HELP! How exactly do buds start to form?

[Macadellic]

Good day and blessings to all,

So I'm only a few days into flowering...and I have definitely noticed the switch! So I mainlined my plants for fat colas. Not to be redundant but ive trimmed growth tips and left behind the leaves as the plant grew to get my main branches. (That's what I was supposed to be doing right...?) Now that it's switched to flowering, should i still trim growth tips and leave the main stem?

If ive beeb doing the technique wrong at all also please clarify.

Thank you

[Toker1]

I leave about 5 growth tips under the top center one. Really depends on strain and light capability. I chop if they are existing in the shadows of bigger colas.
buds grow from these sites, but far down they don’t get enough light and will suck up the plant’s energy trying to maintain. The smaller buds will reduce overall yields.
I wouldn’t chop any more growth sites At this point. Looks like a very minimal amount are left on top now. You should get some rock solid buds though.

[Macadellic]

Thanks so much for the input. So have I potentially reduced my total yield? I will take your advice and leave the girls to grow.

[Toker1]

Yeah. Kinda looks like it. Lesson learned.

[CaptainWiese91]

Nice thread and questions!
I have the same problem or questions actually.
I definitely need 3-4 more weeks in veg on mine. But sometimes I get confused when and where to remove the lower grow nodes. (On my main stems)
so for now I just let them grow, I’m done with the last topping now, and LST every day and adjust every day also.
And I’m thinking just before I flip to 12/12 I can maybe se which ones to remove and which to keep!
Thanks for the answer Toker1