Liberty Haze and LSD by Barney’s Farm
I’ve noticed that I’m not the only grower here that builds manifolds. Hopefully, this post will encourage you to build a canopy for your next grow!
Manifold training your cannabis plant can allow growers to have better control of their grow and in the end better bud quality and quantity. While it is true, it may take a little more work and time in the veg stages to build your manifold, but management in the flower stages is mainly leaf defoliation (removing shade leaves to expose bud sites) and branch arrangement.
Keep in mind though, not all cannabis plants are the same and may not be good a candidate or will not work (Autos) with a manifold grow. It is important to note that there are many ways of building your manifold, but the concept remains the same. To build a structured canopy where you can focus the light to your buds.
Liberty Haze - Barneys Farm
The Prime Candidate
Your lady had been vegging for about 4 weeks now and she is looking great! Lush and full with green leaves and vigorous growth. She has grown up to 6 nodes tall and has potential of being a ‘Killer Queen’. This is when you know she is a prime candidate for a manifold grow.
About week 4
The Hardest Part
Now it is time to whack her down to a T shaped plant and start building your manifold. I know right! Why would you want to whack a perfectly growing cannabis plant?! Because she is rocking with vigor growth and wants to be the ‘Killer Queen’ of your room!
I usually top the plant after node 5 and then remove everything below the 5th node branches(Keep the top shade leaves). Now you have divided the plant into 2 main branches with their shade leaves. These shade leaves will continue to bring energy to those 2 branches as they grow out.
LSD by Barney’s Farm
Manifold Shaping
The next several weeks you will be focusing on shaping the manifold with Low Stress Training (LST) by bend the branches and tying them down. Bending the branches can be tricky, and you can even snap the branch(if this occurs use duct tape to mend the break. It will heal). The best way to start your bend, is to grab the branch where you want the bend to occur and pinch it tightly. Now, while pinching tightly, use your other hand and slowly start wiggling the branch back in forth in the direction you want it to bend. You will start to feel the branch get soft and flimsy. This is when you tie her down! Continue to remove most vertical branches at the node. You want to keep the branches that are growing lateral as it will be the beginning of your canopy. I will usually grow out the 2 branches to node 5 before topping or FIM them. I will continue to remove any node branches that growing vertical.
Ready 2 Flower
The girls have been in the flower tent for 1 week. Bud sites are starting to appearing. As the plant goes into its flower stretch, your job is to guide the branches through the SCROG net, spread her out and removing any shade leaves that are blocking light to the bud site. Also, remove any new growth that is occurring under the net. The plant needs to put all of its energy into the canopy.
really good read tho. Nice job.
, I’m gonna need another grow room, or 4