Does Topping Really Increase Yield?
It’s often said that topping your plants will increase yield, but I’m realizing that’s not necessarily the case.
The idea is, by pruning the main stem, you create better light penetration through the plant canopy to the lower buds so that they fill out more. Having low light penetration can result in airy, lightweight lower buds.
But does topping really allow for better light penetration?
As a practice, I topped my plans for well over a decade working as a medical cannabis provider. But it’s been a while since I’ve topped a plant and I’m kind of enjoying it.
I’ve been letting them grow in their natural form because my ceiling height allows for it and because I love seeing how each phenotype develops its own unique form. What I’ve noticed is that my lower buds receive plenty of light - so much so that I can’t tell in a jar which buds are the lowers.
The plant’s natural form allows it to spread out like an upside down umbrella under the main stem. As the buds get heavy, the branches tend to fall away from the center, which allows for better light penetration to the lower buds.
That was the case for this Banana Candy Krush, the lower branches filled out and fell away from the center, allowing plenty of light penetration to the lowers.
Not to say one way is right over the other, there are all different manners of growing this plant and I celebrate them all. Grow on!