So when and where is best time spot to top after 5th? Or is fimming better?
2 Likes
Are you topping to control height or trying to get more production?
Autos are picky about topping.
Something like LST (low stress training) might work better
3 Likes
Most bang for buck in a 32x32, lst in a sog a better option? Have 3 in 2 gallon under vs1000 but getting hlg300l this month
3 Likes
Autos each grow a little different than each other.
The best I have seen is using LST to spread the plant out and let the bud sites develop equally.
They typically look like this.
I gave up on autos and grow photo periods now. There are some awesome autoflower growers here in the forum but I am not one of them. I am sure someone will chime in soon.
@Aussie_autos may be able to help you out.
7 Likes
@Not2SureYet should be able to assist with autos
3 Likes
Just going with autos for first 2 grows to get my feet wet. Thanks for the help. Didnt realize they were tricky to top, i will stick to normal lst like you showed there. Nice and simple for first grow. Thanks again.
1 Like
I top my autos at the fourth or fifth node. Haven’t experienced any negative effects.
2 Likes
My first,(this century) grow…
Times two…I started LST at 5 nodes, although I’m quite happy with the results, 6 may have been better.
She is in a very small one-plant tent, on a shelf in the garage.
Start…
Today …12th week
Lost in the Sixties 
4 Likes
For me i fim my plants at the third node or fourth but if u want to top wait until the fifth node
1 Like
Need to research more on what it is to fim exactly and the benefits but i see a lot of experienced growers using this technique. Would you recommend trying it on one of my first girls or just focus on basics and producing first?
Appreciate the feed back, seems like a good simple process for one of my first go arounds. Any pointers or rookie mistakes to watch out for?
Top after plant gets to 5th node top down to 4th node. Make sure its on a feed day. Always best to feed directly following HST.
Do topping and LST together
2 Likes
If i go that route do you give her some dark to recoup or keep rocking like normal?
Recoup time is for photos. Autos dont pause. Its why some prefer not to do hst on autos. You will only want to top EXTREMLY healthy autos. Any mishaps during seedling or early veg should negate topping option.
1 Like
If you put her into shock, it will negate any gains from topping. Autos are quicker but easier is a misnomer.
1 Like
Yes i would recommend trying the fimming on ur plant
2 Likes
I top my autos as the 5th node starts to come in that usually gives me a set of 6-8 good strong colas
2 Likes
And folks, I read, reread, and I still don’t know whether to make the final cut or just make the lst. I want more income what do I indicate? I am Brazilian, in Brazil there is no consensus with this information. is germinating a gorilla blue auto, critical kush auto, weding cake auto and skywalker auto. Help me, what do you mean? excuse me for the bad english
Thanks @AfgVet 
This is just how I do mine. I would never think of doing a top or fim before you have 5 nodes.
With that said. I do autos in scrogs as well. You are better off topping for a scrog imo. It will let you spread the plant out better from the very few fimms I have done. Also. I choose when to top by where the plant is in relationship to my scrog. It needs enough time to grow to split at the net. Or grow through and super crop. I have my net set at 10" off the top of the net. If you keep the same height in relationship to your pots every time. You will find this is easy to dial in 
@Nicky likes to fimm. How ever. he doesn’t use a scrog. So he has more time for things to grow out. If you let me know how far you are from the pot. net wise. I can help give you an idea of when to top. Or when I would. How strong you run your lights and what lights you have will make some difference as well. I will tag you into my grow I just started so you can get an idea of when I do mine and what the results are. I have a 6 week old Jack Herrer auto that may be a good example
3 Likes
Thank you for the assist @Not2SureYet
2 Likes