NorCal grower here, I've grown some huge plants this season. They are well over 6ft tall and I've already topped them a little over a month ago. I'm wanting to tie them down but would like to wait till after their stretch during flowering so that I don't have all the side branches stretching too. Since Im outdoors it's a little more difficult to tell how long they've been flowering so I was hoping to hear from all y'all who have a good road sign for that point i.e. if I remember back to my indoor growing days the stretch slows way down once the true bud pistols start to show and clump together ... About three weeks? Thank you for the support.
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When to Tie Down?
- Thread starter Morrow
- Start date
Back when I did a swamp grow of tall leggy Thai plants, I began tying down the main stems when they were just 4 feet tall, and then I followed up by tying side branches, since their growth accelerated with the main stem bent over and more sun hitting the branches.
I was still tying down branches well into early flowering, with no ill effects on the harvest at all. Had fewer mold problems too, with the plants spread out horizontally for maximum sunlight capture.
I used narrow half-inch cloth strips to tie down, since string has a tendency to bite into the stem over time, or to scratch the stem after a few windy days in the area.
I was still tying down branches well into early flowering, with no ill effects on the harvest at all. Had fewer mold problems too, with the plants spread out horizontally for maximum sunlight capture.
I used narrow half-inch cloth strips to tie down, since string has a tendency to bite into the stem over time, or to scratch the stem after a few windy days in the area.
Thought about supercropping? Would slow down the stretch if that's what you are trying to avoid.
I have been in the habit of tying them down away from the sun when I am bending them over. In several years this has been my main tek. Works great, faster then supercropping and since the side branches all get room to be on the brightest side there are no problems at all. IN other years I have pinched more and tried to spread them out instead of tying them down. This year Im bending them over backwards, so you can tell which one I like better. lol
I agree you can bend them around until after flowering has started, but do mind the fact that the heavier branches won't "come around" to the sun as well as the lighter budless branches.
I agree you can bend them around until after flowering has started, but do mind the fact that the heavier branches won't "come around" to the sun as well as the lighter budless branches.
