Bhut Jolokia, about 6" tall, fifth node has emerged. I want to top it after the second node (remove nodes 3, 4, and 5), but is the plant old enough to take it?
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Tall enough to top?
- Thread starter SciurusDoomus
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I'd say go for it, but I'd top it at the 5th node and leave 1 2 3 and 4 on it. Then u will grow 8 powerfull branches.
Does a branch site need lots of light? The first node branches would be shadowed slightly by the third node leaves.
ÂSciurusDoomus said:
Actually to have strong bottom branches they will indeed need alot of light but when u top above the 4th branch,
the plant will put all its energy in everything underneath.
I didnt top so I have real small undergrowth but tall plants which only produce pods on the top part of the plant.
When u top u will force the plant to grow in width which translates in a broader canopy which absorps the light easier and more
evenly on the bottom part. Pod production will also be more divided over the broad canopy.
Topping after the 2nd node or topping after the 4th node wont make that much of a difference in light absorption for
the bottom branches. So it is up to u if u descide on how many branches u want on the plant.
In the pics I included u can see a plant that is not topped (the pimenta de Neyde) and the Bhut Jolokia which is much broader.
Actually the plant 'tops' itself after its reached its desired height and starts putting energy in the bottom part.
Topping is usually only done to keep the plant small in height to be able to keep it indoors and like in
the MJ growing the SCROG method (screen of green) so it has a bigger canopy surface.
Its actually completeley up to u how u want your plant to be, tall not topped or small and wide.
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Pimenta not topped at all (but where u can see where it stopped growing straight up and 'topped' itself)
and where u can see the bottom branches are struggling to keep up in height.
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the topped Bhut (topped after 5th internode) about 1.5 feet high
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The canopy view canopy here u can compare with the tiles which are 1 x 1 foot
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Greetz,
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Oli
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--Edit--Â Sorry for the poor explanation, I hope u get my point as I'm not a native English speaker and I'm sure
other people will be able to explain this better then me...
That's a great explanation. I'll top after the 4th like you said since I get 8 instead of four branches. More branches, more pods!
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Thanks
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Thanks