Topping Low Ryders

[Muddy Waters]

Well, I've got another experiment going on with my low ryders.  Didn't mean to start another one, but some of my goats got out of the pasture and nipped to tops off two of my Pakisatan Ryders.  I'm really getting to hate those goats.  Fortunately both plants had two sets of fan leaves so it didn't kill them.  One plant immediately started sending up new branches right at the top leaf node.  The second one took longer as the fan leaves on that plant got a little chewed up but it's finally coming along.  There is a third plant that the goats didn't get and it's doing great and will probably start to bud this week.  I really don't know what to expect from the other two.  It looks like it will certainly extend it's veg time but by how much I don't know.  So we'll see what happens and if it works out that they produce well it might be something to consider in the future. 

Anyone want a couple goats?  

[ConnoisseurofManyThings]

Na no goats for me . . .  However, im very interested in the outcome of topping these autos. Glad u still have one to compare it with when harvest time comes. By the way, when is that?

Hopefully no more goat problems 

[Muddy Waters]

They should be ready around the 2nd or 3rd week of October, at least the one that wasn't topped.  The other two will probably be later, I'm guessing by about 2 weeks.  Far as I know no one here on CHQ has tried topping low ryders so I'm sure a few people will be interested in the results.

Got the goats penned up and on hay so they won't be getting out for awhile.  Got one who is an escape artist and she's taught the others how to get through the electric fence.  Went and got enough hay yesterday to keep them penned until this grow is finished.  Sure I couldn't interest you in a couple of them?

[ConnoisseurofManyThings]

Lol...Naaahhhhhhhh...

You love your goats...Dont allow one instance to mess that up..lol

[duts]

That would be interesting if it did extend the veg time and allowed you to get a bigger plant out of it. Have you tried LSTing or any other training on autoflowers?

[Muddy Waters]

That would be interesting if it did extend the veg time and allowed you to get a bigger plant out of it. Have you tried LSTing or any other training on autoflowers?

No, I haven't tried any other techniques.  Since they don't get branches with multiply nodes like full size plants I don't know if there would be any benefit to LSTing them.  I've seen two basic growth patterns.  Either a single stalk, sort of like a bud on a stick, and the other where there is the main stem with a bud of top and multiple smaller buds eminating from the lower nodes.  Since they are so short it might be hard to effectively bend them over for LST.

The one that wasn't topped is about 8" high now and is just starting to bud.  It looks like it will also produce about 8 more buds from the lower nodes.  If so, it will probably be the most productive one I've grown so far this year.  The two that were topped are still producing new growth from the lower nodes and probably won't start to bud for another week or two.  They are both about 5" tall.
 

[Muddy Waters]

Really starting to like these Mi5 plants.  The two that were topped are both about 15" high and budding nicely.  The stalks are about 3/8" in diameter, much bigger that the regular autos.  The other one is 26" high and loaded with buds.  Just looked at the date on my previous post and see that it's grown almost 2 feet in 3 weeks.  They seem to be very vigorous and so far insect free.  I did move them so that they are up off the ground.  Hopefully those caterpillars that got my other plants will leave them alone there. 

One of the topped ones has branched out into 3 branches and the other one has 4.  I did decided to LST the one with 3 branches.  They are now long enough and have about 4 bud sites on each branch, so it may work out good.  So that gives me one au natural, one topped only and one topped and LSTed.  Can't wait to see how they do.

Also sold a goat today.  She was the worst trouble maker and the one who taught the others to go through the electric fence.  A good little goat but glad to see her gone.

[Muddy Waters]

The Mi5 that I LSTed is looking good.  The sun finally came out this afternoon and it's already bending back up at the ends and the side buds are all facing up.  Found some spider mites just starting on one.  Got their web off and sprayed the shit out of everything.  Those little bastards aren't getting these plants.   

[duts]

So Muddy whats your opinion on the LST for these? I'm trying to decide if I want to LST my Easy Ryder tonight since now the pH is normal its doing some flowering stretch, but I don't know if there's enough time for it to be beneficial. I feel like there's still some time since its finally cold enough for me to put the HPS back on and overnight I can already see a big difference.

[Muddy Waters]

So Muddy whats your opinion on the LST for these? I'm trying to decide if I want to LST my Easy Ryder tonight since now the pH is normal its doing some flowering stretch, but I don't know if there's enough time for it to be beneficial. I feel like there's still some time since its finally cold enough for me to put the HPS back on and overnight I can already see a big difference.

I haven't tried LST on a regular low ryder.  These Mi5s are different, a lot bigger, a week longer to flower, and looks like longer in flower.  Already at 10 weeks and looks like at least 3 more, maybe 4 more.  Big fan leaves are just starting to die off.  Where most of the other autos I've grown mostly had leaves with 3 fingers, the fan leaves on these are mostly 5 fingered and some 7.  More like a miniature full sized plant.  Even the stems are thicker, about 1/2" in diameter.

I've seen two basic type of regular autos, the ones that look like a bud on a stick, and the ones that get secondary branching, mainly around the bottom.  If you've got one of the ones with the secondary branches, it may work.  Don't think it would hurt to give it a try.