Topping Cannabis Plants

What Is Topping?

Topping is a high-stress training technique where you remove the main apical meristem (the growing tip at the very top of the plant) to redistribute growth hormones to the lower branches. When the main tip is removed, two new main stems develop from the nodes below the cut point, creating a two-main-cola structure. Topping twice creates 4 mains; three times creates 8. Combined with LST, topping creates a wide, multi-cola canopy that maximizes light utilization.

When to Top

Top your cannabis plant when it has developed 5-7 nodes and the main stem is at least pencil-thick at the cut point. Too early topping can stunt small seedlings; too late means the plant has already invested heavily in apical dominance. The ideal window is during the 3rd to 5th week of vegetative growth for most strains. Autoflowers have a shorter window — top early (node 3-4) if at all, since autos have a fixed lifecycle and need time to recover and fill out before flowering begins.

How to Top: Step by Step

Step 1: Sterilize scissors or blade with isopropyl alcohol. Step 2: Identify the newest growth tip (apical meristem) at the very top. Step 3: Cut the stem just above the top two leaf nodes — removing the growing tip but preserving the node below. Step 4: Monitor for 5-7 days of recovery — some temporary drooping is normal. Step 5: Two new main shoots will develop from the remaining top nodes. Step 6: Allow new growth to establish before any additional stress (additional topping, LST, or defoliation).