be six feet tall with all those stems parallel and upright it may not be that much different from a normal plant . I think of LST as a way to get a plant to grow broad and low. For a big plant in a greenhouse you can top it then pull side branches down and out to get a wider bush. As xmobotx suggests the training may be better done in the final container.

If you want a bunch of branches with short internode spacing then start with your light down close so they don't feel the need to stretch in veg.

 

[Canniwhatsis]

Well,... it depends on your style of growing really.

I bend and top my girls in vege. Occasionally I don't have to tie them down, just massage the stems and they stay down where I want them.


Smart pots are great for training using plant tape (double sided velcro) because the hook side will stick to the pot! No need for holes, and repositioning is as easy as peel and stick!!!

 

[MMAjay420]

lol

1 variation can be to top; then LST the 2 'mainstems' separately and ultimately use supercropping to even out the canopy

{perhaps this way you could put off LST'n for when they are in the final container}

you could also do the thing where you twist the stem slightly but IDK when would be the best time to apply that tech

Well I already FIM'ed them a few days ago and see some new growth. They are still pretty short so im not going to do too much bending. I think ill transfer them to the smart pots ( well my ghetto version of one - Walmart reuseable shopping bags ) in a month or so. is there any REAL art to LSTing them? like tie them down one direction for a week or 2 and after it starts growing upward again then bend it down in a different direction?

 

[MMAjay420]

These will end up growing in a greenhouse? How tall do you plan on letting them get? You could LST and supercrop the living daylights out of them, but if they then grow to be six feet tall with all those stems parallel and upright it may not be that much different from a normal plant . I think of LST as a way to get a plant to grow broad and low. For a big plant in a greenhouse you can top it then pull side branches down and out to get a wider bush. As xmobotx suggests the training may be better done in the final container.

If you want a bunch of branches with short internode spacing then start with your light down close so they don't feel the need to stretch in veg.

Great question. I would LIKE to keep these 9 in the greenhouse 6' deepx4'widex6'tall but I CAN move em outside of they get too big. I have some areas in the backyard that get great sun and no one can see em, except from inside my house.

 

[MMAjay420]

Well,... it depends on your style of growing really.

I bend and top my girls in vege. Occasionally I don't have to tie them down, just massage the stems and they stay down where I want them.


Smart pots are great for training using plant tape (double sided velcro) because the hook side will stick to the pot! No need for holes, and repositioning is as easy as peel and stick!!!

so when you massage the stem and bend em down, is that almost like breaking them? basically get them to point down instaed of up?

 

[xmobotx]

Well I already FIM'ed them a few days ago and see some new growth. They are still pretty short so im not going to do too much bending. I think ill transfer them to the smart pots ( well my ghetto version of one - Walmart reuseable shopping bags ) in a month or so. is there any REAL art to LSTing them? like tie them down one direction for a week or 2 and after it starts growing upward again then bend it down in a different direction?

my experience; they tend to want to stay the way you 1st bend them & you can continue to train the growing tip

an LST'd plant may not require support {its already bent over}

lots of options~ if training & pruning interest you; mess around w/ it

so when you massage the stem and bend em down, is that almost like breaking them? basically get them to point down instaed of up?

i dont want to put words in his mouth but; i think what he is saying is that you can remove the ties once the plant is 'trained' and it will tend to stay that way {LST}

 

[Canniwhatsis]

so when you massage the stem and bend em down, is that almost like breaking them? basically get them to point down instaed of up?

No,..... not quite. I'm gently bending the branches over several inches, just a little bit at a time. Light pinches and twists to break up the long fibers without actually kinking the stem. I've gotten a few branches to point down, but mostly it's to get them sideways and encourage more internode branch growth.

Gotta pay close attention tho, because your pushing right to the edge of actually snapping it.

If the branch won't train that way, I'll restrain it with string or plant tape while it gets more woody, Then like xmobotx said you can remove the ties.

 

[W89]

I topped first..

Then LST....

Supercrop if need too..."pinch the stem and bend over 90*

 

[MMAjay420]

awesome guys, thank you so much, this grow is going to definatly be a learning experience. I have been trying to read up and study on all i can before i put the clones in dirt..... very cool guys. I had another thread that NO ONE really responded to about possible using some kind of cage or trellis inside the smart pot. I just have an idea in my head that because its a soft sided container, if you were to move it wouldnt the cage ( tomato cage?) kind of shake loose?

 

[MedicalGrower]

Once the root system develops into your smart pot I think the cage will be OK if moved carefully. Could be a hassle if too tall a cage is used...[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]

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awesome guys, thank you so much, this grow is going to definatly be a learning experience. I have been trying to read up and study on all i can before i put the clones in dirt..... very cool guys. I had another thread that NO ONE really responded to about possible using some kind of cage or trellis inside the smart pot. I just have an idea in my head that because its a soft sided container, if you were to move it wouldnt the cage ( tomato cage?) kind of shake loose?

 

[xmobotx]

when you buy shade cloth {the woven kind} they have a clip which folds in half and clamps to the mesh of the cloth {forcing some 'spikes' through and locking} giving a loop to attach the shade cloth to supports

something like this could give you a nice anchor you could place at will and tie to for your LST

 

[Hammerhead]

Clips to LST. These are made for the Nursery industry. I use them to do all kinds of funky stuff to the branches.

 

[W89]

HH- I've seen those on ebay EZ-Bendz or something like that... they look good do they work well?

 

[Hammerhead]

yes you can do some tricky stuff with these..

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00579X2HC/ref=oh_details_o05_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[MMAjay420]

i gotta up load some pix but what I use is that twist tie wire, like the kind that come on a loaf of bread. I think it was at the 99 cent store they have spools of it that are like 250 feet. its so cheap i just bought a few rolls andd throw it away when im done instead of tryna reuse it.

 

[Torbo]

If it was me, I would have fimmed it first to get 4 new "main" branches then spread them in a X and after that LST it towards eachother to fill up the pot as fast as possible.