Understanding the effects of different pruning techniques on cannabis growth can make a huge difference in the amount of yield and quality buds produced. Pruning is a fundamental plant management process that removes unproductive or damaged growth to encourage healthier growth, airflow and light exposure.
Successful pruning allows more air and sunlight to pass through the lower parts of the plant, resulting in a stronger, denser canopy structure with high-quality buds.
Apical Pruning
Apical pruning, aka topping or pinching out, is one of the most widely used cannabis cultivation techniques by both indoor and outdoor growers. It consists of cutting the topmost growing tip to control the height of the plant, and promote more lateral growth.
By removing the growing tip, you redistribute growth hormones (auxins) to other parts of the plant, slowing down vertical growth and encouraging more lateral branching. This can produce more bud sites, improve yield and give the plant a bushier appearance.
However, this technique is a little difficult to perform properly, and some strains may not be suitable for it. For this reason, always get informed about your chosen strain before attempting apical pruning, and be aware that it can take a long time for the plants to recover from it.
In general, apical pruning should be carried out when the plant is still in vegetative stage. In this way, it will be easier to see whether the apical pruning is done correctly.
Another important aspect of apical pruning is that you should never cut the plant before it has three sets of branches. Ideally, the main stem should be cut at the base, right above the last pair of arms. This will ensure the shape of a Y-shaped branch and stimulate the production of more side buds for your final yield.
This method also reduces the density of your plant, which is useful for keeping humidity down and improving ventilation. The downside is that you will have to do a lot of pruning to keep the size of your marijuana plant under control.
LST, or low stress training, is another simple yet effective pruning technique. This involves bending the stem so that it loses its apical dominance and becomes malleable enough to be tied down with cable ties or metal screen tape.
The benefits of LST include improved air flow beneath the canopy and a lollipop look to your marijuana plant. You can also use it to remove branches that may only produce small fluffy popcorn buds, so that you have more space for the fat, resinous flowers on your plant’s top branches.
Axical Pruning
Pruning is an important process that can help cannabis plants achieve a more robust and uniform growth pattern. It helps growers remove unproductive or damaged growth, promotes greater airflow and light exposure, and enables a denser, more cannabinoid-rich bud formation.
The main goal of axical pruning is to remove branches and branchlets that inhibit growth. By cutting these off, you allow your plant to direct its energy towards the most productive areas of your garden, resulting in higher yields and higher quality buds.
While this method is commonly used in outdoor cultivation, it can also be effective when growing indoors. It is important to understand the effects of different pruning techniques on your plant, as improperly performed pruning can reduce the quality and yield of your crop.
As your cannabis plant develops, its root structure will continuously grow downwards as it searches for new substrate to feed on. This can cause the roots to coil around the bottom of your soil, creating a thick concentration of roots that may not be able to efficiently gather nutrients.
Luckily, there are several different methods of pruning that can help prevent this from happening. One method is to use an air pruner. This type of pruning uses a fan to blow air directly into your cannabis plants’ root zone, removing the unwanted growth that is blocking light from reaching the lower parts of the plant and preventing it from becoming healthy.
When using an air pruner, it is important to be cautious and not overly aggressive in attempting to cut the root system. Excessive pruning can weaken the root system and decrease yield.
In addition to this, excessive pruning can also result in the death of the plant. It is important to use a well-designed, high-quality air pruner that will not damage the plant and its growth patterns.
Another type of axical pruning involves removing leaves and branches from the bottom part of the plant. This technique is often used in outdoor cultivation because it can help reduce the risk of pests and diseases. It can also be useful when trying to increase the amount of yield and the quantity of cannabinoids produced by your crops.
Crushing
Crushing (also called supercropping) is a technique used by both indoor and outdoor growers to reduce vertical plant height. This allows the main bloom points to form a more level canopy, putting several buds at optimum light levels, making them easier to utilise for yields.
Pruning is a process that involves cutting off specific sections of the plant, which can promote a number of different effects on cannabis growth. Specifically, it removes growth that is damaged or unproductive, enabling the plant to focus its energy on healthy, productive growth.
In cannabis, pruning is a necessary part of creating a high-quality plant. It promotes greater airflow and light exposure, fostering a more vibrant plant and forming denser, more cannabinoid-rich buds.
It also removes lower growth that will shade buds and prevent them from getting the light they need to develop properly. It can feel a bit strange to intentionally cut off parts of your cannabis plant, but it is essential for good quality buds and overall growth.
Topping is another cannabis pruning technique that removes the growing tip of a marijuana plant, allowing two new lateral shoots to develop instead. It is a type of high stress training (HST) and is often used by growers who do not like the fiddly nature of low stress training (LST).
Topping is similar to fimming, but instead of removing the growing tip, you remove around 75% of it. This leaves a rough patch of vegetation below, which can then gradually develop into 4 or more new growth points.
This method is popular among many small-scale growers who are aiming to maximize their yields. However, it requires more structural support than a fimmed cannabis plant, so make sure to trellis your garden carefully.
It is important to understand the effects of each of these pruning techniques on cannabis growth before you start using them. This will ensure that you are able to achieve the best results possible for your plant. The most common and effective methods are outlined below, so pick one that suits your needs and start reaping the rewards!
Lollipopping
Lollipopping is a type of pruning technique that is usually done in the third week of flowering. This method focuses on removing lower buds to maximize bud sites at the top of the plant. This process is also known as thinning, and can be used on all cannabis strains.
This is an effective method that will help you improve your overall yields. It can also help to manage pests and diseases.
There are many different types of lollipopping techniques and it’s important to choose one that will work best for your grow. This is because a wrong approach could cause your plant to grow a lot slower and reduce your yields.
To begin, you’ll want to use a pair of pruning shears. This will allow you to quickly remove small branches and leaves without hurting the plant too much. You may need a couple of pairs to get the job done, so be sure to have a couple handy when you’re ready to start pruning.
You’ll want to focus on removing the bottom portions of your plants, which won’t receive much light. These sections can become a barrier of light to the rest of the plant, making it hard for it to develop buds or trichomes.
By removing these areas, you’re allowing your plant to focus its energy on developing bigger buds and trichomes. This will help your overall yields to increase significantly.
However, this thinning method should only be used on cannabis plants that have a canopy that is too thick and isn’t receiving much light from the sides. This will ensure that your marijuana plants can take advantage of all the nutrients and light that they are able to receive.
This will increase your overall yields and help to keep pests and diseases at bay. It can also help your plant to grow a healthier, more vigorous plant.
When growing marijuana indoors, this thinning technique can be an effective way to optimize your grow space and improve your overall yields. It’s also a good option when your grow is in a humid climate.
