Topping, LST, and the Flat Canopy Advantage

Left alone, cannabis forms one tall cola with shaded lowers. Light hits the top hard and fades quickly, creating larf below. Training redistributes hormones and light so more tops reach that prime zone, turning “some A, lots of B/C” into “mostly A.”

Top above the fourth to sixth node once the plant is vigorous. This splits energy between two mains, slows vertical sprinting, and invites lateral growth. Always use sterile scissors and make clean cuts to avoid ragged tissue.

Gently bend mains outward and anchor them with soft ties at the pot rim. The target is a flat, even canopy where each top sits in the same light. Adjust ties every few days as growth surges. If a branch resists, warm it gently between your fingers to make it pliable, then bend.

Use plant-safe tape for minor splits and bamboo or tomato clips to guide angles. Avoid hard wire that can girdle stems. Check tie points weekly; stems thicken fast and can grow around ties.

Do major training in veg and the first 10–14 days after flip. After that, the plant transitions into flower building. Heavy manipulation later can stress the plant and cause foxtailing or reduced density.

Remove leaves that block airflow in the interior and fans that sit directly atop top sites. Leave plenty of panels to power growth. The combo of LST plus modest defoliation is more effective than either alone.

A well-trained plant stacks nodes tighter, shares hormones more evenly, and finishes with uniform tops that dry and cure consistently. Trimming is faster, quality is higher, and you use your light’s footprint efficiently.

Soft plant ties, bamboo stakes, tomato clips, grafting tape, and a small step stool so you can work at canopy level comfortably.