[Old Toker]

Have a few sativas still in veg (day 35 since germ). In their final pots (2 gal coco) and have well established roots. The problem is that while I've been concentrating on up-potting and making sure the roots are well developed and filling the pots.......the canopies have shot upward. A couple are 18" tall from the surface of the coco to the tops. I only have 80" inches total vertically (although this is a vertical grow so that helps with height). Add in the height of the pots and allowing for stretch.....I'd like to get them shorter and wider before switching to flower. Can I take off 6" of the tops without causing too much damage/trauma.....or should I just take the current tops off? Either way I realize I'm going to have to allow a few more weeks of veg to recover and get ready for flowering.
Any help suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks!

[rockymountainJ]

Without pics, have you thought of tying them over? I top early and often... usually 6inch tall 4 or 5 nodes..
Good luck!!

[Levitationofme]

I would top um. Pick your poison, topping now or
Dealing with plant growth later.

You could do some "Bending" and try to keep it all under the lights.

[igrowone]

you can top, then throw them into flower
i have done this where height was an issue
i have seen advice saying not to do this, but for me it worked fine

[Floridian]

I agree with the top and throw and don't pay attention to the 2 weeks in veg recover,I think people are forgetting they are still vegging for a couple weeks after the switch.Of course bending if possible is the best option

[Chillin12]

What if you can't top and throw? I have photos in with my autos. I will need to veg it for 70 + days. 40 days in now.

It stopped growing after 23 inches because it's root bound, light burnt and humidity damaged. I am going to try to repot it and see if I can continue to veg it while the Autos finish. If I repot from a 5 gallon fabric pot with soil to a 10 gallon fabric pot, how long till I can top it? Should I top it first instead? I think I would want it healthier before I topped it.

Hard to tell the damage with this picture but you can at least see the size.

[Old Toker]

Originally Posted by rockymountainJ

Without pics,

Looks like 18" tall sativas.

Originally Posted by rockymountainJ

have you thought of tying them over?

Thought about LST after topping. I have tied plants over outside but I don't think I have enough room horizontally for it inside.
Thanks for your advice!

[Old Toker]

Thanks everyone for the advice and suggestions!
Seems like topping is the plan. Should I take 6" or just the current tops?

[troutman]

In the future, grow Sativas in smaller pots and only transplant after a few weeks of flowering if your
growing them in a height restricted environment. A one gallon pot can easily grow a 4 foot tree.

[igrowone]

Originally Posted by Old Toker

Thanks everyone for the advice and suggestions!
Seems like topping is the plan. Should I take 6" or just the current tops?

80 inches is pretty good headroom, and 2 gallon pots would likely limit height somewhat
my limited experience is just with the top node, seems less dramatic to the plant