I have definitely done lots of research/practice to see how to maximize space and it’s limits. I have a 5.5 foot wide tent 8.5ft tall I believe. I started with 4 extremely trained and spread out photoperiods that filled the tent but almost a half pound dried off each plant. That was with SCROG, this go around tried SOG with 20 autos, Kate flowering things got cramped and humidity was getting high so I yanked one but I’m near harvest now with 19 plants successful grown together in the tent. I lollipop but that’s it, nos LST try to keep all growth vertical keeping side profile at a minimal. With a 5*5 you can definitely pull off up to 12 plants if your not scroging the hell out of them. I look back in all the grows with only 4-5 plants (as recommended) and realize how much space I was wasting, every inch of that tent has potential you need to find how to maximize that potential without jeapordizing quality. I wish I was told this back then but if your going auto you can definitely put more plants in there then that. If you have the space invest in that extra foot and a half and it will make a huge difference especially if your doing 4 harvests a year. Even if it only fits another 2 plants that’s that another 8 a year, thats at least another 1/2lb a year if u only expect 2 zips per plant.
I feel like there’s a lot more tricks and countermeasures for a plant growing to tall, you can always top or fem, tie down to break dominance SCROG and lot others, but 2 bushy and wide is lot harder to deal with.
Not only less options aside the obvious trimming, but can threaten your RH and cause mold.
On maximum yield, I have found more plants with a big top cola untrained in a sea of green yields more then a few giant plants super spread out with multiple coals. Also has a lot to do with the genetics and environment, I’ll spread out a plant I really like but if I’m going for yield I find more plants beats bigger plants, Also more forgiving if u have any issues then putting all your eggs in one basket
Hope that provided some insight or help, best of luck!
Thanks for the tips and nice looking garden