@Unexpected there is a technique called bud back building. Around 30 - 35 days after flowering starts (not flip) the very top of the bud is cut. It stops the vertical growth which induces the bud to grow fatter.
What I see in the photo you posted is an untrained main stem. The result is exactly what the plant is supposed to do. Grow one large main colas. To prevent this learn to top, FIM, and LST. You will end up with more better quality buds.
I fimm’d this particular plant and then had to super crop during flowering because it would not stop stretching after I flipped. It was an insanely massive/vigorous plant and caught me off guard. I flipped this plant at just 7 inches. I heard that lolliipopping too soon can cause more stretch. Any truth to this?
I will definitely be more aggressive with my training this go around. I would definitely like to see what you are talking about if you have a link to your mentioned technique.
I can not really quantify the effectiveness of the technique. My impression was they were a little thicker than those that were not clipped.
My guess is the FIM didn’t take. I am terrible at it and no longer attempt it. Plus, I see no reason to FIM photos.
Going back to the large main stem. The hormones that drive these plants are powerful. In your case the flow of growth hormones from the main stem to the rest of the plant was not interrupted or redirected. Had the stem been bent over below the height of adjacent growth, during late veg or even early flower, it forces the hormones to flow away from the main stem. This is the whole concept of LST.
This is the last auto I grew several years ago. It was not topped. It only received extensive LST. I could not identify the main colas if I had too. Just to show what LST can do
I got larf down low, but there were very dense buds about the size of golf balls on about 3/4 of every branch. A lot of the larf ended up with the trim.
