Low Stress Training ~ LST'ing with hardware and wieghts - GreenPassion.org - Dedicated to Medicinal Cannabis Cultivation and Education

jangel · #1 (**permalink**) 06-24-2008, 02:06 PM

Hi Folks. I have been working on this for a while and thought I would make it more readily available to those interested.

My theory is to make the main cola bend over as in traditional LST'ing but without tying strings or drilling holes, etc. In my opinion this is much easier to do this way. This is to make the side branches as tall as the main cola and therefore have those bushy plants with all colas we all strive for. From what I have read, it is better to leave the main cola growing and get the others to reach for the sky as well, (although there are many opinions on this) so essentially you have several "main colas" on all your branches.

In traditonal LST'ing you bend the main stem around gradually, from 12 oclock, then 3, then six on the clock, etc. I have done the same here, but it is hard to see that. What I have found is that you can easily do this IF you do it gently and DO NOT put the full wieght of what you are using on the stalk of the plant. If you put the wieght, on the dirt inside the plant, or on the table, with JUST enough wieght to keep the stem in the position you wish, that you can place it in with your hands, then your plant will do the rest. It is a process, slowly taking the main stem in a circle and will give you a bushy plant.

For this I have used chains, thin and thick, of all sizes. I have used wire with bolts tied to it. I have used the cover off wiring from our electrical upgrade. It does not matter what you use, the limit is your imagination. It is the balance that is held by the wieght and the plant, that does the job. The trick is to have JUST enough wieght to keep that branch or stem where you want it and NOT to break the branch. You can feel this once you have done it a bit. I have broken a few so don't panic if it happens! IF it is not broken right off, you can fix it and it will heal. I will do that part last.

Okay. I hope you like pictures 'cause I got a ton!

jangel · #2 (**permalink**) 06-24-2008, 02:09 PM

PLEASE any one have any comments or questions please post 'em!

jangel · #3 (**permalink**) 06-24-2008, 02:12 PM

Now we will follow plants through this process. Here is the first one.

This is 12 from a to j.

jangel · #4 (**permalink**) 06-24-2008, 02:16 PM

Here is 13.

jangel · #5 (**permalink**) 06-24-2008, 02:19 PM

More 13.

jangel · #6 (**permalink**) 06-24-2008, 02:23 PM

Here is 14.

jangel · #7 (**permalink**) 06-24-2008, 02:26 PM

More 14.

jangel · #8 (**permalink**) 06-24-2008, 02:30 PM

Here is a pair of plants I did together with a long chain. The wieght of the chain keeps the branch down, but resting the extra chain on the table takes all the extra wieght off the stem and only adds enough wieght to hold the branch as you want it.

jangel · #9 (**permalink**) 06-24-2008, 02:36 PM

Here are more shots of 15.

jangel · #10 (**permalink**) 06-24-2008, 02:51 PM

If you happen to crack or split a stem first off DO NOT PANIC! This can even have a good affect on the growth, so no worries! I keep a roll of electrical tape with me, even when planting outside as it is perfect for this use. It does not stick to the stem of the plant, only sticks to itself and is not difficult to remove once the plant has healed.

BUT REMEMBER YOU MUST REMOVE IT. IT CAN KILL THE GROWING AND EXPANDING STEM ABOVE IF IT IS NOT REMOVED.

Here we go. I have included a pic of a tree that had string on it and died. This is what happens if the tape is not removed.

jangel · #11 (**permalink**) 06-24-2008, 02:57 PM

Sorry, here is the tree one.

jangel · #12 (**permalink**) 06-24-2008, 02:59 PM

Any questions or comments please add to this.

Hope this helps someone out there and that you find it interesting.

Peace.

Pappy · #13 (**permalink**) 06-25-2008, 01:32 PM

Outstanding! I haven't done it this way, but similar. Also, I sometimes bend the tallest stems until it cracks and lays over. As long as it's done gently, and the stem doesn't break off, the bend will heal and the cola will reach for the light in a matter of hours, but the overall height is reduced. I do this to keep the canopy even. I guess I'm just getting too lazy.

Very nice pics with great detail. Thanks Jangel.

Pappy

jangel · #14 (**permalink**) 06-25-2008, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pappy

Outstanding! I haven't done it this way, but similar. Also, I sometimes bend the tallest stems until it cracks and lays over. As long as it's done gently, and the stem doesn't break off, the bend will heal and the cola will reach for the light in a matter of hours, but the overall height is reduced. I do this to keep the canopy even. I guess I'm just getting too lazy.

Very nice pics with great detail. Thanks Jangel.

Pappy

Thanks Pappy! I appreciate that very much. There is a name for cracking the stem like that but my grey cells just can't think of it! I know vid called it something. I will add more to this as I have a couple more I am doing this to and want to show how they are when they flower. It is a lot of fun! I think I want to try bonsai too. I have done that with evergreens but not mj. It is all learning!!!

