Topping, FIM, LST, Trimming 101

[Scott226]

Topping is the process of cutting directly BELOW the highest fully developed bun on your plant, this allow the creation of a "Y" in the stem therefor creating two shoots which will develop into two main colas.

FIM'ing is when you cut just above the node on a side node (cutting about 80% of the node off), this allows the plant to grow the circumsized node into 2-4 nodes, which will become colas unless you LST.

LST'ing is when you bend the main stalk of the plant at about a 90 angle so it is horizontal (or close to it) to the soil and almost touching it. This allows all the leafs to get more sunlight allowing better photosynthesis (Process of the chemical reaction that changes sunlight into starch, which the plant uses for food) you then continue growing the plant horizontal allowing every few stems to grow up which will become buds.

What Should I Choose?
Theres no general answer to that, some people wont do any of the above but some others like me will do all. Basically if you want your plant to be bushy with a few buds then top, if you want your plant to grow more shoots therefor creating more buds and making the plant more bushy then FIM it. If you don't have much height then you want to LST so the plant grows horizontal.

What Order Do I Do It In?

1- Top, you top first allowing the bottom to get more light.
2/3- FIM, Do this second or third which allows the plant to get more shoots.
2/3- LST, Do this after or before you FIM, Normally if you LST you should FIM a bit first and alot after.

Quick Rundown

Top (Forms the Y branch which creates two main colas)
LST (tie down the 2 New branches forming the Y)
Fimm and LST (Fim'ing promotes faster side branching off the Y branches and keeping them tied down as well)

I hope this helps everyone.

[mister2]

very helpful, thanks dewd.

Question for you, how big should the tops be before you cut them off?

[DierWolf]

Topping does not promote side branching or in any way help in light getting to the bottom, Topping simply allows the plant to grow 2 new branches at the very top forming a Y in the main stem, thereby allowing you to have 2 main Collas.

Fimming is done on the TOP of the plants newest growth cutting off 80% of the newer growth. This promotes side branching and the 2 nodes just below it. (PS you keep mentioning bud sites, during veg state its called a branch) when your going to flower it, Bud sites are just above each fanleaf intersection with the main stem/branch.

LST is simply the bending (doesnt have to be 90 Degrees) of main stem and all branches to keep canopy of the plant the same height, this allows for EVEN light distribution and allows for faster branching of the plant. Again dont mix up branches with Bud sites, bud sites only appear during flowering above each fanleaf stem intersection, during veg these points shoot out Branches not bud sites.

Correct order is to

Top (Form the Y branch)
LST (tie down the 2 New branches forming the Y)
Fimm and LST (fimming to promote faster side branching off the Y branches and keeping them tied down as well)

[DierWolf]

Originally Posted by mister2

very helpful, thanks dewd.

Question for you, how big should the tops be before you cut them off?

Topping the plant (done after 3rd leaf set, So cut off the 4th leaf set completely form the plant)

Fimming, look at very top growth, spread open the 2 large top fan leafs and you can see the new growth at their juncture, snip that new growth 50-80% off without cutting thru the main stem itself, unless its considered topping it.

[mister2]

is the top of mine big enough to cut off yet?

[KamelRedLight]

So topping you cut the entire top/new node off, and fimming just part of it? And what of this topping of flowering plants?

[DierWolf]

Topping of flowreing plants is just that, when you put it to flower about one week in, the very top of the main stem or stems (if you topped already during veg) will have one budlet forming, you cut that budlet off completely, and just below that at the set of 2 fanleafs will shoot out 2 buds.

These 2 buds if the plant was never topped would just become nugs and part of main bud on top, when topped you get 2 main buds at the top instead of one.

Mister2. from what i can see you have 3 full leaf sets going and the 4th has just popped out, let that very new growth grow out a bit so that you can see the main stem properly and when you can just snip that whole top off.

[mister2]

doh! check my grow journal lol

could i ask your oppinion please dierwolf?

[doob3r]

When would one want to try these topping methods? i have never topped a plant and i am only on my second grow, i prefer to grow indicas, which technique would be best and of course the easiest to learn to keep my crops short, stout, and bushy,

any input greatly apreciated,

-doob3r

[Scott226]

Thanks dier im in the proccess of fixing that =)

You should top when you have about 4-6 nodes. I top at 5.

[KamelRedLight]

Originally Posted by DierWolf

Topping of flowreing plants is just that, when you put it to flower about one week in, the very top of the main stem or stems (if you topped already during veg) will have one budlet forming, you cut that budlet off completely, and just below that at the set of 2 fanleafs will shoot out 2 buds.

Could you look at my third link and tell me if the plants just beginning to bud are at the right stage for topping? I think so but I just wanna be sure. I've got two sets of two clones, I'm gonna top one of each set for a comparison test.
Also, this will stunt vertical growth too in addition to more bud, right? And would you dry and smoke that little bud, or just toss it?

[Scott226]

topping is when you cut off the node BEFORE flowering, youir refering to where you cut off the tip of the bud correct? if so I would allow your buds to get a fair bit bigger. And yes you can dry and smoke the tips.

[Scott226]

100 views bump lol

[GrowBot]

let me throw this into the mix. when you "tie down" the highest top of a plant, beneath the others that are up towards the top. what happens is, the auxins redistribute and there is a race by the other top growing tips, to become the tip top. you can do this over and over. it's really fun to watch how your plant responds. i've had as many as 12 18" tops on a single plant.

[mister2]

tie down = LST???

That sounds very interesting dewd. did you just tie down or did you top/fim aswell Any pics???