Should i lst

As a result, most of the growth concentrates on the central stalk. When you utilize LST, however, you eliminate this focal point and provide a base for a level canopy and multiple colas. The consequence of this is more bud per plant! In general, it is a bad idea to try and cut corners by using wire or string to hold your plants down. Typically, these materials are too harsh and could damage the stems.

There are soft plant ties on the market for a few bucks that are specifically designed for the job. The LST method consists of bending the plant as it grows. You tie down branches that are becoming too long. This practice makes it easy to put the ties through the holes and around the branches. Experts recommend pre-bending the stems before you tie them down to decrease the risk of snapping.

You may also want to remove some of the most significant fan leaves. Otherwise, they could continue to block the light to lower bud sites even after LST. Also, please note that you will need to implement training as your plants become larger and bushier.

Low-stress training is an ongoing process, so bear this in mind before you begin. Experienced growers say you should top plants down to the third node.

You should end up with two main colas that split in the same area on the stem. When picking the stem you wish to bend, make sure you analyze it first to ensure it is flexible. If you suspect the stem could break, look for an alternative.

Next, consider the type of shape you want your plant to grow in. If you have pre-drilled holes in your container, you can easily tie the stem inside them. Ultimately, the idea is to keep all stems the same distance from the light.

Therefore, you need to bend the tallest stems down continually, so they are at the same level as the others. Make sure you have several soft ties ready. Even if you choose not to top the plant, you can bend it in the direction you want. LST is most commonly performed during the vegetative period when the shoots are pliable and the plant's growth can be more easily directed. That being said, low-stress training can also be used during the flowering phase.

Bending stems during flowering can help ensure even exposure to light. For growers looking to redistribute the plant's energy from many growth sites to a few, the first couple of weeks of flowering can be a good time for low stress training. LST is generally not initiated on plants that are mature and fully flowering.

Constant LST, however, throughout both the vegetative and early flowering phases, can help keep mother plants healthy and capable of producing robust clones. It's a good idea to begin low-stress training as soon as the plant is in the vegetative state and has established several robust nodes. When the shoots and main stem reach a length where they can be bent and fixed, LST can be easily carried out and will yield the best results.

Waiting until later in the vegetative or flowering cycle can become problematic as the stems and shoots can become too rigid to bend. Autoflowering cannabis plants grow rapidly as they do not require a change in light to commence flowering. High-stress training methods can cause problems for autoflowering strains as their two-to-three month life cycle leaves little time to recover from damage. Low-stress training methods, however, represent an ideal way to manipulate autoflowering plants and maximize their yield.

Maintain a flat, level branch structure. Vegetative growth will eventually stop when the plant is putting most of its energy into flowering.

Minimal adjustment is required after this point — apart from keeping shade away from key areas. It can be beneficial to remove small, lower growth as this helps improve ventilation through the canopy and prevents infestations or infections due to foliage being in contact with soil. Bending branches: Young growth is easier to bend than older growth.

Do not rush to get branches horizontal, do this in stages. When a branch is first bent, growth will be slowed. Foliage will re-orientate towards the light then eventually start to grow.

LST again once it grows another 3 inches or so. How to secure branches for LST? Adopt a method that is strong enough to support the plant during flowering and allows access to manage the growing plants, conduct cleaning and other maintenance:. Gardening wire or landscape stakes: This method is effective during the early growth stages soon after topping. To help you, we have gathered all of our knowledge and put it together in a way that is clear for you to understand, and easy for you to apply.

Experience level: Beginner. When to start: In final pot, after 5th node. Space needed: 2' by 2' per plant, or 3' by 3' if you want to push it.

Low Stress Training Autoflowers : highly recommended. In general, low-stress training is any kind of cannabis training technique that involves bending your branches in different directions in order to increase your canopy space, the amount of light your plant receives, and ultimately, increase your yields. Instead, LST is meant to be gentle and you are not supposed to break plant tissue when doing it. Some people like to grow their plants in a spiral shape ; others prefer to pull their side branches down in a Christmas tree shape ; and some, like us, prefer to train their plants sideways.

The point of all of them is to grow your plant horizontally instead of vertically so that it gets more light and you end up with not only a higher yield but also more and bigger top colas with none of that popcorn bud shit.

LST cannabis plant after 2 months of growth. BudTrainer tip 1: do not use thin strings or wires to tie your plants since they will cut through the epidermis the outer skin , which will limit the ability of your plants to transport sugars and thus to grow. Thin wire garden ties VS rubber-covered garden ties. Just keep some grafting tape or duct tape with you in case you have to glue a branch back together. Image by Gardening Know How. BudTrainer tip 3: when choosing which branches you want to train , make sure that you pick the stems that are still soft and bendy.

If they appear hard and woody they are likely to crack , and sometimes you will not be able to recover from that damage. Soft tissue versus woody tissue: always choose soft tissue to train.

When: Right away. NOTE: fabric pots are better for your plants and the environment! With fabric pots, the roots of your plant are always growing from the inside out, which makes them much stronger and ultimately allows your plant to yield more bud.