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burnme420 posted an update in the group
3 weeks agoAsk a Grow Question Okay, so I am trying to learn what I am doing wrong. I am trying to employ LST, but my plants always come out looking like a Groot hand sticking up. However, when I see the pros online do it, there is this distinct cross pattern, with layers of opposite facing branches. The only thing I can think is they are splitting the stalk and bending each half in a different direction, but that seems drastic. Maybe its topping in a way I don’t understand, I top at the 5th node up, but it doesn’t do that. I also only top once.
Any advice? First pic is my usual configuration, the second is what I am talk about with the pros.
Sasquatch, oldestschool and 4 others10 Comments-
Are they FIM’ing it?
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@GuppyGirl Nope (I don’t think), I chop the top two node after the 5th node. From there I bend it over and hold it down with hooks.
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The technique you’re trying to achieve is called mainlining.
I’ve never done it but I have done heavy LST on my current girl.
Can we see pictures from the top and different sides?
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@ZoomyCat First is my most recent. The next is my first try, which is about to be harvested. So, they start out looking like 1, and then end up looking like 2. I will look up mainlining, but I think that is the splitting, and I don’t have the chops for that yet. I get good spread, I figure 10-20 cola sites is about what I see online from others, and my current method achieves this, but it puts a lot of directional pressure on the plant when the tops get heavy. I have to brace them, and it seems like my stems are weak.
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@burnme420 Mainlining involves toping the the plant so you get 4 of the lower branches growing out the sides and training it as you’ve shown above.
So it is 100% the technique you’re looking to learn. 420 scene has a video on it where he makes it look simple but its not half as simple as people try to make it seems.
I can tell you that you’re on the right path with what you’re doing you just need to keep the stakes going and keep it growing at an even canopy level. Like I said I’ve never done any topping due to running autos. However this is the work I did on my plant to get the canopy I’ve got going on with a ton of cola/sub-cola sites.
Branches will want to grow up when you clip or pin them down and you just need to keep up on training the branch as it grows. Untie the training spot and tie it again at another part of the branch.
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If you aren’t looking to top your plant and want to learn LST to get a big full canopy like mine I can easily teach you that. I’ve got pictures of the entire process I used to do what I did.
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@burnme420 One thing I noticed is you likely need to trim the bottom branches so you end up with the 4 they have in the picture. One reason I went with LST only is because Mr Canucks Grow said he got far higher yield with LST only on autos in particular.
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I’m thinking those clips would make some difference in my LST, I know they are cheap enough for a pack of them on amazon. I do like the symmetry of mainlining tho.
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Shaping a plant is intimidating to a lot of growers. You’re only limited by your imagination and the plant’s natural structure. You can bend and cut them to your will. Timing can’t be taught like technique as vigor plays such a large part. It’s about planning ahead and knowing what’s going to happen in the future. When to do something is based on vigor like I mentioned before.
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