FIMing and Topping Cannabis Plants: When To Cut And When Not To

Once that happens, your plant will likely start producing more buds than leaves. You should aim to cut the main stem back about 1/8th of its current length. After the first set of buds is produced, your plant’s trunk will look thicker, requiring more cuts throughout the season to keep it strong. Cutting the stalks down too early could weaken the plant and prevent it from getting the nutrients it needs to grow properly.

Topping is the opposite of filming and involves trimming branches and leaf tips. Removing these smaller parts of the plant gives the plant room to expand. Topping your plants may seem counterintuitive; however, it is one of the best ways to ensure a solid flowering cycle.

Removing these smaller tree parts encourages the plant to focus its energies on flower production instead of branching out. While it may sound odd at first, giving your plants more room will result in them reaching their full potential.

Factors to improve the yields of your flowers

1. Fiming and Topping Cannabis Plants

Fiming and topping cannabis plants is one of the best ways to improve the yield of your flowers. By removing the oldest leaves first and then working your way down towards newer buds, you can maximize the amount of bud produced while minimizing the loss of flower potential.

Removing older buds helps stimulate the growth cycle of younger ones, which makes the plant produce more fruit. Topping helps increase the bud and leaves’ size, making the flowers look fuller and more appealing. An excellent tip to remember is not to remove the buds until they start turning brown or become dry. If any leaves turn yellow, these should also be removed.

2. Watering Your Weed Plants

Watering cannabis plants is important in maintaining a strong, healthy and productive plant. You should water your plants only when needed and not before or after. When watering cannabis plants, use a watering can and apply about 2 inches of water at the base of the plant.

Make sure that you water each pot separately. Be careful when using a hose because most hoses deliver high volumes of water that may cause damage if misapplied. If you have access to rainwater, collect it in buckets and pour it slowly over the plant to avoid overwatering it.

3. Feeding Cannabis Plants

Cannabis plants require different types of food to thrive and grow properly. Most people feed their plants with nutrients in liquid form, but some prefer solid forms. Solid foods are easier to measure than liquids and can be added daily without worrying about spillage.

All three types of feeding methods -- nutritional supplements, liquid feeds, and solid feeds -- work well together and complement each other. Nutritional supplements are often used to boost specific vitamins, minerals, and protein levels in plants. Liquid feeds nourish the plant’s roots, providing an abundant supply of nutrients.

Solids feed the plant’s stems, leaves, and blossoms, supplying them with the necessary nutrients. Different feeding products vary greatly in quality, depending on how they are manufactured. Look for brands that have been certified organic and natural.

4. Temperature Control

Temperature control is an important factor in growing marijuana efficiently. There are many ways to keep your plants warm and cool, including heating mats, heated benches, and growing tents. When growing indoors, the temperature should be between 68ºF and 78ºF (20ºC - 25ºC).

Marijuana cannot survive temperatures below 50°F (10ºC) nor above 85°F (30ºC). It is preferable to give your plants slightly warmer temperatures in the evening and cooler temperatures in the morning.

5. Light Exposure

Light Exposure is extremely important in determining the productivity and appearance of your plants. For your plants to successfully convert sunlight into usable energy, they must receive a certain amount of light per day. Too much or too little light is detrimental to your plant’s growth rate and causes them to grow poorly.

Growers who follow the 18/9 rule will ensure that their plants receive adequate amounts of sun throughout the entire day. Plants grown in an area with 12 hours of direct sun each day will be exposed to 9 hours of darkness each night. If you live in a climate where winter days are longer, your plants may need less light than those raised in climates with shorter winter days.

6. Pollination

Pollination is the transfer of pollen from a plant’s male reproductive organs onto another plant’s female reproductive parts. Pollen is carried in silken hairs called "pollen baskets." Pollen is released in small amounts, making it difficult to obtain sufficient quantities unless plants are pollinated artificially.

Pollinators, especially bees, visit cannabis plants to deposit pollen on the stigmas located on the pistils. You should implement pollination techniques carefully; otherwise, unwanted cross-pollination may occur. Cross-pollination can result in lower seed production, inferior product quality, and genetic mutations.

7. Drought Management

Drought management is crucial to keeping your plants healthy and producing well. As previously mentioned, marijuana plants require specific amounts of water to function effectively. If you notice that your plants have begun looking pale and droopy, chances are they lack appropriate moisture.

When watering your plants, add enough water so that it runs gently off the side of the pots and does not pool around the bases of the plants. Avoid pouring water directly onto the tops of the plants. If you choose to water your plants by hand, moisten the soil surface thoroughly before adding water to prevent runoff.