Does Topping Cannabis Plants Increase Yield?

Topping marijuana plants is one of the many ways to improve the crop’s quality. It gives more potent buds and higher yields. All marijuana growers want to make the most out of their cannabis plants. They all want to maximize the potential of their yields. This can all be achieved by topping. But what exactly do we mean by “topping”? How is it performed? And why exactly should we be topping cannabis plants?

Topping cannabis is basically removing the upper portion of your weed plant. This refers to the highest portion that a cannabis plant can reach. It is a training technique that makes use of stress-exposure to a grower’s advantage. Doing this can cause your crop to produce more yields. It improves the harvests of marijuana growers and increases the amount of marijuana that they harvest. This is best done for outdoor marijuana seeds. Make sure to secure your outdoor seeds before deciding to top marijuana plants! Anything that endangers them might expose significant stress to your crop. However, topping your plants can also take place when using indoor setups. Plants that are in grow rooms and greenhouses will also need proper maintenance for more bud development.

Advantages of Topping:

• There are many advantages that growers wish to have when it comes to topping weed plants. Cutting off the main cola of a cannabis plant can generate up to 5 more colas for your crop. This means that growers can maximize the growing capacity of their cannabis plants. Take note, however, that extra colas may only grow from the top of a cannabis plant. Do not expect them to grow from the middle section or bottom of your crop.
• Another advantage of topping your marijuana plants is that it opens your flowers to easier light access. You see, topping marijuana plants has the tendency of spreading the colas of your cannabis. As they produce more colas, their leaves start to sprout in different directions. This causes the plant to absorb light easier.
• Keep in mind that topping plants is not limited to just cannabis! it can be effective for just about any other fruit-bearing plant.

Because of the effective yet simplicity of topping, people often regard topping as an essential part of the cannabis cultivation process. You can always top your growing cannabis plants during any stage of the growing process. Many growers have their own preferred time of topping their cannabis plants. However, it has been constantly recommended that the best time for topping is during the mature stages. As your marijuana plants start to grow, their roots begin to strengthen.

When their roots are strong enough and the plants are about to reach full maturity, then it is time for topping. This gives you better access and viewpoint of the colas on the plant. What you want to do is locate the meristem of the cannabis plant. You must remove the cola from there. This causes the plant to obtain two growing directions. You will then notice the extra colas sprout from these shoots.

Disadvantages of Topping

• Remember that not all strains grow the same when topping. Sure, there are many marijuana types out there that can improve yields. However, there are also some that may take an extended period of time to develop after being topped. Indoor marijuana strains and indica plants usually take longer to grow. If these are then exposed to topping, their development period may be extended for a long time. They will, however, still produce higher yields and improved harvests.
• Topping can expose your plants to high levels of stress. This can affect the way that they grow. It may also affect the overall quality of the buds.
• If you are inexperienced in marijuana cultivation, then topping might be hard for you. It is definitely a way of improving your yields but beginners may have a hard time with the process. There is always the possibility of cutting the wrong colas. Also, you might not know when the right time topping is. Instead of improving your yields, you may cause damage to your plants.
• Many people say that topping during the vegetative phase is helpful. On the other hand, a lot of growers state that you must wait for the flowering stage. Because of the varying opinions, doing the wrong thing can lead to substantial damage. While we recommend topping during the flowering phase, it will all depend on the grower’s preference.

Steps on How to Top You Cannabis Plants:

Topping is an effective way of increasing your yield. With just about any strain you plant to grow, topping can be seen as an essential step for many. But, as stated above, it may put your plants in a situation of stress. They will need time to adjust to the process. This is why the topping process must be done with care.

This is also another reason why it is better to wait until the mature stages. Doing so in the vegetative stage might be a little too stressful. This is because the cannabis plants still do not have plant structures that are sturdy enough. Young cannabis plants may get damaged due to the stress levels of topping. Mature plants, on the other hand, may be able to handle these situations well. Also, be sure to confirm the healthiness and potency of your marijuana plants. You would want to avoid topping plants that have diseases and molds. These can infect the extra colas that would grow.

• Prepare your equipment

The things that you would need for the topping process are quite common. These are just household tools that you can find in any hardware store. You will want to secure a sharp knife, a pair of garden trimmers, and a pair of scissors.

Before starting, you will want to sterilize your tools. This ensures your cannabis plants aren’t exposed to any bacteria when being topped. Using alcohol or hot water to disinfect them is an effective way.

• Locate the topmost cola of your cannabis plant

The whole point of topping is taking off the colas at the topmost portion of the plant. You are taking off the newest cola to grow which means that it has the highest chance of still developing. First off, start by locating the bud sites closes to the top. Remove it by cutting right above the next cola. Make sure that it is a nice, clean cut! You won’t want any excess debris sticking out of your colas. This allows the side branches of the cannabis plant to be exposed to more sunlight.

• Your cannabis plants will start to produce new stalks

Topping your cannabis plants gives an opportunity to grow more buds. Around two weeks into the development, new branches will start to grow. They will sprout from the areas which you cut off. Extra colas will soon grow from these branches. From these colas, new sets of leaves will begin to develop altogether. This broadens a cannabis plant’s ability to absorb more light. As a result, your plants gain more energy for photosynthesis and for the development of a stronger plant structure.

When you top your cannabis plants, you will see two new stalks from where you cut whereas when you FIM, you might see 3-8 new stalks emerge. These areas will soon be sites where flowers will grow. As a result, there will be more opportunities for the plants to receive more light.

• Maintenance of the cannabis plants

After your plants have gone through the successful topping, it will take a while for them to regain their qualities. During this time, it is crucial to maintain and care for your cannabis plants. This process is basically the same as regular cultivation. You must let your plants absorb ample amounts of light. Since they are usually grown outdoors, making use of lighting equipment would be necessary. This makes sure that the plants are exposed to constant light. LED lights and lampposts are a great alternative. Wait until the plant fully recovers or after harvests to top again! Also, it goes without saying that growers should regularly keep their grow space neat and tidy.

Also, be sure to provide them with nutrients and minerals. Your plant will want to absorb these while recovering. It reduces the chances of the plants rotting. Also check for possible climate disturbances, insects, and other outside elements. Your plants must not be stressed during this period.

Conclusion:

Topping plants is a great way of getting the most out of your cannabis plants. Instead of the cannabis plants growing naturally, this training technique helps enhance the amount of yield that plants give. However, the whole process requires a lot of patience from the growers. Not only should they understand how the process of topping works. They must also take the time to maintain and care for the cannabis plants as they recover.

Of course, the topping is not a required step in marijuana cultivation. But it is definitely something to consider if you plan on starting your own weed garden. With topping and fimming, growers are allowed to give a better growing experience to their gardens. It may seem like a lot of work. It is also quite time-consuming. But in the long run, the higher yields are definitely worth it. And it all starts with finding some good quality outdoor marijuana seeds for sale.