Plant Power: Mastering Topping and Training 🌱✂️

🌿 Ready to elevate your gardening game? Welcome to the transformative realm of "Topping and Training" – a key strategy to boosting plant growth and yields!

Decoding the Top & Train strategy: What You Need to Know 🌿💡

Elevating Your Gardening Game

Topping your plants involves carefully snipping the uppermost part of your plant's main stem which is providing hormone growth to the Apical Stem controlling the rate of your terminal bud's growth. These hormones occur naturally in the cells and roots within your plant. When your plant is "Topped," it changes the distribution of these hormones - redirecting them from a vertical shoot expansion to a lateral expansion by removing the main source of the hormone's producer - the Apical/Terminal Bud. Training complements this topping technique by gently guiding the stems and leaves to appropriate directions, ensuring uniform light exposure.

When to Top: Timing is Everything 🕰️🌱

A Good Time for Lateral Growth

So when is the optimal topping time? During the vegetative stage, and before flowering begins, aim for the sweet spot: when your plant has developed 3-4 sets of true leaves. Botanists and seasoned growers call each of these sets of leaves "nodes" and these should be easily distinguishable. Waiting for 3-4 nodes assures the plant has the proper health and growth needed to withstand any potential stress the snipping may cause.

Different plant species exhibit various node arrangements such as - alternate, opposite, or whorled, so keep a close eye on how your plant species is behaving/growing in this important stage. FRield offer's Remote-Monitoring solutions for any grower at any size to assist with this should you not be present. The purpose of this strategic move is to encourage lateral growth which sets the stage for increased flower sites. More flowers equals more yields!

When to Train: Shaping Your Plant's Success 🚂🌿

Control Plant Height and Shaping its Future

Once your plant has recovered from topping it's time to start training. It is important to let the plant fully heal from the snipping before continuing in order to reduce stress and encourage healthy growth. Once ready, gently secure stems and leaves to encourage a horizontal growth pattern, controlling the height and ensuring every part gets light. This strategy is called "LST" or Low-Stress Training. This includes very light pinching and rolling and helps relax/loosen plant fibers in the stem just enough to allow it to train it to the direction you desire.

There are many more training techniques, some less stressful than others. A few of these include but are not limited to:

• Tie-Downs: Using wire or a similar material to secure your stems and leaves to a nearby stationary surface.

• Trellis Installation: Using a fiber net or similar materials to create a grid where your plant's leaves can be managed into an even canopy, also referred to as 'ScrOg,' (Screen of Green). These can also be constructed with wooden lattice and/or metal materials. FRield takes pride in providing educational and informative support should you want to experiment with any alternative materials.

• Espalier/Bonsai: an ancient technique of pruning and manipulating the growth of the entire plant to form a specific shape or form. This is best suited for plants that have aesthetic qualities and also require space conservation.

• Manifolding: Also known as 'Mainlining,' is trimming and selective pruning to achieve a near-symmetrical pattern of growth, allowing for enhanced light distribution and even distribution of plant nutrients.

• Cropping & Super-Cropping: This is a higher-stress technique that involves bending, pinching, and squeezing the stems of your plant without them snapping. This increases growth in affected areas, and has shown to facilitate higher nutrient uptake.

Success in Your Hands: Troubleshooting Tips 🛠️🌱

Overcoming Hurdles

Facing issues? Snapped a stem? Don't fret! Common problems like over-trimming or excessive bending have solutions. Snapped plant stems can heal and recover just like animal bones! Tender care and tape go a long way, and installing a cast or splinting your stem (with a bit of root hormone, or organic honey on the wound) should provide the support it needs while it heals back together. FRield has experience helping plants recover from stress events - so if you have any questions on how you can rehabilitate your plant, reach out to us on our website 24/7.

Don't be afraid to adjust your approach if your plant shows signs of stress! Many plants are resilient, and a little bit of troubleshooting goes a very long way. Some stress indicators can be seen as:

• Leaf Discoloration

• Other leaf abnormalities (curling, translucence, wilting, pests, etc.)

• Stunted Growth

• Premature Leaf Shedding

• Reduced Flowering or budding locations

• Dark brown or Blackened Roots

• Necrosis or dead/dying areas of your plant

Want more information on what stresses plants out, or want to discuss the latest technology in Smart-Growing? Follow FRield on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and visit our website FRield.net for the latest information and updates to keep your plants happy and increase your yields! Happy growing!