Vegetative Growth: What Techniques Do You Use?

Hello everyone,

I’d like to open up a discussion focused on the vegetative stage and how different growers approach it. This is one of the most important phases of plant development, and I’m interested in hearing the variety of methods people use to shape strong, healthy plants early on.

There are a few key areas I’d love to get your input on:

Training Techniques

What methods do you prefer during veg to manage plant structure and encourage better yields later on?

* Low stress training (LST)

* Topping or FIM

* Super cropping

* Defoliation strategies

* Or something else entirely?

When do you usually start, and what determines your timing?

Nutrient Management

How do you approach feeding during vegetative growth?

* Do you follow a strict feeding schedule or adjust based on plant response?

* Preferred nutrient ratios or products during early vs late veg?

* Any signs you watch for to avoid overfeeding or deficiencies?

Canopy Development

What’s your strategy for building an even, productive canopy?

* Do you aim for a single main canopy or multiple tops?

* How do you manage spacing and light penetration?

* Any techniques you’ve found especially effective for uniform growth?

Here are some links from our blog on the website that may help provide more context and guidance:

Transitioning Nutrients From Vegetative To Flowering Phase
How To Encourage Strong Stems And Leaves In Early Veg

Looking forward to hearing how others approach veg development and what has worked best in your setups. Different environments and styles often produce very different results, so all perspectives are welcome. If you are new, please feel free to ask any questions that might help you on your grow Journey.

I top, lst, supercrop just before flower, and do a pruning mid veg and close to end of veg.

I am a scheduled feeder. I top dress so I feed the soil rather than the plant. I keep it simple, just use Pride Lands.

I like to do a little bit of all of it also like @IndicaDaDavida coco/perlite and everything canna

The last time I grew, this is something I knew nothing about, if I was to again…

Where would I even start?