Hi guys! This is my third time growing autoflowers and my first time using coco, so I decided to try topping. Previously, I only did LST by bending the plants.
My question is: what’s the best way to top it? Should I top at the 4th or 5th node? From what I can see, the plant has grown 4 nodes and is almost done developing the 5th one.
I’m also planning to transplant it into a bigger 5-gallon pot soon, but I’m unsure whether I should top it before or after transplanting.
The strain is Lemon Pie from FB, and the plant is 18 days old from germination.
18 days old.
I read that you should only top an autoflower once it has grown at least 4-5 nodes. So, I’m not sure if I should cut off the tip now or wait a little longer until it grows 6 nodes, maybe?
You can do 4 or 5, only difference is 2 branches, but that’s 2 that won’t have buds…… I would keep 5, topping when the main stalk gets at least 1/2 inch above the last node your saving. Leaving a 1/2 stump above topping will keep stems from splitting.
On autos I top above node 4. I then trim off nodes 1 and 2 or just node 1 and keep nodes 2, 3 and 4 or just 3 and 4. There are various strategies. Keeps them somewhat manageable, depends on how many plants in the tent.
If you like pictures, this is an Auto topped above node 4, keeping nodes 2,3 and 4. Your plants look good for 18 days. They should rebound pretty quick.
I let the plant tell me. I see most will normally do around the 5th node though. I wait till I see the bright green coloring on the plants to do mine. I wouldn’t top any more than once for the size of your plant. You can top more down the road if you like. Being in coco. you probably will not see any slow down. Unless you want super compact plants. You may want to raise your light a little. Your node spacing is super tight there. looking back. I top around the end of the 4th week. I also have to time the toppings for my scrog. You are getting a lot of sound advise here
you can top now or wait a couple more days for the next node. switching to d2w in coco changes the whole game doesn’t it? when i was growing autos in soil i wouldn’t have ever even considered topping! You will likely find they dont flip to preflower as quick in coco either.
Thank you, guys! I think I will top at the 4th node (cutting off the 5th one).
Yes, though I’ve never grown in soil, I have done DWC before. It was fine, but sometimes tricky to feed correctly and manage pH fluctuations.
The only thing that confuses me is that after transplanting from a small 1-pint pot to this 1-gallon airpot, the runoff EC has been lower than the inflow for a week now. Even though I’ve been gradually increasing the EC from the lowest to the highest range, the runoff is still around 1280-1330 EC, while the inflow is about 1700. I can’t figure it out, but at least the plant doesn’t seem to show any signs of burn.
in my experience this small difference is normal. it will go the opposite way once your roots stretch out and start drinking more from the rest of the coco.
If you are going to grow in coco. These bags will make transplanting easier since you just drop them into the new pot. Coco doesn’t like to stick together to well. For your EC. You don’t want to see the run off numbers higher than what is going in for the most part. Or not by much. That tells you that you are over feeding. And most autos don’t like being fed heavy like photos. Staying in the middle range is about right. I use Jacks and have to watch the numbers a little more when top feeding. My run off can get in to the 1800 - 1900 range quick once the plants are of size. When I used the GH nutes. I was only feeding at about 400 - 600 ppm at the highest point.
Is there a reason you are only going into a 1 gallon pot?
I follow a three-step transplant strategy described here:
There’s no particular reason I’m using an air pot as the second container—I just happened to find a 1-gallon pot in that style. Next, I’ll be transplanting into a 5-gallon fabric pot.
It was articles like this that messed me up when I started growing. They give a little info. but don’t really cover much. I can say for me. Transplanting didn’t give better plants. just a little more grief. If you water the out side edges of the pots. the roots will be headed that way looking. This fails to mention that. When plants are small in coco. the medium doesn’t need to be kept soaked. Damp is more than good. Evey time you transplant with coco. You risk loosing a good part of the medium since it doesn’t pack up like soil. If you want to up pot though. They also make nursery bags in the 1 gallon size and a little bigger. That way. You just drop one bag into the next. The roots grow though them fine as well. Just giving options here. I haven’t used those air pots my self. I would think if the coco fills all those pockets. You may be finishing this in that 1 gallon pot. The good is I have gotten over 4 oz from a auto in a one gallon pot. just messing around to see how much I can get from smaller pots
Na the air port screw together. All you have to do is take out the screws unwrap and replant.
I use 3 gallon air pots and find them much more convenient for my grow style. Tried fabric but always had something go wrong. So I tried modifying them still did not cut it. I went back to what I know works for me. Another plus is they don’t get dirty like fabric. Every cone on the pot has a hole in it. Absolutely stops them from being root bound and they dry out as fast as fabric.
I just happened to come across this stuff—maybe not the best choice, but my options are pretty limited. I’m not in the US or Canada, and my budget is tight as well. If this works out well, I might get a bigger air pot too.
Btw the only reason I switched from DWC to coco is that, even during late flowering, the smell was still pretty faint—at least in my opinion. I’m not sure if that was due to incorrect feeding, pH fluctuations, or if those factors don’t affect the smell at all. The plants looked healthy and grew well, with maybe a little nutrient burn, but overall, they were solid, and the yield was good. I’m not sure if growing in coco with my style will improve the smell, but I decided to give it a try. I don’t want to mess with soil since it seems harder to water.
Already transplanted yesterday, lol. Can’t say it was super convenient, and I made a few mistakes, but I hope the plant won’t get stunted. I didn’t damage much of the root mass—just a few peripheral roots, maybe. This is how it looks now. It’s a bit droopy, probably because it’s almost time for lights off—and maybe a little from transplant shock, lol.
I just messed up a bit and forgot to remove the bottom before unscrewing it and placing the pot into the hole, lol. That would’ve made it a lot easier.
