Summary - I did top and shape a bit 16 days after transplant. Have extra opportunities for a donor plant, if necessary. Testing leaving a little nub on a top shoot to see how it slows it down for other lower growth to catch up, and how long before it regains dominance.
#4 is chilling in the cup still. While still showing stigmata, vegetative growth is vigorous or nearing vigorous. #2 I also topped and shaped a bit, but this one may or may not make it into bloom box. Future #1 is funking up the program big time. Have some weird asymmetrical growth on #2, which is concerning as that seems to be the better plant. Hoping it was simply caused by environment. Any donor taken from these 4 will be a clone regardless and can take a cutting from the normal growth.
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34 Days - Debating what I’m going to do with these, but better shit or get off the pot soon. If still pliable might LST 2 bigger plants, or just stick to topping, sacrifice a little yield per ft^2 and learn proper lollipop level on 2nd run.
35 Days - Probably should water soon… 10 days since transplant. Vigorous growth from #1 and #3 continues. #2 is in stride now but behind 2-3 days. #4 is clearly a confused plant and hasn’t done much beside grow roots, which is fine. I probably need another 10 days minimum for 3 plants. Not sure why I thought I had to fill more space. F#1 isn’t going anywhere. Can grow these 3 just as I normally would and they’ll slot in perfectly… after 10-14 more days. (#4 -16 days old)
36 Days - Will top these when I start a flush on BBM/NOG plants. Should give a few days to heal and have a good bit of vertical growth started.
37 Days - Fertigated today - set in 1gallon of water and let it absorb, then got the top later and back into vegetative area quickly enough. A narrow fit, so the water rose high on the pot, but because it doesn’t soak high enough, I am likely to do a top-drip system with drainage lines. Transplanted 3 donors into their 1-gal homes and final 2 in cups acclimating to lights. #4 at 21 days looks like it is coming out of its funk showing a little vege growth as of late. We’ll see if it throws rounded leaves due to re-vege. Removed lowest axillary growth from all 3 primary plants.
PM - Holy shnikeys did they respond after a 1-gallon irrigation with ludicrously vigorous growth. #2 not as much, but she’s coming along too. May only need 2 of these in bloom box, but need all 4 until mid October. The quick development lately of BBM and NOG is encouraging. May start flush soon / prune plant for 6 vertical shoots. One is for a temp-clone.
38 Days - Everybody is rocking and enjoying their all-to-short lives, psst, don’t tell them that. If I delay longer, I may remove some top leaves of growth that will be pruned off to prevent any unnecessary stretch of any important axillary growth.
39 Days - Have to do some shaping soon. I can tell when I am a bit uncertain what to do by how much I avoid it. Likely done before pictures taken.
40 Days - Okay, these are past the point when I wanted to top, but need to wait a bit longer. Being lazy, but want to look it over and maybe remove some top leaves of what will soon be pruned off. Getting more stretch than I want on axillary shoots, I assume. The first node or two I don’t mind as it needs to stretch away from trunk before growing vertically, but after that it is just impacting yield negatively. Only two will be grown out unless F#1 has miraculous development soon.