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Grow QuestionsOutdoor growers: fim/top?

Outdoor growers: fim/top?

Shamelessbobolinkstarted grow question 9 months ago

I want to make sure to clarify that this question is only for outdoor growers with a photoperiod limited solely by the nature of the changing seasons. Should I even bother with fim/topping? Is the juice worth the squeeze? Let me know your thoughts, or even better, results

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Setup. Outdoor

Techniques. HST

Organomananswered grow question 9 months ago

After growing outdoors for 40 odd years and having tried every technique out there, including fimming and topping, I now only ever LST my plants, by bending the main stem at 45 degrees away from the sun, then tying the branches outwards horizontally. This maximises yields and does not slow the plants down like topping and fimming (which is something I will never do again). The problem with topping is that if you get high winds or heavy rains during flowering, the plants often split at the site of the topping. This never or very, very rarely occurs with un-topped plants. Topping may work if you grow in a cage or have support stakes everywhere, but then the buds rub on these and get damaged! So, for maximum yields and fastest results, just use low stress training would be my advice. In my opinion, the juice is definitely not worth the squeeze!

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Selected By The Grower

Robertsanswered grow question 9 months ago

Training always makes the plants better in yield.

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Sit_Ubu_Sit_Good_Doganswered grow question 9 months ago

fimming is topping.. it's a made up name for somethign that isn't really any different... it's purposefully damaging the plant to cause a similar reaction... except you leave 'enough' of the existing branches to heal and regrow, so you get teh 2 axillary buds and 2-3 growths from the mutiliated parts. it's inconsistent and hard to plan for. if oyu are more of a play it by the day grower that's fine.. if trying to maximize yield with X colas per sq ft, it's kinda counterproductive at times since it is not a reliable result. outside you really just have to train the plant. it is swimming in 2000 PPFD from all angles... you don'dt have to worry about an even canopy because there's no different from top to bottom unless the light is physically shielded. The sun is so far away that there is no difference if a part of the plant is 10feet closer or 100feet closer... it's the same light intensity for all intents and purposes... a few photons/sec difference, maybe a fraction of 1 photon/s, when talking about moles that are 6.022*10^23 photons/s is "nothing" (inverse sqare law lies at heart of this dynamic) most indoor techniques aimed at maximizing light on top of canopy and such is useless outside. Spread out the plant as best you can to maxmize it's entire surface area as opposed to focusing primarily on the top layer of canopy. light hitting leaves.. more of that = more yield.

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Scrubbyjimbobanswered grow question 9 months ago

The only time I don't top is if I'm uncomfortable with the timing, like if you're starting late in the season and dunno if it's got time to rebound. You'll get more on average, though that can be strain dependant. Yeah you can LST to try to break apex dominance but some plants are stubborn and don't no matter what you try. If you live in a humid area like me, single massive colas don't fair well and the uniform branches of a topped and well trained plant offer better results. Try both and decide what works for you.

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