I like to keep my plants nice and bushy and provide them with some extra strength through super cropping and breaking the inside of the branches. I will use my fingers and pinch off the new growth off the first shoot when it around 4 nodes high. I will pinch it right where I see the two off shoots coming in below it. In theory two more should come where the one you picked off once was. Next when those grow larger, repeat the process to the sets of two leaves and watch it double once again in sets. Keep repeating this process all the way throughout veg if you wish. When those branches begin to grow and stretch, I pinch them and break the inner lining of the stock. This will make a knot grow where you pinch improving the strength of the branch and slowing down some stretch you may have. With super cropping the my method is pinching tops, laying them over, pinching down the entire branch and bending them over very gently. I repeat this process after they heal. Through the entire veg cycle. I don’t need to tie them down this way. This method makes it possible to make the tree shaped plant, a seed typically produces, into bush and it strengthens the plant at the same time. I wish I would have documented my method this year better but I’m in flowering. Which brings me to my next point. I don’t do this method during flowering because they don’t recover as easily. So up until flower I train my plants pretty rigorously. I will upload some photos soon of the plants and branch structures. And you will be able to clearly see the manipulation of growth. If you pinch a top and it doesn’t work the way you want. Don’t be sad. It’s a plant and it will recover and you’ll get another chance to try again. Oh and if you snap something. It happens. Tape is your friend. I have used painters tape it doesn’t really matter. As long as it holds the break together. I have grown and finished branches that literally were hanging off the plant. Some how still alive. These plants are tough and resilient. Also for protective measurement. At about the time it starts budding or even before you want to start building a trellis for the plant. My next mission this year is just that. Doesn’t have to be fancy. Just get the job done, so your buds don’t fall over..
