Training Your Clones

Training is the art of shaping your plant's structure to maximise light exposure, airflow, and ultimately yield. Clones are ideal candidates for training because they are genetically identical to the mother — you know exactly what you're working with.

When to Start Training

Wait until your clone has fully rooted and established at least 3–4 nodes of new growth before applying any training. Stressing an unrooted or newly rooted clone will set it back significantly.

Low-Stress Training (LST)

LST involves gently bending and tying branches to create a flat, even canopy. This is the safest and most beginner-friendly method.

• Use soft plant ties or garden wire with rubber coating
• Bend the main stem gradually — never force it to a sharp angle
• Tie down to the pot rim or a trellis net
• Adjust ties every few days as the plant grows

Topping

Topping removes the main growing tip, forcing the plant to develop two main colas instead of one. This is a high-stress technique — only perform on healthy, well-rooted clones.

• Cut cleanly above the 4th or 5th node with sterile scissors
• Allow 5–7 days recovery before any further training
• The result is a bushier, more symmetrical plant

FIMing

FIM (F*** I Missed) is a variation of topping that removes about 75% of the new growth tip rather than the full tip. It produces 3–4 new tops instead of 2, with less stress than a full top.

Screen of Green (ScrOG)

A ScrOG net is placed above the canopy and branches are woven through it as they grow, creating an even, horizontal canopy that maximises light penetration.

Training Tips

• Always use clean, sterile tools to avoid introducing pathogens
• Never train a stressed, sick, or newly transplanted clone
• Give recovery time between training sessions
• LST is always safer than HST for beginners