Indoor Topping an auto to extend indoor growtime which is limited by smell. Then transfer outside.

[blackout]

So it's late in the year and my weather is terrible. I have 3 automazars outside with a few weeks left. I had to move them out after 3 weeks indoors as the smell was too bad.

I have a single dutch passion tundra plant (auto-passion#1)germinated a few days ago. I am guessing I might get 4 weeks growth before the smell is noticeable (it was 3 plants previously). I have seen people get good results from topping autos but many people say it will stunt growth.

I am wondering if this is a good thing in my case, like if I topped after 2-3 weeks it might delay growth by a week, and so I can get an extra week indoors before the smell is too bad, maybe 5 weeks indoors rather than 4. So I get an extra week with decent light, and probably better roots. I have also reduced the outdoor growtime in poor weather and poor light by 1 week. The topping will keep it lower, and I plan on putting it out in a very exposed area to maximise light, so it might want to be low & bushy.

Or do you think the topping will delay the plant overall, and I am then further delaying its finish date which would be in even worse weather & light.

When would be the best time to top it if I was to do it? or is the idea just crazy

 

[SmashedbyHashish]

Personally I wouldn't top no auto except for a super, which I've done. Yes it will stunt & it is poosible to altogether llose time & it never even finish. Imo, bad idea. Can't ya get a cheap air scrubber & some air freshener?

 

[blackout]

Can't ya get a cheap air scrubber & some air freshener?

I plan on making a proper cabinet with a good TD silent fan and filter, no time at the moment and I have to make clear out room for it, I want it for next year. I do have the Ona block pro (odour neutraliser) which did work reasonably OK, I chopped it up into a jar to maximise its surface area.

Has anybody else done a side by side grow of the same strain, topping one/some and not others? if so did you find the topped ones finished later?

 

[LUSSO]

You would probably be better off supercropping in my opinion, or even better tieing em down

 

[ripster]

Here's my Lowryder #1 I topped last year. I was very pleased with it's reaction to topping. In my opinion, topping should be done before full flowering takes place. Say in second to third week of growth.

 

[blackout]

You would probably be better off supercropping in my opinion, or even better tieing em down

I might try this, I did tie down an indoor grow years ago and was impressed.

I was very pleased with it's reaction to topping.

Very nice! do you think it delayed its finishing date? I read you also topped/cloned off a automazar trying to stunt it but it kept going, do you think it delayed its finishing date?

Due to the poor light here I think my automazars stretched a lot. So I am also thinking prolonging them indoors might mean I can get them into flowering under decent light and not have them stretch as much.

 

[SmashedbyHashish]

I think ya would a done better w/ her as far as yield, w/out topping. But again that is my humble opinoin. If I were to top an aauto, I think wise as ripster stated to do so in the second or third week.

 

[dykster]

ripster...i totally agree with ya. I started topping my autos and I am liking what I am getting.

 

[SmashedbyHashish]

There would have to be some sort a set back do to stress. Any & all recovery time would go against the yield.

 

[whatsgoodie]

Personally I wouldn't top no auto except for a super, which I've done. Yes it will stunt & it is poosible to altogether llose time & it never even finish. Imo, bad idea. Can't ya get a cheap air scrubber & some air freshener?

That's what gets me, you say "never even finish" - what do you mean by that? I topped a regular auto (FIM'd) and it's just chugging right a long, it's well past the 10 weeks (almost in to 12) it's very pointed leafy leaves (sativa like) but it grew about the height I'd of expected it to.. I'm beginning to wonder if the ruderalis gene can be bred out far enough that a plant will flower regardless of lighting schedule but will still only finish when "done" like a photo. (It's a 60DW x Jock Horror), it's also well past the 60 days or 8 weeks.. haha.