Help!!! Low stress training for the first time!

I've never tried the circular LST method but I've used the method described in the following link with good results. Good luck with your grow!
LBH's Famous ScrOG Tutorial | Grow Weed Easy

 

easiest way to tie in a circle would be tomato cages.

 

Hey gtg420, it's pretty straightforward, but first let me offer an explanation of what you're trying to accomplish with LST that will make it all come together for you.
There is an element in our plants (don't ask me the scientific name, can't remember & ain't gonna look it up ) that will place most growth energy of the plant at its tallest point. Usually, that is the top growth leader. When you LST, the intent is to bend the main trunk to a horizontal position so that all side branches, and the tip top, are at the same level. This distributes that "element" throughout the plant, or more accurately, takes it away from the tip top that used to be tallest. Now the side branches will grow with more vigor.
You do this over a few days, by which time, the side branches will now start going vertical. So, as you guessed, at that point you need to start training the side branches to stay at the same height as the rest of the plant.
Now, for probably at least a couple of weeks, that original top is still going to turn upward and fight to stay as the biggest baddest tallest bastard in the valley, so you're going to have to keep pulling it down until all the side branches get established and growth pretty well evens out.
With sativa strains this is pretty easy, With indica strains, you can end up with lots of trained branches. But it's worth it as this will REALLY help your yield. And as a side note, LST is the ONLY way to train auto's. Traditional topping works great with photoperiod plants, but with auto's LST is the only way to go.
I've got a mini-tutorial with pic's out here somewhere, let me see if I can find the thread link so you can get the whole thing start-to-finish. Watch for my next post.

Welcome to Grass City. Hope this helps & bestaluck to ya!!!

 

auxin is the word you are looking for. good post tho.

 

OK GTG, here's the link to the old thread that will pretty well tell you everything you need to know about LST:
**No time for a Journal? Update here.. Any skill level welcome**
If the link works like it used to it will take you to page 599 of the thread, scroll down to post # 11972 for the start. This is what you'll see at the end of the mini-tutorial, she ended at 11.3oz from one plant. LST works:

 

LST is super easy I've done that method before the circular, honestly there's not much too it just tie back the new growth every few inches towards the outside.

 

Thanks Bro, I'll probably have to call on ya the NEXT time I still can't remember that but I'm writing it down this time too.

 

not sure what you want really, you don't need a link to know how to LST. Just tie back the branches and try to mold uniform growth on the plants..if one s getting too tall andbecoming a main top, then tie it down..

no need to be so passive aggresive its not like you included any pictures to go on so this is the general idea of LST..

 

I think you would benefit more if you mainline them, this is where you create a manifold with eight or more mains in a even canopy, here is the link, I exclusively use this method.
"Main-Lining" Tutorial by Nugbuckets: Train Marijuana Plants for Bigger Yields & Flat Canopies | Grow Weed Easy

My last grow journal with a Acapulco Gold:

Classic Grow Fall 2015 Acapulco Gold, Maui Waui w/main-lining

Happy Growing!

 

Hello, i’m not sure if this thread is still active but I wanted to give it a shot because the info on here is great and I could use a little help with my 1st grow using LST method. I was very reluctant to try any method that doesn’t agree with the plants natural cycle but I only read how beneficial it is to your yields. Anyway I went about following the tutorial to train them without topping and I supported the base of the stem before tying down the main cola. Everything was working great and pretty much still is except I’m having trouble getting the plant to spiral, some of them are overhanging one side of the 3 gallon fabric pots there in. My concern is now that I’m trying to turn the direction of the plant towards the left or right side it is a lot tougher now that the stems are so thick I don’t want to snap anything. I’ve been trying to curve the plant but it grew horizontally to the soil right to the edge of the fabric pot and i’m worried when they flower they will be lopsided and to heavy which could potential snap the main stem I’m assuming. Either way my idea was to transplant to a 5 gallon or larger and offset the plant in the pot so I have more room to train it in direction I’d like and I was wondering if anyone had any experience with this problem that could help. I appreciate any advice or even just your opinion on the topic

 

Hey Bobby, been on hiatus from Grass City for a bit, as such the delayed reply, but I'll try to answer as best I understand the question. It sounds like you have multiple plants, which can complicate your LST by restricting access to the plants. An average grower really can't reach more than 30" into a grow area, and restricted side access to your grow makes this worse.
In a several- plant environment it's MUCH easier to do SCROG (screen-of-green) for training your plants. The premise is to cover the entire light coverage canopy of your grow area with a screen - 2" X 4" fence wire, old tennis net, etc.. As the plant(s) go through vegetative growth, you keep pulling the plant's tips back under the screen, pointing growth toward empty areas of the screen. File this away for next time & do some reading in the meantime. Pretty simple, and easier for multi-plant grows. But since you've already started LST, for now you're pretty well committed.
Your reluctance "... to try any method that doesn’t agree with the plants natural cycle" is best addressed with LST as it's the least disruptive to the plants' normal growth habits. You're using the plants' auxins to direct growth from one branch to another. This happens in nature with most all plants, from wind, lightning, other plants, shading, etc. Especially if a plant's top or major branch is damaged, the auxins automatically redirect the plants growth energy to the next available actively growing point. Use this to your advantage.
Now - getting the plant to spiral - if it's been trained to a corner, and wants to keep on growing, you do similar as you did for securing the main trunk before starting the LST, except you go horizontal. Secure a segment of the top / branch to a side of the grow area, then start training the plant in a 90 degree direction you want it to go. Again, pretty simple in a small grow area with a few plants, but more complicated as the grow area increases.
If the resulting training causes the plant to overhang the pot, doesn't matter. It's more important to direct the growth to any area under your light canopy, regardless of where the pot is situated. I over-grow my plants practically every grow, it just helps yield. The results may be "lop-sided" but that's OK - continued bud growth generally wont cause any breakage or problems.
Thicker stems just need more time to adapt, j

ust keep training and go slowly. ​

Don't try to train around the 90 degrees at one setting; spread it over several days. But here's perhaps the most helpful tip with that method - if a branch DOES snap, it's not a big deal once you recover from the Oh-shit cussing fit!!!

Cannabis plants are literally weeds, and they will recover in no time. ​

And you just discovered super-cropping. The plant will repair itself internally, and the healing process will actually increase the plant's internal nutrient carrying capabilities. Just remove the LST that caused the break and straighten the break. If it's a severe break, make a splint from a popsicle stick and wrap an inch or two on each side of the break with gauze tape (available in the first aid section of your local drug store). After a few days the plant will have healed, then you can resume your training an inch or two away from the original break. You usually don't even need to remove the gauze tape as the plant matures - it will stretch enough to not restrict plant growth through harvest.
Transplanting to a 5 gallon pot? Hmmm, depends upon how many plants you have, how far into veg you are, and how long you want to veg. The longer you veg, generally the better your yield (more nodes = more tops ) The general rule is, the more plants the smaller the pots. Taken to extreme, all the way up to Sea-of-Green / small pots throughout. And remember that transplanting will usually stunt / stop plant frowth for 1-2 weeks while the plant puts its energy to establishing a new root system into the expanded dirt area. Bigger root areas can expand yield to an extent, but a 3 gallon pot, watered regularly, is good for a large number of plants. But if you have the space, and the time for the extra veg, and you are not too close to starting your bloom cycle, then go for it. It's really your call. But IMHO, improved training will help yield more than larger pot size. I've grown 1.5 oz. plants in SOG in a 6"X6" square pot; four of those in a 1 sq. ft. footprint = 6 oz. So while root area is an important factor, it's not everything.

Hope this helps. Welcome to Grass City & bestaluck to ya!