Hello stoner friend, it’s good that you are experienced, that technique is a mainlining and manifold.
Mainlining refers to a training technique growers use to encourage the development of several large, uniform colas—not just one.
The manifold is how we achieve this, by splitting the cannabis stem and creating a Y-shaped hub. Doing so diverts nutrients and resources to several branches.
The technique is not only straightforward, but requires little extra effort. As long as you know how and when to mainline cannabis plants, you can do it in minutes. And, once you’ve created your central manifold, you can replicate the process on newer growths, essentially doubling the number of colas every time. Why have one central cola when you could have 4, 8, 12, 16 or even 32.
###. Creating a Manifold
Tha manifold is the central structure of the mainlining process. We’ll go through the process of creating a manifold, then explain how you can utilise it several times throughout the vegetative phase.
Step 1
Wait until your seedlings have developed between 5 and 8 nodes. It’s essential not to top seedlings too early—otherwise, they may not recover. Then, cut the entire plant down to the 3rd node (3rd pair of leaves from the base).
Step 2
Remove all additional growths and vegetation below the 3rd node. Your plant should have a central stem with two large fan leaves branching from the very top (Y-shape).
Step 3
With your two main shoots prepared, it’s time to tie them down—gently! Young cannabis plants are fragile, and it’s easy to snap new growths. The aim is to train shoots horizontally, parallel to the ground.
Secure the other end of your plant ties or cable ties to the edge of your container to keep shoots on the straight and narrow.
3. Mainlining
If performed correctly, cannabis plants should start to recover almost immediately. And, with the central manifold created, the roots will now split nutrients and other essential resources between the two shoots at the third node. If you want to maximise yields, we recommend creating at least eight colas.
With your knowledge on manifolds established, it’s time to learn how to go about mainlining.
Step 1
Wait until each branch of your manifold has grown four new pairs of leaves. Then, similar to before, top either side down to the 3rd node.
Step 2
This time, however, you aren’t going to remove all of the growth below the third node. Instead, only remove the second node, leaving node one and three intact.
Step 3
Repeat the process on the other side, and you should have eight shoots in total (two pairs of leaves on both of the main branches).
Step 4
Uniformity is key to keeping plants under control, so ensure you adjust the ties to keep both central branches tied down, and the base of the newly created shoots parallel with the ground.
You want your newer stems to grow to the same height, so check back twice a week and adjust accordingly.
Step 5
With your plant topped and tied down, it’s merely a case of fulfilling their needs with water, nutrients and light while waiting for them to grow. Once you’re happy with the height (will vary based on your tent, grow op etc.), flip them to flowering by changing the light schedule to 12/12.
Step 6
If you’ve followed all the steps outlined above, well done! You’ve successfully mainlined your plants, and in a few weeks, you should have eight dense colas to harvest and enjoy. During flowering, you can continue to prune and manage plants as you normally would.
12 Likes
5 Likes
Hi and Hallo @GGGROW and @ShaggyGrower.V2 ,
That’s a very interesting Thread!
I’m hold the line and will take from Time to time.
Grow on all
2 Likes
My Mack and Crack Auto automainlined… Lil Bonsai Siamese Freak she is.
1 Like
Epic tutorial amigo, gracias.
1 Like
Hay all… just looking for some advice and what do you lot think. This was done with an autoflower as an experiment to test some boundaries and to see what would happen.
This plant was topper very early and recovered with no issues. As of flower the buds formed but never thinkened out very straight and thin but smell amazing.
Was this because of the topping and it messed with the grow cycle or anyone got some idea?
Appreciate any input thanks!!
1 Like
I’d say yes it is. My Mack and Crack auto self topped and never amounted to more than cannabonsai with only 12g total dry wt.
1 Like
Will the smoke be the same as in quality but just low quantity? Buds looking and smelling goood started getting pinky purple colours coming out. Also im assuming i should give it a bit more time?
3 Likes
It was good smoke just very $+#-ing little
1 Like
Well @GGGROW ,
autoflowers are already limited in terms of growth anyway.
If you also restrict photosynthesis by pruning during this phase
(there are far fewer leaves than normal),
this will of course also have an impact on the development and size of the plant.
The quality is most likely the same as an unpruned plant,
only the quantity of the harvest will be less.
Thank you for your contribution, it was very interesting to follow the development!
4 Likes
Update? I want to see the recovery how long until she was thriving again.
1 Like
This was her on 27th oct
This was 31st oct
She had recovered well and was standing stong on 29th and 30th. Checked her yesterday and bit droopy poss a little over watered, definitely perk up in the next day or two.
Also doing another one, just playing around with it.
Same again blue kush
Has had a little tidy up few leave removed and pegs reposition to open her up
2 Likes