When it comes to the effects of different types of pruning on cannabis yields, there are some things you should know. Whether you’re trying to maximize your crop’s productivity or just trying to maintain a healthy environment, knowing how to properly prune can make a difference.
Low stress training
Using Low Stress Pruning on your cannabis yields can make a huge difference. It can boost your yields by as much as 50%! But it can also be risky.
Low stress pruning refers to a variety of techniques that are designed to manipulate the shape of your cannabis plant. The goal is to increase the amount of light that your plant can use. This is done by bending the top branches downward, which allows the lower ones to get more light.
When used on the plant during the flowering stage, this method can be very effective. A large canopy helps to distribute light to every branch. In addition, it allows for a more even development of flowers.
LST can be applied to both indoor and outdoor cannabis plants. However, it is not recommended to use this technique during the bloom phase. If your plant has already started to grow and develop, this practice may have adverse effects.
LST is also a great way to maximize your plant’s harvest. However, you should not expect to see an astronomical increase in your plant’s yield. Your yields will depend on your skills as a grower, as well as your genetics.
Some of the most common forms of low stress training include the Tie-down and SCROG methods. These methods use a variety of tools to achieve their goal. Typical tools include string, wire, stakes, or retractable lanyards.
Another method is to utilize a screen of green. The screen of green can be an effective tool to help with both low stress training and maximizing your crop.
Although it is a bit more work, this method is ideal for serious growers. With the Screen of Green method, your plants will grow horizontally, allowing for more even growth and greater yields.
Apical pruning
The effects of different types of pruning on cannabis yields have been studied. These include apical, topping and lateral shoot pruning.
Apical pruning was one of the most important pruning techniques. This is because the cutting forces the plant to release auxins. As a result, side and lower branches grow stronger. It also produces resinous flowers and a large cannabis bush.
Unlike apical pruning, topping and lateral shoot pruning did not increase the total CBD yield. They did, however, show higher biomass of inflorescences and leaves. However, there was no difference between the pruned groups and the control group in the mean CBD concentration.
Topping generated more top terminal inflorescences and more side shoots than the control group. There were also more sprouds and new slip sprouts on upper layers of the plant.
T plants showed higher dry weight and total CBD yield. Similarly, L plants had higher yields than the other two groups.
For the experimental factors, the results indicated that apical, topping and lateral shooting techniques were efficient at changing the structure and biomass allocation of the plant. The T cannabis genotype had a rhombus shape with three long branches and terminal inflorescences.
The T genotype also had the highest CBD yield at the optimum HT (nine weeks of flowering). In contrast, the C genotype did not produce a higher CBD yield.
Several strains of pure Indicas do not respond well to apical pruning. Sativas are naturally vigorous and show good response to pruning.
A number of Indica strains take a long time to recover after apical pruning. If you are planning on growing cannabis in your home, you should avoid apical pruning.
Topping pruning
Topping is one way to control your cannabis plant’s growth. The process involves removing the top part of the main stem to encourage lateral and bushier growth. It also allows more light to reach the crop, which can lead to a better final product.
Depending on the species of your cannabis plants, you can do the topping process at various stages of the plant’s life. Typically, you will do the topping at the third week of the vegetative stage. This will help you push the plant into the flowering phase without any problems.
In order to avoid any adverse effects, it is essential to plan your topping carefully. Make sure that your marijuana plant has at least four to six nodes. For optimum results, topping should be done in conjunction with fimming.
Getting the right ratio of top to bottom will have a major impact on your yields. You should also make sure that you are using the best tools to ensure a successful outcome.
Using sharp tools will help you make clean cuts. Also, a good tip is to use a 45-degree angle when making the cut. Avoid making too many cuts, which can cause stress and stunted growth.
Another way of trimming your plant is to remove the dead leaves. Defoliating is a good idea, as it improves airflow and prevents mould from growing on the plants.
There are three main types of topping you can use. One is the LST (low stress training) method. This method involves lowering the height of the floral sites so that more of the plant can be positioned in the sweet zone.
Another is the apical pruning method. This is more of an art than a science. However, it is a powerful technique that gives you simple height control.
Leave seedlings untouched until they have at least 5 nodes
When it comes to growing cannabis, you need to take good care of your seedlings. This includes supplying them with the nutrients and moisture they need. Also, the right lighting and temperature are important. You don’t want to let cold temperatures and low humidity discourage your plants from growing.
One of the best ways to maximize your yields is to allow your plants to mature at their own pace. That means you don’t need to do much pruning until around July. By that time, your plants should have a decent root system.
Topping is a technique that allows your plant to develop a more bushy and aesthetically pleasing look. A topped plant looks more elegant and can produce more colas. It can also help your plant produce bigger buds.
Topping is a little bit like cutting back your plant. The process involves removing the topmost part of the main branch. In some cases, you might remove more than one branch. However, the best results come from a trimmed back plant with a substantial root system.
The trick is to wait until your plant is ready to handle a little stress. You can do this by increasing the moisture and nutrients provided to your plants. If you decide to leave your plants alone, the process will go a lot faster.
The best way to do this is to make sure your plants receive 18 to 24 hours of sunlight every day. Otherwise, your plants will go into a vegetative growth phase. After this phase, your plant will automatically switch to the flowering phase. During this stage, your plants will put more energy into producing more nodes and branches.
Leaves untouched until they have at least 5 nodes
Pruning is one of the most effective techniques in manipulating cannabis plant growth. It helps to maximize yield and improve the quality of the crop. Several methods are employed in pruning, such as apical pruning, topping, and fimming.
In this study, the effects of different types of pruning were compared on cannabis yield. This was done through a global F-test. The effect of pruning on CBD concentration was also compared.
The top fraction was found to contain higher CBD concentration. However, the results showed that the total CBD yield was not significantly different between the control and pruned groups.
On the other hand, the mid fraction was found to contain a lower amount of CBD. This was attributed to shading by the higher branches.
Among the three groups, the T plants accumulated the highest inflorescence biomass and dry weight. They also showed a trend towards higher yield.
The top terminal inflorescence was found to contain more biomass and shoots than the control plants. Also, they exhibited higher spatial distribution of inflorescences per area.
The CBD concentrations were not affected by pruning. However, the top fraction of plants had a greater CBD concentration than the low and mid fractions.
A decrease in CBD was also observed at the lower inflorescence position. Interestingly, the total CBD yield of the T plants did not differ from the control group.
Another study also reported that CBD concentration was higher in the top portion of the plants. Similar architecture modulation was also observed in fiber-type and drug-type cannabis.
Pruning methods can also be used to encourage branching. While fimming is widely believed to be less effective, it can still allow the plant to grow tall.
