Keep it under 5 foot

Im going to attempt my first photoperiod. It is a blueberry strain. I am still 3-4 months away from starting since i just started an auto, but the shit I have wrong with my brain already has me prepping. I currently use 3 gallon containers for my grow but was thinking of using a 5 gallon for the photo. Due to tent space I need to keep it under 5 foot. would 5 gallon containers be to big or should I still be able to keep it at desired height with training? Any other advice as I prepare would also be greatly appreciated. Ive only ever grown a few autos and for all the thinking I do I tend to goof things up. :sweat_smile:

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Topping and supercropping help manage a plant’s height. I always run photos (a blueberry has been among them) and typically flip them at about 10 weeks. I always top a couple of times and supercrop only as needed, which isn’t very often.

I use 10-gal pots, but there are plenty of growers who use smaller pots and they do just fine.

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5 gallon fabric pot is a good size for indoor grow. I would definitely top plants at about 7 nodes. This will slow down upward growth an allow side branches to catch up an make a nice even canopy. Just my thoughts good luck :v::+1:

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Training and supercropping will be your best best.




These are photos in 5 gallon pots. There is zero chance I’m letting them get to 5 ft. I will pinch and bend my colas in bloom to keep my canopy even.

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I have a height restriction of 52 inches to my light. I am never really concerned with fast growth in veg as i veg for about 2 months waiting for flower tent to open up. I will top when i reach the 6th node and then start LST focusing more on growing the sides out and maintaining a low profile. Ill continue to do this until flower then when they go to the flower tent they get nets put slightly above the canopy to grow into and then tuck tops into your netting to try and achieve an even canopy and raise as needed while they grow. If you have some tops that just get too close to the light you will have to resort to supercropping which ill show you below can really give you a lot more clearance and avoid burning your nice big tops up. I start in solo cups then go to 1 gals and finish in 3 gals. Ive used 5 gallons before and prefer 3 gal over 5 gal because im still restricted at the same height so mine as well get away with using less grow medium and save money where you can
This is the plants before readjusting the net and supercropping you can see how close they are to the light. Too close for my comfort lol



This is after readjusting the net and supercropping to achieve a more even canopy across the whole tent

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Exactly what @BigCat420 said is your best bet for photos with space restrictions. :+1:t2::+1:t2: you can do all of this brother you just have to pucker up and do it. It’s a plant it’ll recover but you will never learn until you try it!! :call_me_hand:t2::call_me_hand:t2:

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@BigCat420 great illustration!!! That is easy to follow!! :+1:t2::+1:t2:

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@Fatz1973 glad I could be of assistance!

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This is one of the largest plants I have grown. It was in a 3x3x7’ tent.

The tape on the back of the tent (32") is the height above the soil. The tape is about 50" above the floor of the tent. The main canopy of the plant is actually more even with the tape. It looks lower because of the height the picture is taken from.

I put this tape up the day she was flipped to 12-12. The measurement given is above the soil

As previously mentioned, techniques used to manage height include topping, low stress training and supercropping. These will help maintain its height but it also forces it to grow outward. So, a plant will need more horizontal space. This photo shows the 1st and 2nd topping to obtain a manifold.

Your homework over the next several months is to study the various techniques used to manage height. I really like a manifold. Mainlining is also excellent but adds a week. A quadline is also a strong contender (I plan on using it on my next grow). All involve topping and LST to the extent necessary. Supercropping can be done as a planned technique or done as circumstances dictate.
Have a blast…!

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@beardless great illustration as well!! You guys and gals make this like paint by number. @Meloco1980 you have been given the footprint to make your photoperiod a major success within your parameters. We’ll all be here as you go through the growing pains. :call_me_hand:t2::call_me_hand:t2:

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I have to admit that I am biased toward topping and training photoperiod plants. Part of it is because that is what I enjoy doing. There are other ways but I have not ventured very far down that road.

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@beardless I’m out of likes but I am completely impressed with your success. I hope you don’t mind but I’m using your post as an example for others friend. :call_me_hand:t2::call_me_hand:t2:

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Dude that gal in the 3x3 is just rich .

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Thank you! very informative. I have been reading up quite a bit. The training techniques is my main motivation to try a photo. I have only ever done LST training on autos and Im eager to try my hand and get more involved. when I do try a photo I plan on it being the only plant in my grow space at that time. my tent is overly large but I only have one 200w light currently. Im very much looking forward to it and plan to study up as much as possible. I tend to obsess a fair bit so its good for me to have something productive planned up to maul over.

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@BigCat420 I have also used your awesome post as an example for some growmies around the community. :call_me_hand:t2::call_me_hand:t2: I hope you don’t mind. It really makes it a lot easier than trying to explain this process and I don’t have the up close photos from my room. Great job thank you very much!! :+1:t2::+1:t2:

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@Fatz1973 i dont mind one bit! I love being able to help other people so feel free to share anything i post especially if it means helping other members

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@BigCat420 right on Brother!!! Thank you
:call_me_hand:t2::call_me_hand:t2:

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Free is free. I hope it helps.

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I shocked myself when I cut her and weighed her when dry. Her cuttings produced nicely too.

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A fabric pot will give you more horizontal space as they tend to be wider than plastic. This is a 7 gallon geo pot with the sides rolled down in my 1.5 x 1.5 x 5 tent.


A good thing to remember with the training is you have to keep on it consistently.

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