Hunting for Old School

916DanFan · Dec 28, 2021

SERIOUS QUESTION ABOUT TOPPING

Okay so the "firm" schedule for the lighting is exactly 30 days veg before flipping to flower. At 30 days of veg under the Gav's, the non-Cindy plants will be 40 days since going into solo cups, the Cindy's 3days behind them. How soon should I top these to get proper branching started?

Uncle Ben said to wait until there are like 6 nodes before whacking em back to 2 or 3. I'm gonna want some healing/growth time before the flip right? Also thinking of topping them on the day I transplant them all to 3g grassrootsfabricpots (I know these folks... please use their great products). They will be 30-33 days from sprouting then and will have one more week of veg.

Better to do that or just transplant but wait to top until they flip a week later. What do y'all think?

Brokehoe · Dec 28, 2021

I like to top after the 4th true node
If I am doing things right I branch out the third and fourth nodes. (Remove everything below the third)

916DanFan · Dec 28, 2021

Thanks BrokeHoe. You talking from seed right? Most of mine are at the very beginning of the fourth set of true leaves and nothing is alternating so they're not mature. You advise pinching out the growth tip of these seed plants once the fifth set of leaves is opened?

Brokehoe · Dec 29, 2021

Yes seedlings. And yes pinch or if you have fingers like me get a small pair of scissors. I use a pair of stainless steel surgeon scissors for this. Make sure not to cut too close to node or you might get the top branches.
I'll take some pics today.

I never wait for maturity to start training. Earlier the better.

Try not to stress them too much at one time.

If you want to clone and flower quick let them grow out till the 7th or 8th node and use top for your clone.

My example, right or wrong it's mine.

916DanFan · Dec 29, 2021

Brokehoe said:
Yes seedlings. And yes pinch or if you have fingers like me get a small pair of scissors. I use a pair of stainless steel surgeon scissors for this. Make sure not to cut too close to node or you might get the top branches.
I'll take some pics today.

I never wait for maturity to start training. Earlier the better.

Try not to stress them too much at one time.

If you want to clone and flower quick let them grow out till the 7th or 8th node and use top for your clone.

My example, right or wrong it's mine.
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Just the kind of advice I was looking for Brokehoe, thanks! I actually "do" need to clone and flower quick so need to have "mature" clone material available before they get too far into flower. I have twenty days before flip and will transplant to 3g fabric pots in ten days. They will have had two weeks in the 1g's, like they had two weeks in solo cups.

Brokehoe · Dec 29, 2021

I could be wrong but I think you need more veg time. If I was going to flower that fast I wouldn't top them.
Example

Just put these into flower because I popped too many seeds and I wrecked my flower tent with light.

All up to you. Better more knowledgeable growers will chime in.

916DanFan · Dec 29, 2021

IRRIGATION NEWS!
I stay up to date on pretty much all things irrigation and learned yesterday that Netafim has started making their "Netbow" watering rings IN 5-INCH VERSION. They were previously only available in 10-inch diameter, which fit 5-10 gallon containers and were too wide for 3g's, the ring would sit right on the perimeter and leech out the sides no matter how slow a dripper that was used. These new 5-inch ones are perfect "but" probably won't make it to retailers until February due to our port situation here on the left coast.

Lookup these Netbows at berryhilldrip. They're awesome because they distribute water evenly around plants, eight outlets for the ten inch and four for the five inch. The flow is based on the "hub dripper" that you specify. Imagine a half gallon per hour dripper "divided by eight (or four for five inch) outlets around the ring". That's extreme micro irrigation and slow enough to evenly wick throughout the pot... NICE!

916DanFan · Dec 29, 2021

Brokehoe said:
I think you need more veg time. If I was going to flower that fast I wouldn't top them.

This is a dilemma for me but I'm leaning this way. Just let em grow unstressed as long as I can before flower and hopefully that growing tip will start alternating nodes before I whack it, then for sure the arms that become the new tops will also be alternating and I should be able to grab more cuts after the first 7-10 days of flower if I don't clean off all the lowers when I cut the tops. I'm hoping more folks will chime in on this one.

Heading down to finish putting the panda paper up, mount the two wall fans, and put the drip system in. I have all the parts now.

Smokieokie · Dec 29, 2021

916DanFan said:
This is a dilemma for me but I'm leaning this way. Just let em grow unstressed as long as I can before flower and hopefully that growing tip will start alternating nodes before I whack it, then for sure the arms that become the new tops will also be alternating and I should be able to grab more cuts after the first 7-10 days of flower if I don't clean off all the lowers when I cut the tops. I'm hoping more folks will chime in on this one.

