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What is training? Cannabis plants naturally grow one big top cola and a ring of smaller side buds under it. Training techniques reshape this so every bud site gets equal light — which means higher yield from the same plant, same lights, same tent.
There are two families: high-stress (topping, FIM — you cut tissue off) and low-stress (LST, bending, tying — no cuts). Most growers combine them: one top early, then LST through the rest of veg. Your plants are at the ideal age to start — you have ~29 days until the 12/12 flip, enough for one top + 5–7 days of recovery + LST + stretch prep.
This page walks you through the Jarvis-recommended combined strategy, then gives you plant-specific plans for Alpha, Foxtrot, and Kilo. Video tutorials at the bottom show the exact hand motions. If a term like node or internode is new to you, check Plant Anatomy first — it opens in the same tab, come right back.
On this page
1. Topping #topping
Topping means cutting off the apical meristem — the growth tip at the very top of the main stem. The plant responds by pushing two new main colas from the node directly below the cut. One top becomes two; two tops (if you do it again later) become four.
- When to top: Ideal at 4–6 nodes with healthy growth — you’re there now on all three.
- Where to cut: Above the 5th node, leaving that node intact. Use sterile snips (wipe with isopropyl).
- Recovery: 3–7 days of slowed growth, then two new main tops emerge from the node below the cut.
- What NOT to do: Don’t top a stressed, pale, or wilting plant. Wait until it looks vigorous.
2. LST (Low-Stress Training) #lst
LST means bending the main stem sideways and tying it down so the plant grows horizontally instead of straight up. No cuts, no shock, no recovery time — the plant keeps growing while you reshape it. The goal is a flat even canopy where every branch tip sits at roughly the same height under the light.
- Start now or right after topping. Bend the main stem horizontally, tie with soft wire or plant ties. Anchor points: the pot rim (push garden staples into the soil or tie around the pot).
- Goal: Flatten the canopy, expose lower axillary buds to direct light, create an even manifold or quadline shape.
- Re-tie weekly: As new growth rises, keep bending and retying. The plant is never "done" being trained until flower stretch is over.
- Go slow on thick stems: If a stem feels like it might snap, pre-bend it gently over several sessions (super-cropping). A light crackle is OK; a full break is not.
3. Combined Strategy (Jarvis recommends) #strategy
The plan for the next 29 days:
- Top once at the 5th node (this week)
- Wait 5–7 days for recovery
- LST the two new shoots outward — tie them down and let side branches rise
- Optional second top on each of those four tops for 8 colas before flip
- Keep re-tying through flower stretch (first 2–3 weeks of flower)
Timing window: ~29 days until flip — enough for one top + LST recovery + stretch prep. Two tops is aggressive but doable if the first recovers fast.
4. Your Three Plants #plants
Each plant has a different growth habit, so the training prescription differs. Jarvis called these out by name in the Day 31 analysis:
5. Video Tutorials #videos
Three tutorials from respected growers. Watch these before you make your first cut — seeing the hand motion is worth 1,000 words of text.
Videos are embedded via YouTube (no-cookie mode). If a video goes offline, open Expert Chat and ask for a fresh link.
6. Research Questions #research
Tap any of these to open Expert Chat with the question pre-loaded (for v1, it opens Chat — paste the question in).