# How much, or should I, top my plants? **URL:** \ **Category:** Flowering\ **Created:** [July 19, 2022, 8:42pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/how-much-or-should-i-top-my-plants/90446 "2022-07-19T20:42:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![theoutsider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@theoutsider](https://ilgmforum.com/u/theoutsider)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 8:42pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/how-much-or-should-i-top-my-plants/90446/1 "2022-07-19T20:42:46Z")
I’ve got several photo Sativa plants growing outside in 5 gal. pots using live soil. They range any where from 20" to 28". The taller ones are really skinny little buggers and I was thinking about topping them to get two results. 1.) They are really tall right now and as I understand it they’ll really shoot up in growth during the first phase of flowering which hasn’t happened yet. 2.) Because they’re so tall, I’m assuming (uh oh) that most of the energy is being used to reach their max height and not necessarily width. My concern is that I may have missed the window of opportunity to do an effective topping. The plants are about 2 1/2 months old and most of the research I’ve done on this subject recommends topping at around the fifth node and at this point they’re well beyond having 5 nodes. I I were to whack it at that point, I would be removing more than %50 of the total plant which seems like it would induce a lot of stress. Maybe too much. So my question is twofold. Is it too late to do any topping and if not, what percentage of it should I cut off? %50, %20, %75? TIA for anyone that can help a first time grower out. ---
**Author:** ![DarhkGrows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c4cdca/32.png) [@DarhkGrows](https://ilgmforum.com/u/DarhkGrows)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 9:06pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/how-much-or-should-i-top-my-plants/90446/2 "2022-07-19T21:06:51Z")
I’m not sure of the answer on how much to remove but if it was me whatever I removed I would be cloning into another pot if you can as it is basically another plant 🤔🤔🤔 . Hopefully someone who knows the answer can help you out and good luck 👍🏻 ---
**Author:** ![HMGRWN](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/hmgrwn/32/632189_2.png) [@HMGRWN](https://ilgmforum.com/u/HMGRWN)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 9:40pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/how-much-or-should-i-top-my-plants/90446/3 "2022-07-19T21:40:40Z")
Need pictures to make any kind of recommendation. ---
**Author:** ![theoutsider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@theoutsider](https://ilgmforum.com/u/theoutsider)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 11:48pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/how-much-or-should-i-top-my-plants/90446/4 "2022-07-19T23:48:31Z")
@DarhkGrows That’s a great idea but I’m limited to the number of plants I can grow. @HMGRWN Shouldn’t be a problem getting some pictures. Just need to know what you need to see. Entire plant? Just the top? The widest part? ---
**Author:** ![Storm](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/storm/32/1066086_2.png) [@Storm](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Storm)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 11:49pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/how-much-or-should-i-top-my-plants/90446/5 "2022-07-19T23:49:39Z")
Entire plant. ---
**Author:** ![theoutsider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@theoutsider](https://ilgmforum.com/u/theoutsider)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 12:12am UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/how-much-or-should-i-top-my-plants/90446/6 "2022-07-20T00:12:03Z")
@HMGRWN @Storm As requested. This plant is about 22" from top of soil to top of plant. Has 10 nodes now. ![top](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/original/4X/1/1/7/1177365c2826f8efa8da670b05c308cbe9db3274.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Storm](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/storm/32/1066086_2.png) [@Storm](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Storm)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 12:18am UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/how-much-or-should-i-top-my-plants/90446/7 "2022-07-20T00:18:38Z")
Hard to say. Stealth issue? If not I would let her go. Can always supercrop her later. She will fill out. Side branches will spread. Topping is great indoor for extra colas but man outdoor plants produce well all on their own. Looks healthy and happy. See where she goes i say and supercrop if have to. ---
**Author:** ![theoutsider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@theoutsider](https://ilgmforum.com/u/theoutsider)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 12:31am UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/how-much-or-should-i-top-my-plants/90446/8 "2022-07-20T00:31:29Z")
@Storm Not a stealth grow but the area I live in limits how many plants can be growing at one time. Kinda sucks but at least they’re allowing something without having to face a firing squad ⚖ ---
**Author:** ![Storm](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/storm/32/1066086_2.png) [@Storm](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Storm)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 1:11am UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/how-much-or-should-i-top-my-plants/90446/9 "2022-07-20T01:11:09Z")
If only can have a few…grow them out …😁 ---
**Author:** ![HMGRWN](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/hmgrwn/32/632189_2.png) [@HMGRWN](https://ilgmforum.com/u/HMGRWN)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 3:16am UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/how-much-or-should-i-top-my-plants/90446/10 "2022-07-20T03:16:27Z")
Agree with @Storm . > [@Storm](#): > > outdoor plants produce well all on their own That plant has nice structure for an outdoor grow. ---
**Author:** ![theoutsider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@theoutsider](https://ilgmforum.com/u/theoutsider)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2022, 3:34am UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/how-much-or-should-i-top-my-plants/90446/11 "2022-07-20T03:34:58Z")
Alright, I’ll let them keep going on their own as suggested. Thanks for all the responses. ---
**Author:** ![sunasun](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/sunasun/32/527826_2.png) [@sunasun](https://ilgmforum.com/u/sunasun)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 6:08pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/how-much-or-should-i-top-my-plants/90446/12 "2022-07-21T18:08:16Z")
How tall are you, assuming 6 feet tall with 3 foot arm reach. That would be 9 foot, so top her at 9 feet. ---
**Author:** ![theoutsider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@theoutsider](https://ilgmforum.com/u/theoutsider)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2022, 2:28am UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/how-much-or-should-i-top-my-plants/90446/13 "2022-07-22T02:28:59Z")
@sunasun That sounds like it would be way too late either by the stage of growth it’s in or because I’ve already cut it completely down for harvesting. ---
**Author:** ![sunasun](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/sunasun/32/527826_2.png) [@sunasun](https://ilgmforum.com/u/sunasun)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2022, 4:00am UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/how-much-or-should-i-top-my-plants/90446/14 "2022-07-22T04:00:57Z")
Why did you harvest it before it started flowering? ---
**Author:** ![theoutsider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@theoutsider](https://ilgmforum.com/u/theoutsider)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2022, 6:16am UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/how-much-or-should-i-top-my-plants/90446/15 "2022-07-22T06:16:50Z")
@sunasun haven’t harvested it yet. Didn’t mean to confuse you. You suggested topping it when it gets 9 feet tall. _If_ it gets that tall, I probably won’t touch it but I think the time it would take to get that tall will go way beyond the time it would take to be mature enough to harvest… ---
**Author:** ![sunasun](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/sunasun/32/527826_2.png) [@sunasun](https://ilgmforum.com/u/sunasun)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2022, 6:44pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/how-much-or-should-i-top-my-plants/90446/16 "2022-07-22T18:44:00Z")
Oh, I thought you were growing outside. They grow quick outside here. ---
**Author:** ![theoutsider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@theoutsider](https://ilgmforum.com/u/theoutsider)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2022, 9:03pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/how-much-or-should-i-top-my-plants/90446/17 "2022-07-22T21:03:22Z")
@sunasun It looks like you are responding without reading what I’ve typed. None of your responses make any sense to me. I don’t mean to be rude but, sometimes I call it like I see it. ---
**Author:** ![sunasun](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/sunasun/32/527826_2.png) [@sunasun](https://ilgmforum.com/u/sunasun)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2022, 10:24pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/how-much-or-should-i-top-my-plants/90446/18 "2022-07-22T22:24:42Z")
Ditto 🤔