Heading down to finish putting the panda paper up, mount the two wall fans, and put the drip system in. I have all the parts now.

You still have time to top once and let them recover before flip. Leave the lowers on til week 2 of flower then take your cuttings during or after the stretch. I wait til day 21 of flower to clean everything up and take cuttings alot of times. Then another light defoliation at 40 days if I feel they need it. Just my 2 cents??‍♂️, happy growing bud.

916DanFan · Dec 29, 2021

Smokieokie said:
You still have time to top once and let them recover before flip. Leave the lowers on til week 2 of flower then take your cuttings during or after the stretch.

Thank you Smokie! How soon would you say top, and should I let em green up a little more so they aren't stressing when I top em? They just transplanted a few days ago so should I let them adjust and settle in? I could snip em today or I'll have to wait until Friday or Sunday for the next opportunity.

916DanFan · Dec 29, 2021

Some stuff got done. Other stuff got figured out. There were hems and haws but at the end of the day I got agreement on ventilation... but now I own it so it better be right ?

The plants are getting their green on nicely and looking much better too. Plenty more to do. Ill update later...

916DanFan · Dec 30, 2021

Brokehoe said:
If you want to clone and flower quick let them grow out till the 7th or 8th node and use top for your clone.

How about I wait until I see alternating nodes, then whack it back to four arms to grow out? They should start alternating pretty soon I suspect. The fifth/sixth set of leaves are starting on the plants now.

Smokieokie · Dec 30, 2021

916DanFan said:
Thank you Smokie! How soon would you say top, and should I let em green up a little more so they aren't stressing when I top em? They just transplanted a few days ago so should I let them adjust and settle in? I could snip em today or I'll have to wait until Friday or Sunday for the next opportunity.

The greener the better for sure. Healthier plants recover from any stress better. You can top now, or Friday since I'm a day late on the reply lol. Pour the veg nutes to them and let em rip??

Smokieokie · Dec 30, 2021

916DanFan said:
How about I wait until I see alternating nodes, then whack it back to four arms to grow out? They should start alternating pretty soon I suspect. The fifth/sixth set of leaves are starting on the plants now.

Most plants will start alternating nodes or show maturity by the 7th node in my experience. So it shouldn't be much longer if you did want to wait and let them mature before any training is done. Either way is right, its just your preference and what works for your timing the best.

916DanFan · Dec 31, 2021

Smokieokie said:
Most plants will start alternating nodes or show maturity by the 7th node in my experience. So it shouldn't be much longer if you did want to wait and let them mature before any training is done.

That should have been on page one of the "phenohunting for dummies" book I picked up yesterday ?.

I'll just wait and let the alternating tops be my "first" cuts in the cloner. The second set right around flip, and possibly a third a week or so into bloom.

Thanks Smokie! That piece is put to bed, now maybe I'll hit em with a bit of Dyna-Gro Foliage Pro to green em up before the next feed. Roots gotta search so no watering today I bet. We'll see a little later.

916DanFan · Jan 1, 2022

I got this intake installed but I know I'm gonna swap it out. Airflow is good but not light tight and it's hard to get a filter behind it. I'm gonna invest in an intake filter box if only for the ease of filter maintenance. The air is coming from an open (4") sliding window behind the plywood. It'll bring air across the canopy once the exhaust fan is installed on the opposite side of the room. That fan gets delivered Monday.

Skunky Dunk Farms · Jan 1, 2022

916DanFan said:
I got this intake installed but I know I'm gonna swap it out. Airflow is good but not light tight and it's hard to get a filter behind it. I'm gonna invest in an intake filter box if only for the ease of filter maintenance. The air is coming from an open (4") sliding window behind the plywood. It'll bring air across the canopy once the exhaust fan is installed on the opposite side of the room. That fan gets delivered Monday.
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Could ya build a shallow box on the inside over the vent and intall a return air filter grill in to hold replaceable filter? This would also block light.

916DanFan · Jan 1, 2022

Skunky Dunk Farms said:
Could ya build a shallow box on the inside over the vent and intall a return air filter grill in to hold replaceable filter? This would also block light.

Thanks Skunky! I went to the store and found a 12x12 filter return box. I'll figure a way to mod it up tomorrow.

916DanFan · Jan 1, 2022

I forgot to mention the plants ?

They are steady improving. They appear lighter when I take the pic at a certain angle for some reason. They're really greening up.