So this is my first ever plant… and I went with a hydroponic set up. I’m on week 5 now and things seem to be going well but I’m terrified when it comes to trimming, topping and any mutilation of my new daughter 
Should I be trimming the top of this to help it branch out? Should i be trimming the lower leaves that aren’t getting as much light anymore? What is a good general rule of thumb when it comes to trim or not to trim?
Thank you!
Without knowing more about your grow it’s hard to recommend what you should do but I personally like to let them grow to six nodes (sets of leaves) not counting the coty leaves (little round ones) then I top it down between the fourth and fifth nodes, as for removing leaves I try to take off as few as possible during veg the leaves feed the plant with light but I want to get light to the developing branches so I first try tucking leaves down around the lower branches but if it’s not possible then I cut them off… the bottom leaves especially the ones touching the ground can be removed but again less is more if they are not in the way I’d leave it there
Is it an auto or photo?
It’s not an autoflower. These were the feminized seeds.
Read this… but for topping, scroll down to some posts on May 20. You’ll find it.
I know nothing about hydro, but I think topping is topping. Maybe.
The fine fellow who wrote this is a guru.
@Hellraiser - I shared your post to this nice lady.
Others may disagree but since it is your first grow and hydro and auto …
I’d say DONT top it because autos take less time to do thier thing which means less time to recover …
I mean you said you are terrified …so you could wind up being your own worst enemy …
In my humble opinion learn the plant through at least one grow then start trying to manipulate the plant next grow
She said its not a Auto. 
Lol my bad …I see it now
Maybe she was writing that as I was …sorry by all means top away …just make sure you use aloe or honey on the wound
Aloe or honey? I just hacked mine off. Was that wrong?
@Kitten Those are some nice, vigorous looking plants you have going!
Poop. Should I dump some honey on the stump?
Hahah it can’t hurt …or aloe if you have an aloe leaf …
I’d stay away from aloe in any kind of bottle
Ypu may be fine
It was outdoors for a while and honestly I don’t think the topping caused it
It would have happened sooner
It was just something on the surface …still don’t know what just keeping an eye out her days are numbered …one more feeding them straight up water for 2 weeks before she gets it
Also maybe since you have those root bastards they may like honey …I’d hold off unless you see a prob
Thanks!
@Kitten healthy and green little lady you’re growing there. Bravo!!
Being a new grower it can be intimidating to wrestle with your plant to much but a healthy cannabis plant can take a lot of abuse!
The basic idea of topping is to increase yield. And who doesn’t want more yield? Topping is THE cheapest way to do it.
It’s very simple and easy to do. Get a sharp pair of scissors or plant trimmers, clean the blades with alcohol and simply cut the main center stalk between two “nodes” or sets of leaves. That’s it. Plant is topped.
This will force the growing energy of the plant to move into the entire plant instead of focusing the bulk of it on the central growing cola. As a result all the little side shoots that were slowly emerging from the other “nodes” will receive more nutes and energy than before and increasing their growth rate. Within days they’ll double or more in size and growth rate.
Once they start growing out all tall and strong you can do what’s called LST or low stress training. In this process you would use string, wire or even plastic clips from Amazon to spread out and flatten out those side shoots to open up the inside of the plant to light and expose them to more direct light. Helps a lot with air flow and circulation also.
Same thing with some of those giant fans too.
Any leaf laying on soil needs to go and like mentioned before, if it’s blocking one of the tops of the lower shoots from getting good light.
In your picture you can see the shoot on the left is partially shaded but those on the right aren’t getting much light at all.You can nudge them both where you want them to go. You don’t only have to tuck leaves. If you’ve got enough shoot to work with you can nudge it into the light too.
Some plants respond negatively to defoliation, most respond with new, vigorous growth.
It’s kinda a personal choice/plant specific thing, but sometimes losing 5 or 6 big leaves can have big, positive impact on a plant.
Your plant, my plants and every plant on the face of the earth has one thing to do, they’re all programmed with it - Go ye forth and multiply!! That’s it! That’s all they want to do.
And they’re going to put every ounce of their resources into do just that.
As growers our job is to help them reach that goal.
Except - NO SEEDS!!
She’s looking really good and healthy though so whatever you’re doing it’s working but you can increase your return easily enough with a few simple steps.
Good Luck and Happy Growing Everyone!!
