Supercropping or: How I learned to stop worrying and Save The Canopy

Okies, first off, this is me trying to help.

Full stop.

NOT telling anyone what or how to run your garden.

If you have decided to plant Autoflowers you either know, or are finding out, you are not in control. This is the base argument feuling the ongoing conversation as to Autos being advisable for first time growers.

I am not here to add to that conversation.

There are various reasons we invariably find ourselves in less than desirable situations.

Growing Autos increases the mathematical odds of this exponentially.

Training is pretty key for most cultivars. you CAN train an Auto like a Photoperiod plant, it's just not advisable for basic biological reason of time to "heal" from whatever you are doing, be it topping, pruning, or any stress really. That said, they do have some resilience and there are certain situations where a larger picture can be considered. I will take whatever growth the plant wants to do, but canopy evenness is key for getting most from your lights and in turn gets you best medicine as terpenes develop, yada yada yada....

I, like everyone else, have had a growth spurt sneak up on me- working on another part of garden, Gnomes are slacking, whatever reason we ALLLLL have been, or will be there at some point-

These 2 got away from me- Skinny tall one is a Tangerine Dream, shorter sister is a Gorilla Glue-

Note the tops- tall pointy center main stalks higher than surrounding canopy-

the Tangie on left is within 1' of my light which is at tallest I can get it in this 6'9" tent. It was 54" tall at day 54 from sprout-

...the basic idea of supercropping is twisting the stalk with your fingers. slowly, methodically both hands twisting opposite directions 6, 12, 18" apart. It's like a massage in a way. A Chiropractic sort of massage, small snaps may be heard, you are NOT snapping- gentle but firm squeeze, bend, twist-

You want the plant to "bend" at a certain point, but you have to work 6-8" both directions from the point you want the bend. Keep doing it, it took me 20-30 minutes to get the Tangie where it was loose-

I got about 16" to bend over, I switched positions with the Gorilla Glue to put it by the tent wall to have a lean point-

for the first day or 2 I had to use the clip to keep it upright. The stem did not break, just got loose enough to need that binding. I took it off after a couple of days-

The stem separates, but stays together-

The point is, you can maneuver it after you do this- It will stay growing and very alive, you just now have to manage this extra step-

The Gorilla Glue is a little more delicate example

Split, but pliable, bendable and NOT sticking up above the canopy-

OK, before and after-

After-

But protect that canopy, you ride out till harvest moving the top as needed to not hinder anything else.

This is an OPTION- not saying it's any gospel.

Speaking of which- Mr. Grow It last Summer put out a discussion video with one of his buddies Pigeons 420 I am linking- It is well worth your time and is much better advice than I can proffer.

View my post here as much more "what can be done" rather than "What YOU should do"-

OK, it's Sunday and that Cheese tent is waiting-

Stay frosty Growmies!!