So I’ve been thinking and I’m just curious do you think you gain more yield from topping your plants as opposed to not topping. If you have 10 plants of the same size and you top five of them and you let five of them go natural which ones do you think will have a heavier yield? Just curious something I’ve been thinking about I’ve done quite a few runs and had my own experience I’m just curious what others have to say.
3 Likes
I top my plants at least twice. You get smaller colas, but more of them. I’ve not done a side-by-side comparison, but I do expect that topped plants give more yield. This plant was topped 3 times:
12 Likes
Good input, thank you. I often top mine and have always kind of assumed you gain more from topping. I was just curious if anyone had done a side by side. I’m actually trying to create proper conditions to where I can do with side by side with the same soil material same size pots time frame everything so that’ll give me a little bit more of an idea and I’ll post it on here also.
2 Likes
There’s not really a yes or no answer.
In some causes toping could help and some could not.
Really depends on the plant genetics and many other things.
Are you just talking 1 top or multiple?
Are you doing other training like tieing branches down or bending the plant over?
But if you talking just 1 top to get 2 main colas and nothing else, just 1 top and let it go.
I’d probably say nah, not much difference if any.
But if you mix in a little training like also bending it over, then yes, more then likely it can be a great increase in yeild.
Topping is a good tool but a combination of training techniques can make a big difference.
If I pick only 1 thing to do to a plant that has the largest positive impact on yeild, in would be simply bending the plant over and tieing it down so side branches grew upwards and have a bush rather then a tree.
Something like this, though to this extent will greatly increase veg time as this ones had many tops and tied down multiple times as it grew as well as lots and lots of lower branches taken off.
12 Likes
That really is a beautiful plant I do bend and ty and train my branches normally normally towards the sea of green technique and I usually use the net. This time though I don’t have the net in and most of my plants are not topped besides maybe one plus the original mother plant. Normally when I do top I only take one top off after they have about four sets of leaves on them and still in veg. I got 460 g of finished product with seven top clones but they weren’t quite as big as I wanted them to be when I put them in. Using a 4x4x7 area
2 Likes
Yes but to much of a good thing is bad if you over do it you’ll end up with a whole lot of fluff and less overall
It’s really a question of how much time do you have and how much viable space you have with enough light
2 Likes
Well I’ve got tons of time and I spend lots of it everyday with my girls. I’m using a 4x4x7 ft tent and I have a thousand watt HPS light pretty much use cocoa core / peat moss and a couple other things with a strict nutrient regimen for my flowering. I do my prep work mostly in a 4x2 ft tent with a couple thousand watt LEDs.
I find I have better yields if I do the following;
- Top at 5-6-7 node, whichever you prefer to stop the christmas tree shape and get a flat canopy.
- Train by tying down the upper growth horizontally so the lowers catch up.
- Lollipop the lower growth so the focus is on the mains
I have increased my yeild each grow but I have also incorporated some other changes like better lighting, bigger tent, bigger pot for final transplant etc…
1st grow was only 5 zips. Last grow I am up to 10 zips and hopefully on this one, I will get closer to a pound.
8 Likes
Too much for this space, I’m a scrogger and in a 2x4 it’s hard to get passed 400-500 actual watts without causing problems with the plants. It’s not about wattage it’s about coverage.
@Bonjoyle posted some good stuff 
Scrogging can increase your yield in terms of more of the buds being dense. This method requires a LOT of defoliation. But pays off. You will learn to do it better with each run. I average 1.5-2.5 grams per watt usually when scrogging. As mentioned it does take time. The return has many variables, even dialed in you can fall short of goals depending on the plants. They all grow differently and not all of them yield. But if you are chasing yield it’s worth taking your time to learn the scrog method. Tweaking with each run. If REALLY chasing yield, find something that does well in a scrog and checks your boxes then take clones. Move to hydro or coco. Pot size doesn’t really matter here with auto feed set up.
Some examples…
2x4
2x4
2x4
4x4
This space’s light set up is capable of around 1700 watts at the plug, and I believe I’m around 60-70% power.
Canopy is 4.5/5x8.5/9
11 Likes
Lighting wasnt that good in the 70s, combo of alot of sativas and inadequate lighting.
Laying them over was an accident of stretching that turned out to be blessing in the end.
4 Likes
I forgot the best part.
Yall posted some of the prettiest canopies, of course that is achieved with excellent plants, and thats displayed to its fullest.
Pappy, well written explanation. She’s beautiful.
3 Likes
I prefer to fim. YES topping and fimming will increase bud sites. Thus higher yields. An LST with solid top/fim will greatly increase yield. 1 gg4/20gal pot. LST and fimmed like crazy in a 3x3 netted 2.5lb DRY. Not including larf from deep inside used for oils. 3lb total if include that. Took a while. Photo. Vegged heavy. Plant was wall to wall.
4 Likes
Okay I get it guys. Topping will increase yield but it takes a lot of time, effort, experience and patience to be done properly. All of the pictures really are amazing. Everyone does such a great job 
3 Likes
Nah not bad there.
Yessir. But that is just normal.
Topping is topping. If photo toss that top in dirt or water for clone.
Fimming a little more meticulous but even still very simple.
3 Likes
Very nice pics. Those are respectable numbers absolutely. Good job
1 Like
Also the 4x2x4 is just my veg tent. My flower is 4x4x7. I’m ready to upgrade to a 4x8x7 and get another light. But I’m working with what I have for now. Lol thinking about this time last year, just the situation and equipment I had… wow what a long ways…
And much further to go 
2 Likes
You get a more even canopy, the more the light hits your actual buds the more they ( healthily ) foxtail leading to more so yes
1 Like