When growing a plant, it’s normal for the main stem to grow taller & stronger than the side shoots. But what can I do besides tucking to keep the main stem under the ScrOG net at the same height as the side shoots? Because once I thread it into the next square and it’s 5-10cm above it again, it doesn’t go left or right anymore, only straight ahead in the direction I first bent it. Or do I definitely have to top the main stem?
@_Magic If you SLIGHTLY crush / squeeze it right below the tip ( but carefully ), a bump forms to heal. This slows down its growth and the rest can catch up.
It can depend on what you’re growing. If growing autos I would just continue to tuck it. It’s natural for it to want to grow up and not sideways. If you’re growing photos I would top it for sure. Topping it will make the lower branches want to grow more.
Back left is the big thick main stem. And even with pushing, bending & tying, I barely managed to get it hanging the way it is now. And honestly, I don’t think it looks like a pretty flower anymore.
We’ll see if it goes better with the next one. But gotta finish this one first.
Just seeing how beautifully it grows. And seeing what you achieve and can still improve. Great for experimenting & trying things out. At least it brings experience for next time.
In theory, it is enough for the tip of the main branch to be below the rest of the branches, not at the same height, but below. This would cause the plant to break the apical dominance of that tip and transfer it to the others.
If you place it below a side branch, the hormones should redistribute on their own to the branches higher than it.
As you can probably see, I managed to secure the main strain just above the ScrOG in the back. And take a look at the front shoot compared to it, even that one is already taller than the main strain. Which confirms your theory. Now I’ve also filled at least 70% of the ScrOG net. And the canopy is roughly level. That’s why I thought to myself, I’ll let them grow vertically over the next 1-2 days.
Yes, of course, that’s the best idea. Plus, the less you manipulate it the better because, even if it’s little stress, it does cause stress. If you see that you like the shape and don’t want to move branches or tie them, what @herr_gruen told you is what I do, which is supercropping. It’s not just for the main stem, it can be done on branches too, and it consists of crushing the stem with your fingers without breaking the skin. The idea is to fracture only the xylem (inside) without damaging the outside.
Even so, I think you have it tied down very well. Cytokinins help side branches gain strength (maybe you have algae/seaweed, which contains cytokinins). You can mix all the techniques.
I’m just afraid of damaging her or causing her too much stress during supercropping. That’s why I tied her down towards the center with Low Stress. (Loosely between 2 nodes, of course) I think I’m somehow (unlike some others here) way too cautious. Whenever possible, I try not to touch or move her. Keeping her under the ScrOG net all the time was already tough for me.
xD I mess with the poor things, but I always put extra plants in, precisely to experiment, yeah that’s where the most fun is man and then also, you have different strains to smoke, I hope the high is to your liking if you haven’t tried the strain before, I have some that are poison, I stopped smoking them because they knock you out and make you drool and it’s no fun, even if you pack a little or smoke a little, it’s too strong.
Anyway keep in mind that losing that fear and succeeding or failing will give you experience either way, in the worst case scenario the plant would lose its top and it would be like topping.
While super cropping does sound a bit extreme it can be a extremely helpful tool to have in your bag of tricks. It is something that sounds crazy but is actually a lot easier than you think once you give it a go, if you get stuck with uneven branches after they straighten up i encourage you to give it a go, its nowhere near as scary as it first seems.
Going straight into my GrowBook for the next plant. 
and then also, you have different strains to smoke, I hope the high is to your liking if you haven’t tried the strain before, I have some that are poison, I stopped smoking them because they knock you out and make you drool and it’s no fun, even if you pack a little or smoke a little, it’s too strong.
