Topping

In my opinion 3rd is best. When I top at the 3rd, the 2nd internode branches reach up and match the 2 new tops made at the 3rd internode and I get a solid 4 top bushy, shorter plant to manipulate, and the first internode branches usually just get snipped off at some point cause there so low. When I top at say the 6th or so 7th internode, it does not form the plant this way, I end up with 2 tops and a bunch of lower smaller branches still forming a tree shape. It doesn’t really transform the plant into a 4 topped monster bush ready to be trained. And if your a scrog grower you can top each of the 4 new tops again and make a true 8 top plant to spread out under a screen. So really it is what you wanna do with the plant and how you Plan to grow it. But in my opinion, the 3rd is always better as it transforms how the plant grows entirely and makes a Monster bush instead of a 2 topped tree.

I'll top on the node after the first 5 or 7 fingered leaves. Don't know if it matters, but to me it seems like a good sign that the plant is mature enough to handle it. You don't want to stress her too much too early. Every strain will respond differently though.