P.S. This is called Supercropping. Thanks whoever let me know that, that I have since forgetten! LOL! Must be a stoner! I looked it up and it was Framster. Thank you very much!

barrelhse · #15 (**permalink**) 06-25-2008, 07:43 PM

Angel Baby, love your method. I've been doing it for years- I usually put an S-hook over the branch then add "jewelry" ( nuts, hooks, keys-anything!) . After a while I move it further out on the branch to get a horizontal grow. I find it works best if the plant is staked first to keep it from leaning from the weight.
The method of stem-cracking is actually done by pinching the stem between thumb and forefinger and crushing it slightly, not enough to open it, but enough so you'll feel it give way inside. The theory is that the plant will stop vertical growth while it heals the stem. It can be done multiple times to the same plant, but not on the same spot. I'm unsure if this is done only to keep the plant short, or if it also encourages growth below the pinch. Maybe both-?
I have an NL x Shiva that went in 12/12 on June 1. It was a beautifully shaped plant, but since showing flower it shot up a center 14" above the rest, with only one node and the top. Seemed like a good one to "lay over", as you described. It was very co-operative, folded in half at 90 degrees and didn't split.
Have fun- that's the whole point!

jangel · #16 (**permalink**) 06-25-2008, 08:33 PM

Thanks very much barrellhouse! It is fun and easier for many people I think than trying to drill holes etc. And it works. Great info about the pinching. I will have to try it, although the one I almost broke in half is a good test! LOL! See how she flowers.

Any other thoughts you can think to add to this, please feel free. It is all about sharing knowledge and making it work for one another. And the easier the better in my books! Why reinvent the wheel?

Peace.

ISO2BWELL · #17 (**permalink**) 06-27-2008, 04:37 AM

Jangel,

I found your idea interesting, and since I had several plants (3 in particular) that were in dire need of being tied down, I gave the method a shot.

Some of these plants have really shot up once they got under the HPS..and I have tried to maintain the light at the optimum distance. The bench is 24" tall, as I use it for the ebb/flo tray too, so tall plants are a pain...but these are looking very nice, so I'm more than happy to accomodate their height...

Being a good American sorta redneck, I turned to one of mans best friends...his socket set..there I found all I needed for weights, and assorted sizes and since I have triplicates (or more) of most sockets under 1", I grabbed about 20 odd sizes all under 3/4" and down to quite small to accomodate the perfect bend..

Those went into a used 5" netcup, along with a couple dozen pipe cleaners. These will be coming in handy before long..

A socket for every need..LOL! I found on both of the plants in the pics that it took about a 1/2" socket at the right spot to get the bend I wanted, a nicely supported curve. today, Iw as able to take the 1/2" off and replace with a 3/8" size, as the heavier weight was no longer needed.

By using the pipe cleaners to attach them, it is easy on - easy off for changes. These things have a million uses besides cleaning the bowl on your fav. bong..

This method also seems much less stressful to the plant, and today it was very apparent the plant was not displeased, in fact she had turned her leaves all around, and also turned the tip of the top straight up towards the light...damn...this is gonne be fun!

Thanks Jangel for this

IDEA!

ISO

jangel · #18 (**permalink**) 06-27-2008, 08:57 AM

Hey ISO! Yes, isn't it easy? So much easier than tying string and such and trying to figure where to tye that! And the plants do adjust very quickly and all the side shoots just take off in a day or so. It takes no time for the plant to add hieght to those side shoots and turn all thier leaves to the light! Thanks for the props. I am so glad it helped you sweetie.

And thanks for adding to the list of things possible to use. I don't think there is a limit to this way of doing it. Hell, you could use anything for this.

Keep adding to the possibilities peeps! It works, and it is pretty easy so tell us if you try this and what you use!

the.fatman.cometh · #19 (**permalink**) 06-29-2008, 10:11 PM

Very good thread, very informative! I'm gonna have to master this technique while I am still stuck with small grows indoors. Turns out I'm gonna have to wait to get an armoire to start the trainwreck cross. Oh well, it's not that far off..
Sorry, I got a bit off-topic, one thing that I can add to this, is that if you do snap a stem or branch, honey(organic) is an excellent salve. It helps bond the stem together as well as helping to heal the break. I can't remember which book I read that in, but it works like a charm.

barrelhse · #20 (**permalink**) 07-03-2008, 01:24 AM

After talking about stem-pinching I gave it a try. I have 5 female AK48 in flower. They vegged so fast I put them in 12/12 at 19 days. I Pinched 2 and left 3 to grow high, I arched them over w/ some weights today. The pinched plants slowed way down in vertical growth, and seem to be bushy both above and below the pinch. It looks interesting so far. No pics, ha ha.