Cannabis plant training is an incredibly effective strategy to enhance both the quantity and quality of your harvest. Training your cannabis plant can produce potential yield increases of up to 40%, so understanding the various training methods is important.
What is Cannabis Plant Training?
Cannabis plant training involves the manipulation of the plant's physical structure to encourage the production of more branches and, consequently, larger top colas. By nature, a cannabis plant grows in a single-stalk or Christmas-tree (apical) shape to optimize sunlight absorption, leading to one large bud and several smaller ones. Training alters this natural growth pattern.
Why is Training Cannabis Important?
Training cannabis is vital for maximizing the use of grow space and light resources. By training, you create a larger, more even canopy, which enhances light absorption and utilization, increases airflow, and evenly distributes water, nutrients, and hormones. This method removes the "apical dominance" of the main stalk, allowing for more even growth and the development of multiple robust main branches that produce larger colas instead of small buds.
Three Major Cannabis Plant Training Techniques
- Low Stress Training (LST):
LST involves gently bending the branches down and away from the plant's center and securing them horizontally. This method uses plant ties, trellis nets, or string to hold the branches in place. Subcategories of LST include "SCROG," "SOG," and "Manifold" training, all aimed at breaking the apical dominance for a more even canopy and encouraging the development of full branches.
- High Stress Training (HST):
HST, or "super-cropping," is more advanced and involves bending branches at more extreme angles. This technique includes the "pinch-roll-bend" method, where the branch is pinched and rolled to soften the tissue before bending. HST is best performed during the early to mid-vegetative stage and can lead to a uniform, sturdy canopy.
- Plant Tissue Removal Techniques:
This includes topping, fimming, deleafing, and lollipopping. Topping involves cutting off the top of the main stalk, while fimming (or FIMing) entails removing just the top two nodes. Deleafing or defoliating removes large fan leaves to increase light penetration and airflow. Lollipopping involves stripping lower weak growths, focusing the plant's resources on growing large top buds.
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Be Gentle When Training Cannabis!
Gentle Bending: To avoid damage, try not to bend branches too harshly; work slowly and precisely.
Pinch-Roll Method: Avoid being too forceful when pinching and rolling branches, as this can cause irreparable damage - find a balance between effective training and preserving plant health.
Final Thoughts
Cannabis plant training is an invaluable skill for any grower. By using LST, HST, and tissue removal methods, you can significantly improve your plant's yield and quality. Remember, experimentation and patience are key, as each strain may respond differently to various training techniques. With practice, you'll discover the perfect training method for your plants, leading to more abundant harvests.