Contributed by: tOkE_tHe_DoPe
Benefits of tying down: * Increases
yield
* Security
* Promotes branching (increases
bud sites)
* More sun coverage
All these are
positive attributes. Which in the long run, will
distribute light to your plant/plants evenly (Instead of
one side receiving morning light, and the other
receiving the afternoon light).
You can start
tying down whenever you want. But preferably when the
plant starts to produce branches. Tying down now will
enhance branching. Why? The sun can easily penetrate the
canopy, which will distribute light equally.
When your plant is ready to be tied down:
week 1: Start off lightly Tie
string or fish line approximately 1/3rd down from the
top. Tie the other end of the line to an obstacle on the
ground, making sure your plant isn?t straining
5 days later: Inspect growth By
now if your plant has received quality amounts of light,
you will notice your leaves facing upwards (reaching for
the sun). Your plants will try to receive as much
sunlight as possible. Obviously it would have grown a
certain amount as well; this is why you will need to
attach more line to the middle of your plant, tying the
rope down more than you did previously.
Several weeks later Keep tying
your plant down as necessary until branches start to
pierce the canopy. Leave these branches to grow.
When branches start to flower, you will have to
be cautious. Branches that get too long will not be able
to support the heavy bud it is producing. This is when
you will have to start tying the branches either down,
or pulling them up, depending on the circumstances.
Suggestions: * Make sure you
determine if your plant is female before you commence
tying down!
* Figure out where the sun is
casting its shadows before commencing. Remembering to
tie down in the direction the sun is mostly cast upon
through out the day.
Comments by:
ixnay007 Tying down has about the same
effect as topping, although with much less stress on the
plant. That said, tying down can be done during early
flowering, but if you can you might want to do most of
your tying during veg, and when you get to flowering,
you can do some minor adjustments.
When you tie down, the growth hormones
are relocated to lower branches, so you probably don't
want to be doing too much to change the plant's focus
during flowering. That said, I don't think it's going to
change all that much, but in general, trying to keep
your plants as unstressed as possible is always
good.
