Three plants allowed. One decision above all others determines what you harvest: do you train them or not? LST, Topping, SCROG, Mainlining — the right method doubles yield. The wrong one wastes a season.
Why Training Doubles Your Yield
Untrained cannabis grows like a Christmas tree: one dominant main cola casting shade over everything below. Training breaks apical dominance — multiple equal colas develop, the entire light footprint gets utilized. Done right: +40–100% yield from the same wattage, same number of plants.
LST — Low Stress Training
Branches are bent and tied rather than cut. No stress from open wounds, no recovery time. The plant compensates by accelerating growth on bent shoots — they race toward the light.
- When to start: From 4–5 nodes, continuously during veg
- Technique: Bend main cola outward, tie side branches up until all shoots reach equal height
- For autoflowers: Ideal — no recovery stress, works within tight time windows
- Yield boost: +20–40% vs. untrained
Topping
The main growing tip is cut — one main shoot becomes two. Top twice: four colas. Three times: eight equal colas, each competing for the top of your canopy.
- When to top: After 3–5 nodes, plant must be healthy and actively growing
- Cut position: Above node 3 or 4 — clean single cut with sterile scissors
- Recovery: 3–7 days, then explosive dual-shoot growth
- For autoflowers: Only stable fast-growing varieties, only once — risky
- Yield boost: +30–60% vs. untrained
FIM (F**k I Missed)
Topping variant: only 70–80% of the main shoot removed. Instead of 2, you get 3–4 new shoots simultaneously. Less controlled outcome, but more new sites in one cut.
SCROG — Screen of Green
A horizontal net is stretched 20–30cm above the plants. Shoots are woven under the net and spread horizontally — an even, light-absorbing canopy forms. Every bud site at exactly the same height = maximum PPFD for every cola.
- Prep: Topping + LST before net for dense canopy fill
- Net height: 20–30cm above growing tips, 5x5cm mesh size
- Flip timing: When 60–70% of the net is filled (plants continue stretching in early flower)
- Best for: 4x4ft+ tents with photoperiod strains
- Yield boost: +50–100% vs. untrained
Mainlining / Manifolding
Hybrid of topping and LST by Nebula Haze. Goal: a symmetrical base with 8 (or 16) equal-length colas, all branching from a single node. Each cola is identical — same distance from root, same light exposure.
- Top at node 3, remove all lower growth → 2 shoots remain
- Tie both shoots horizontally, symmetrically
- After recovery, top each again → 4 colas
- Repeat for 8 or 16 colas
- Extra veg time needed: 3–4 weeks — photoperiod only
- Yield boost: +50–80% — not the heaviest, but the most uniform
Which Method for Which Setup?
- Beginner, autoflower, small tent: LST — forgiving, no recovery, instant results
- Intermediate, photoperiod, single plant: Topping + LST — best combo for solo plant grows
- Advanced, photoperiod, 4x4+: SCROG — maximum yield per m², professional results
- Perfectionist, time available: Mainlining — maximum uniformity, reproducible, aesthetic
Full tutorials: Grow Weed Easy SCROG | Mainlining Guide
Watch training grows in action in the Growing Channel on CannabisDocu.
