Topping, FIMing, and Pruning RESULTS Thread

[slade122]

I wanted to start a thread on the End Results of Topping, FIMing, and Pruning. I see lots of threads on how to top, why to top, and so on, often with pictures before and after, but less common is an end-season result shot. This thread is meant to help people make up their mind of exactly when, how, and why they should prune based on personal goals and needs.
 
Please post up 3 pictures if possible, one before the selected pruning method, one after the initial prune, and then one X number of months later. Please state when you topped the plant (ex: 8 weeks after sprout), What your method was for pruning the plant (Top FIM, or Leaf removal), as well as how many months after topping the last picture was. The variety used is also important to include.
 
Some questions you can answer:
-What was your initial reasoning for pruning?
-Did you think your Top/FIM/Prune method was worthwhile?
-Was it beneficial to you, your plant, or both - and why? (Branching habit, ease of pod collection, pest reduction, etc)
-Would you do it the same again? If not, what would you have changed?
-Did your method help or hinder your ability to overwinter?
-How much extra time is needed (if any) for your Topped/FIMed/Pruned plant in your opinion?
-Any comparison information if you left a plant unpruned.
-If you overwintered a Topped/Fimmed/Pruned plant - how did it perform in the second year?
 
...And of course any other comments or suggestions are welcome as well.
 
 

 

[1968dart]

You need to take the approach on a plant to plant basis. Some plants will never Need to be touched they grow to perfection. Others need some pruning to keep the leaves off the soil and to open up the plant for ventilation.  Others just grow straight up and don't branch out so a topping with make them y and give you more production. That's what I've learned so far.

 

[nzchili]

Hi there, ok iv got one
 
Reason for pruning;
This plant got sick, I believe, after I watered it with some bad water which I believe contained way too much salts in it. The plant went all droopy (including the stems), and lost all of its leaves. I cut it down so if it did survice, it would not try to sprout a branch out of every node. Which would put too much stress on the plant, and take forever for it to grow if it ever decided to.
 
Here is droopy plant before "topping"

 
This pic would be a few weeks after I cut it down Id guess. I pruned it just after the Y. There was no substantial lower growth before I "topped" it

 
 
another few weeks later;

another few weeks later and in a new pot;

 
and here it is maybe a week ago..its first pods are just starting to change colour

 
My take on it is the plant is probably more wind resistant now...I dont think its something I will purposely do. IMO there is no doubt it adds time to first pod harvest..may be a good option for those with a long growing season.
 
edit; iv got quite a few plants at different stages that have been topped one way or another.(mostly from way too strong foliar spray killing the terminal bud) I have one that's about 2 inches tall that deserves a photo...will try get that later.

 

[juanitos]

I did this experiment but didn't take pictures of each individual at every stage..
here's a super technical drawing xd http://i.imgur.com/af0rMuT.png
 
-What was your initial reasoning for pruning?
to slow the plants down while indoors
also to create more branches / nodes, because i heard more nodes = more produce
 
-Did you think your Top/FIM/Prune method was worthwhile?
yes, i did top and fim and they seemed good
 
-Was it beneficial to you, your plant, or both - and why? (Branching habit, ease of pod collection, pest reduction, etc)
Yes bushier plants seemed more sturdy overall (but larger number of weaker branches individually) I didn't stake or support them at all.
plants seemed to produce close to the same ammount.
 
-Would you do it the same again? If not, what would you have changed?
yes, simply to keep plants small and branch out instead of just getting really tall
 
-Did your method help or hinder your ability to overwinter?
did not affect overwinter
 
-How much extra time is needed (if any) for your Topped/FIMed/Pruned plant in your opinion?
A month after topping to recover (at about 8 weeks old)
 
-Any comparison information if you left a plant unpruned.
Unpruned plants had a larger single stock that was in some cases easier to topple over because the canopy on top was big and caught the wind. (this is in 5 gal non rigid bags)
 plants seemed to produce close to the same ammount.
 
-If you overwintered a Topped/Fimmed/Pruned plant - how did it perform in the second year?
n/a

 

[slade122]

I did this experiment but didn't take pictures of each individual at every stage..
here's a super technical drawing xd http://i.imgur.com/af0rMuT.png
 
-What was your initial reasoning for pruning?
to slow the plants down while indoors
also to create more branches / nodes, because i heard more nodes = more produce
 
-Did you think your Top/FIM/Prune method was worthwhile?
yes, i did top and fim and they seemed good
 
-Was it beneficial to you, your plant, or both - and why? (Branching habit, ease of pod collection, pest reduction, etc)
Yes bushier plants seemed more sturdy overall (but larger number of weaker branches individually) I didn't stake or support them at all.
plants seemed to produce close to the same ammount.
 
-Would you do it the same again? If not, what would you have changed?
yes, simply to keep plants small and branch out instead of just getting really tall
 
-Did your method help or hinder your ability to overwinter?
did not affect overwinter
 
-How much extra time is needed (if any) for your Topped/FIMed/Pruned plant in your opinion?
A month after topping to recover (at about 8 weeks old)
 
-Any comparison information if you left a plant unpruned.
Unpruned plants had a larger single stock that was in some cases easier to topple over because the canopy on top was big and caught the wind. (this is in 5 gal non rigid bags)
 plants seemed to produce close to the same ammount.
 
-If you overwintered a Topped/Fimmed/Pruned plant - how did it perform in the second year?
n/a

 
 

Hi there, ok iv got one
 
Reason for pruning;
This plant got sick, I believe, after I watered it with some bad water which I believe contained way too much salts in it. The plant went all droopy (including the stems), and lost all of its leaves. I cut it down so if it did survice, it would not try to sprout a branch out of every node. Which would put too much stress on the plant, and take forever for it to grow if it ever decided to.
 
Here is droopy plant before "topping"

 
This pic would be a few weeks after I cut it down Id guess. I pruned it just after the Y. There was no substantial lower growth before I "topped" it

 
 
another few weeks later;

another few weeks later and in a new pot;

 
and here it is maybe a week ago..its first pods are just starting to change colour

 
My take on it is the plant is probably more wind resistant now...I dont think its something I will purposely do. IMO there is no doubt it adds time to first pod harvest..may be a good option for those with a long growing season.
 
edit; iv got quite a few plants at different stages that have been topped one way or another.(mostly from way too strong foliar spray killing the terminal bud) I have one that's about 2 inches tall that deserves a photo...will try get that later.

These are both exactly what I'm looking for, even if you don't have pictures, feel free to answer questions and put in your two cents.
 
Thanks for your input Juanito, loved the picture.

nzchili, that is a remarkable recovery. Great looking plant now, too!
 
To future posters: this isn't just about success stories, failures are welcome as well - whether it be chopping the plant too low or a disease due to pruning, etc.

 

[juanitos]

Thanks for your input Juanito, loved the picture.
 

 
here u go
 
these are topped, you can see, lots of branches start at the bottom.

 
 
this is not topped, see long stalk then branches out.