[JDJP]

Originally Posted by PuffPuffPass

Well the plants were getting so big that they were burning on the lights so I started the pinching process as described in the manual. After pinching, they look funny, but the manual is very specific.. I will transcribe some of it here, as it will apply to all grows, not just phototron grows. I was seriously wondering how the heck you could get 6 plants to grow inside this thing, but after pinching the plants, I can sure see it now.. I have 3 in it as you all know.. Kinda wishing I had went with 6 now, but oh well...

Plant growth in the phototron is a function of leaf removal called pinching and lateral shoot cutting called pruning. The greater the leaf removal or lateral shoot cutting, the longer it will take your plants to reach the top of the system. If pruning and pinching instructions are followed exactly, one plant may produce over 1000 (!!!) budding sites. If plants are allowed to grow without any pinching or pruning, you plants will reach the top of the system in less than 45 days, with an average of 3-inch internodel lengths. This type will have less budding sites. How many less? HUNDREDS LESS!

Remove all leaves from the main stem as they reach four inches in length. This leaf removal is referred to as pinching. Use a pair of scissors to do the cutting of the leaf stem at mid point. Remove all leaves from the lateral shoots as they reach 3 inches in length. This leaf removal is also called pinching. As with the leaves from the main stem, cut the leaves at mid point.

The term Lateral shoot and branch are interchangable. As a primary lateral shoot starts to grow out from the main stem, allow this branch to for the first node with the first 2 leaves beginning to open up. The branch should be allowed to grow 1/4 beyond the first node. Cut the branch halfway between the node and the terminal bud. A terminal bud is the leafset that is beginning to open up at the end.

You will have secondary lateral shoots develop from the first node. As the secondary lateral shoots develop, prune them by removing each shoots terminal bud after every other node. This is accomplished by allowing the shoots to grow 1/4 inch past the scond node then removing the terminal bud of the secondary shoot. Always cut as far away from the node as possible to prevent the stripping of branching sites.

Im wondering what other growers think of doing this... bump it up