LST, Topping & Training: Getting More from Every Plant
Learn how to manipulate plant structure to maximise yield and canopy coverage without stressing your plants.
Why train your plants?
Cannabis plants naturally grow in a Christmas tree shape — one dominant central cola with smaller side branches below. This structure means the lower branches receive far less light than the top, resulting in smaller, less developed buds. Training techniques break this apical dominance, encouraging the plant to grow multiple main colas of equal size and maximising the use of your light footprint.
Low-stress training (LST)
LST is the gentlest training method and ideal for beginners. During veg, gently bend the main stem sideways and secure it with a soft tie or plant wire attached to the pot rim. As the plant grows, continue bending and tying new growth outward to create a flat, even canopy. The plant responds by sending growth hormones to all the newly exposed bud sites, creating multiple colas. LST works on any strain and is particularly useful for autoflowers, which don't have time to recover from high-stress techniques.
Topping
Topping involves cutting off the main growing tip (apical meristem) above a node, which causes the two branches below to become the new main colas. This doubles your top colas and can be repeated — topping those two new tops creates four main colas, and so on. Top during veg when the plant has at least 4–5 nodes. Give the plant 5–7 days to recover before topping again. Avoid topping autoflowers — the recovery time eats into their limited veg window.
FIMing
FIM (short for 'F*** I Missed') is a variation of topping where you pinch or cut about 75% of the new growth tip rather than removing it entirely. This produces 3–4 new tops instead of 2, with less stress to the plant. The technique is slightly less predictable than topping but produces more branching in a single operation.
SCROG (Screen of Green)
A SCROG involves placing a horizontal screen or net above your plants and weaving branches through it as they grow. The screen holds all branches at the same height, creating a perfectly even canopy. When the screen is 70–80% full, switch to flower. SCROG works exceptionally well with LST and topping — combine all three for maximum results. It's particularly effective with stretchy sativa-dominant strains that would otherwise grow too tall.
Defoliation
Removing fan leaves during flower improves light penetration and airflow to lower bud sites. Defoliate in two rounds: once at the flip to 12/12, and again around week 3 of flower. Remove large fan leaves blocking bud sites, but don't strip the plant bare — leaves are the plant's solar panels. A light defoliation is always better than an aggressive one.