Topping

Topping is typically performed during vegetative growth once the plant has developed four to six nodes. Using clean, sharp scissors, the grower cuts the main stem just above a node, removing the newest growth tip. The plant responds by redirecting growth hormones to the two branches immediately below the cut, which then develop into two new main stems. This process can be repeated on the new branches to create four, eight, or more main colas, depending on the grower's goals and available space.

Topped plants produce a bushier structure with a more level canopy, ensuring that light is distributed more evenly across multiple bud sites rather than concentrated on a single cola. This typically results in greater total yield. After topping, the plant needs a recovery period of about one to two weeks, during which growth slows as the plant heals and redirects its energy. Topping is not recommended for autoflowering strains, as their short lifecycle does not provide enough recovery time.