4 to 4.5 foot mother: Topping advice

[xtrchessreal]

Hello all:

I'm into a perpetual grow and need to slow down the growth of mothers that are already too high (tall)

These mothers veg under one 23 Watt 5000K CFL/plant.

I have about 9 weeks at least before the current bloom room will be available for another set of veggers to go in and bloom. In general I should have plenty of smoke when the current crop is harvested. So, I need advice on topping and slowing down growth so my mothers can hang in veg for a few months then I will clone and begin a new crop by late winter or spring.

The mothers are 3 to 3.5 feet from soil surface, inside 3 gal pots approx 12 inches tall, never been topped, very healthy, bushy, etc. The question is how much off the top can I go before risking losing the plant? Should I give any of my GH FloraNova Grow nutes once topped to keep them from dying? I will eat the topped leaves so nothing is wasted.

Thanks for you time and input

X

 

[Cultivator]

be aggresive with topping mate. it will slow growth but in turn will introduce multiple new heads. more heads = more clones

heres a mother im currently training:

Heres my old A.M.S mother that was well over 3 years old.

Best to be heavy handed with mothers. give them stress and they will thank u for it.

 

[xtrchessreal]

Thanks for the information Cultivator!

This sounds good, I like your cannabis tree

So, as long as I have three or four well formed branches I can clip it down from 3.5 feet to about 1 or 1.5 feet? The stem is about as thick as my finger at that level and I know it is hollow. Is there any need for using a sealer or anything, e.g. tar; used to seal the trunk of a tree where fresh cut branches had been?

Thank you for your efforts and time in responding.

X

 

[Cultivator]

u could seal it but the plant will heal itself. just sterilse ur cutting equipment. dont be afraid too be aggressive on a well rooted healthy plant.

 

[galt]

What is your lighting schedule?

 

[xtrchessreal]

Thanks for the fast response Cultivator! Yeah I will be sterile, I have some good quality snips. I'm 100% on 24 clones so far, all rooted and harvested. I have 5 mothers to work on so I will start with one and see how it responds and that will give me the confidence to be more aggressive or not.

Galt: I am on a 18/6 schedule using one 23 watt 5000K CFL per plant. I was planning to reduce the light source as well so it will slow the photosynthesis.

I appreciate the help

X

 

[galt]

Galt: I am on a 18/6 schedule using one 23 watt 5000K CFL per plant. I was planning to reduce the light source as well so it will slow the photosynthesis.

I appreciate the help

X

We had good luck in the past by cutting the light schedule to slow a mother's growth. 2 on 4 off is really safe, 2 on 6 or 8 off probably okay too. At 10 off, some strains will flower. Better than making them live in the dark.

 

[Cultivator]

18/6 is the way to go for mothers. all this 1 on and 1 off or all the rest of it is stupid in my opinion. 18/6 absolutely gives results, u can slow growth without messing with light times. 23w is nothing so u shouldnt get much growth with that any way.

 

[xtrchessreal]

watered with nutes today going to cut tomorrow. I'll read about this lighting stuff but likely will keep it where it is.

X

 

[xtrchessreal]

Cultivator:

I cut one plant like you said about 5 days ago and it is doing great so I just cut another one today and I will do one a day until I get them done. I really appreciate the advice and now I feel confident about my mothers. Thank you.

X

 

[Cultivator]

great i hope it turns out well mate.

 

[wannabehorti]

Chop chop chop and clone repot trim roots.......... I honestly believe after all my growing bonsai mothers in super soil is the best, treat your plants like shit properly and they love you for it