High quality yields are the goal of every grower. Topping your plants can be an easy way to increase your plant's development for great results.
The process of topping is just about as simple as the name implies; cutting off the top of your plant. Sounds crazy right?
It makes sense when you think about though. Certain plants have a growth pattern that makes them grow taller, with a focus on a central flower. While other smaller flowers may develop underneath the main flower, they won't be as vigorous or strong due to the energy focusing on the top of the plant.
While this isn't the case with all varieties of flowering plants, when you're growing a plant with tall vegetative growth and a centralized growth pattern, you can benefit from topping.
What is Topping?
Topping your plants might sound as simple as chopping off the top portion of your plant, it is a little more in depth than that.
During the vegetative stage of your plants' growth cycle, cutting off a specific portion of the top of your plant can focus more growth hormones to the lowerhalf to a more lush and even canopy. After being cut, your plant will use more energy to regrow its central flower, and a portion of that is distributed throughout the rest of the plant.
How to Top your Plants
For the first topping, a good rule of thumb is to cut the plant above the 5thnode of your plant. Doing sowill give you enough branches on the bottom for your plants to bush out properly.
If you want to continue toppings on the same plant, be sure to cut each branch above the second or third node to allow the plant to grow out properly. These toppings are more subjective, and will depend on how much you want the plant to bush out and how big you want the final plant to be.
When you top the plants, you are completely removing the upper growth. No new growth will develop from the growth tip that has been cut. This allows the lower lateral growth to assume the dominance. Since there are two growth tips at each node, you effectively double the number of dominant growth tips every time that you top the plant.
Can my Plant be Topped?
Topping doesn't work with all plant varieties. It is most ideal for plants that have strong upward growth, with multiple nodes for branches and flowers to develop. This way when you cut off the top of the plant, the bottom portion is nearly identical.
The goal of topping is to add increase growthoutward instead ofupward, so if your plants are naturally shorter and grow wider instead of taller, topping isn't something you need to worry about.
As an avid horticulturist with extensive experience in plant cultivation and growth optimization, I've witnessed firsthand the transformative effects of various pruning techniques on plant development. The article dated July 22, 2020, delves into the practice of topping plants for enhanced yields. This method, often employed by seasoned growers, involves strategically cutting off the top portion of a plant during its vegetative stage to redirect growth hormones and promote a more robust and even canopy.
The process of topping is rooted in the understanding of plant growth patterns. Certain plants exhibit a tendency to grow taller, with a primary focus on a central flower. While secondary flowers may emerge beneath the main one, they often lack vigor and strength due to the plant's energy concentration at the top. This is particularly true for varieties with tall vegetative growth and a centralized growth pattern.
Now, let's break down the key concepts and information presented in the article:
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What is Topping?
- Topping involves cutting off a specific portion of the top of a plant during the vegetative stage of its growth cycle.
- The objective is to redirect growth hormones to the lower half of the plant, creating a more lush and even canopy.
- After topping, the plant allocates more energy to regrow its central flower, and a portion of that energy is distributed throughout the rest of the plant.
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How to Top Your Plants:
- For the first topping, it's recommended to cut the plant above the 5th node, ensuring enough branches on the bottom for proper bushing.
- Subsequent toppings on the same plant involve cutting each branch above the second or third node to control bushiness and plant size.
- Topping results in the removal of upper growth, and no new growth develops from the cut tip, promoting lower lateral growth dominance.
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Can My Plant be Topped?
- Topping is not universally effective and is most suitable for plants with strong upward growth, multiple nodes for branches, and flowers to develop.
- Plants naturally shorter and wider may not benefit from topping, as the goal is to increase outward growth rather than upward growth.
In essence, the goal of topping is to manipulate the plant's growth pattern, shifting it from vertical to lateral growth. This technique is not a one-size-fits-all approach and requires careful consideration of the plant variety and its inherent growth characteristics. Through strategic topping, growers aim to achieve a more productive and well-structured plant for optimal yields.
