How-To : LST (Low Stress Training)

[zpyro]

Originally Posted by Miguel420

I have a bushy-ass LST plant atm, she's had 2 months of veg and has preflowers. I switched to 12/12 today, just wondering should I keep tying and adjusting branches when she's properly flowering? Or should I just leave the ties alone and let the plant do its thing?

I did the same time of veg, I continued to tie down branches after switching to flower because I wanted the plant to stay short. They only got to ~1' tall. After the plant stopped growing up and started growing buds, I stopped tying them down and even untied a bunch of branches. Once they're set in their bends they aren't going to un-bend themselves. Just remember that, upon switching to flower, the plants will continue to grow for a bit

[ricard0]

Originally Posted by zpyro

I did the same time of veg, I continued to tie down branches after switching to flower because I wanted the plant to stay short. They only got to ~1' tall. After the plant stopped growing up and started growing buds, I stopped tying them down and even untied a bunch of branches. Once they're set in their bends they aren't going to un-bend themselves. Just remember that, upon switching to flower, the plants will continue to grow for a bit

I agree. After flipping the lights to 12/12 you will most certainly experience the "stretch". This is a critical time to manage your canopy via the training/bending/staking/tying. If you let her go on her own, she'll probably develop and uneven canopy. Something that LST is trying to prevent. Hope that helps.

[Murdoch]

I'd like to try LST for the first time but I'm scared I will brake the main stem
I usually don't like to touch my plants much and bending them like this seems so brutal to me. Is there no risk breaking the stem? I'm scared hehehe

[ricard0]

Originally Posted by Murdoch

I'd like to try LST for the first time but I'm scared I will brake the main stem
I usually don't like to touch my plants much and bending them like this seems so brutal to me. Is there no risk breaking the stem? I'm scared hehehe

The plant is very resilient and will manage just fine so long as you don't break the stem all the way over. LST doesn't happen all at once. It is a continual process of training the plant to grow how you want/need to. start out with small manipulations which will help strengthen the stem for further bending. Believe me, it won't hurt the plant and will increase your yield. Hope that helps.

BTW: You should delete either Post #348 or Post #349 since they're the same post.

[Miguel420]

Thanks for the advice dudes, I'm gonna keep the canopy as even as possible (pretty good atm) until the buds start to really develop, then leave it alone from there. Hopefully that'll keep the light distributed well after the early flowering growth spurt

[DaleGribble]

Originally Posted by toastybiz

No, however it is advisable to veg longer, you will barely be able to start LST before that 2 week mark and therefore will deny yourself the primary benefits of LST. Or of vegging, for that matter -- vegging for only 2 weeks is nearly a SOG approach. If you could find a way to put 2 more weeks into your vegging timeframe you will definitely be glad you did.

2 weeks was 2 more weeks if I wasn't clear. That would be a total of 4 weeks, but I have since decided to let it veg for a total of 5 weeks before LST and another week or two after that before I switch to 12/12.

[zpyro]

Originally Posted by Murdoch

I'd like to try LST for the first time but I'm scared I will brake the main stem
I usually don't like to touch my plants much and bending them like this seems so brutal to me. Is there no risk breaking the stem? I'm scared hehehe

One of my plants' stem ended up being broken, probably because I untied some ties that were bout halfway down the stem, but kept it tied down at the top. The plant only had ~8 branches and no main top, but it yielded just about as much as the other plants

[moebe2hi]

Great thread! Ive learned A great deal in the few days that i moved to grasscity.....wow Luv this place....my precious...lol thanks to D.wolf.....

[Pan]

Hey wicked post man, thanks a lot - i never knew anything like this existed! I do have two questions though:

Is it still worth doing this on squat plants anyway, like Arjan's Haze#3 for instance?
Does it make the plant look weird? (I love the shape of a cannabis plant that's all)

Thanks very much!

[guyverman]

If i have a 10" pot, how much vertical and horizontal space do I need to fully bud a white widow?

[rigz]

Originally Posted by VapChief

I use Telecom Crossconnect wire for LST. It is very light weight, copper and coated. It is dual strand but I only use one strand. Very Easy to work with. You should be able to buy it at any telecom supply, such as Greybar or Altex. Home Depot may also have it.

if you have you any cat 5 cables laying around ... use a pair ...same thing

[sawzall]

Has anyone done LST with a lowryder/autoflowering strain ? Is it recommended ?

Once i get over my fear of ordering seeds to the US i will be trying this!

[budders]

dose this work well out doors well? its usually windy where I live would it grow strong enough? tnks

[zpyro]

Originally Posted by Pan

Does it make the plant look weird? (I love the shape of a cannabis plant that's all)

I much prefer this look to the christmas tree look the plants normally have

[saunterman]

Thanks Dierwolf!
I'm a newbie grower and there were so many acronyms getting tossed around this site, No one ever said what LST was. Just LST this and LST that. Now I know.
Last night I accidentaly snapped the shit out one of my 3.7 fters. main stem about 10in. down, and was so angry at myself. But guess what, thats right it didn't die! Hemp is tough! I hope it completely recovers...hmmm, HST.
Thats also why I'm using seeds from a sack of some good for my first grow instead of 'spensive euro seeds (they are the next grow). I can make mistakes and just be happy I'm learning to hydo grow. Thanks again.
ps: see picture of "SNAP!"

*Its 28 hours after that "SNAP" that sounded like bone breaking to me. The goddamn hemp has repaired itself!
Its like like that snap never happened. A 45 degree bend! Damn. Hemp is tough shit!