Manifolding

[Damngrower]

So this is my 5th grow. My last 2 have averaged 2.5 oz per plant under a 250w hps in soil. I've been using a scrog net for training and its worked OK. Below is an example from the last grow.

I've made some upgrades to my tent, mostly adding an air cooled reflector which has given me more control over the temperature. In that it gets above 30 much less

This time round I'm trying the manifold method to see if I can increase my yields. I'm growing 2 Urban Guerrillas from Freedom Seeds. It's a Zkittles and GG#4 cross. Also as I have a little extra room this time I've got a widow from the same seedbank called White Witch on the side. Just for fun!

[Damngrower]

Step 1!

[Damngrower]

And step 2. Now to keep the tops even and relax!

[crucialbunny]

Impressive!

[bboyfromwayback]

I can get more yield in a shorter amount of time running a scrog but a well performed manifold just looks cool. Plus it makes maintenance, defoliation and trimming after harvest so much easier

[Damngrower]

Thanks! I noticed last night that I had topped one of them at the wrong node but it's sorted now!

I have been wondering how manifolding will yield compared to the scrog. It is certainly less work! I'm aiming for 8 big colas whereas my scrog attempts have yielded many more but of varying size. Having seen the plant in the tutorial hit six under a 250w hps at 2 feet tall I feel I have much room for improvement!

[Damngrower]

Thanks, I hope they are as good as advertised! If this goes well then I've got some Ogkz from Humbolt to give the same treatment!

[bboyfromwayback]

A manifold will usually give you bigger buds overall although not all strains are suited for this technique. I have one mother plant from bag seed that still produces popcorn buds even after a manifold. They’re not larf, they’ll all be dense but spread out.

[Damngrower]

Cool, that's good to know. This strain seems ideal for it but ultimately there is only one way to find out. I just want to break 3oz per plant 😂

[Damngrower]

Quick photo update.

A few days since the second topping and they're going great! Anyone else name their plants?

[Ckbrew]

I usually grow plants in pairs, named Bud and Extract.

[Covid420]

I'm doing mine a little different but my step 1 was just yesterday. Second branches are ready to top already even. Growth not stunted whatsoever. They want to grow badly

[Damngrower]

Looking good!

[Damngrower]

Quick photo update, my girls are 2 days in to 12/12 and stretching nicely. I may have let them get a little taller than I initially planned but I've got room. Under the 250w hps Im planning for 12 inches of light penetration so will likely trim everything below that line at week 3.

Had a slight accident with the white witch, lost a limb due to heavy handed training 😂 she's a freebie so I'm not too sad about it.

[SoOrbudgal]

Aww the witch lost her broom handle......she'll be just fine and those other arms of hers will grow stronger. Plants look great

[Shankemdirty]

One time on my manifold i was bending one side of the main stem and it snapped only hanging on by its outer skin but i used electrical tape to hold it in place while it healed and it healed right up and still had a great harvest just a thought next time you break something you might be able to fix it if you get to it in time. was googling mad posts to see if i could save it and was reading alot of posts about people saving alot worse.

[Damngrower]

I did try to save it with tape but it was too severely damaged. We live and learn😂

[MeEasy]

I'm trying manifold for the first time and I just wanted to share the link that I'm using for instruction. Because it's on GWE I'm pretty sure you've seen this but just in case you haven't ....

https://www.growweedeasy.com/manifold

[SoOrbudgal]

I have not attempted it fully yet myself i get close but not a good manifolder yet. I don't know why it's feels like i'm skinning a rabbit? I got jittery and quit LOL but i will get over the hump. You guys are so good with these things.

[Damngrower]

Yep I totally understand that feeling!! Though now I've been through it once I expect it to feel a little less weird next time!

[Damngrower]

Yep followed those steps for the two Guerrillas, thanks though 👍

[Old1stTimer]

I followed every step to a t and so far the results are great but I just started my 8th week of veg and the colas are well formed but they don't seem to be growing upward maybe 1/2" a day if that. Have any ideas? Light is 110W (from wall) Candyland strain topped and mainline, mother earth Coco/Perlite, ff trio and Calimagic, 3gal fabric pot

[Damngrower]

Well I'm no expert but I'll offer what little experience I have had in that sort of scenario. 8 weeks of veg is looooooong. My girls had about a month and are about 40cm tall. Strain plays a part but I'd say you are definitely experiencing slow growth. When that has happened to me in the past it's been due to low temps during lights out or due to wpm, but you'd see that.
I can't say I see anything wrong with the plants and you've done a lovely job with the manifold 👍
I use an Hps setup myself but I know that LEDs have different requirements as far as distance from the plants, maybe the lights need raising to encourage a bit of stretch? I hope this is useful!

[Damngrower]

Incidentally, what sort of heat does your lighting set up throw off? I guess more accurately how much hotter does inside get compared to outside the tent?

[USMCnoviceMedical]

I use all leds as well and to be honest 110 watts from wall is a bit low. You need more light. I started with some weaker lights like that in the beginning and experienced similar growth. Look up the light and check ppfd. That's real important with these leds.

The three I use
All kind.
L300 actual draw 220w
K5 xl750 actual 430w
X2 CGL actual 750w

[Old1stTimer]

Tent is at a fair 74 degrees lights on daytime mostly. 8 degree warmer outside of tent. Led is not hot at all I have to run a/c in apartment to keep the 72-74 stable inside the tent. I also water with nutes once a day but in coco I dont see that as a problem right now. the light is at 18" maybe I should move it higher? will the plant actually seek the light to get closer or will it suffer not having enough?

[USMCnoviceMedical]

Move it as close as you can till it stresses the girls.

[Old1stTimer]

Tent is at a fair 74 degrees lights on daytime mostly. 8 degree warmer outside of tent. Led is not hot at all I have to run a/c in apartment to keep the 72-74 stable inside the tent. I also water with nutes once a day but in coco I dont see that as a problem right now. the light is at 18" maybe I should move it higher? will the plant actually seek the light to get closer or will it suffer not having enough?

Im also investing in a light in a day or two that will put out 390 actual watts then i can push for 500 using both lights

[USMCnoviceMedical]

Above all make sure there is a ppfd chart that shows the amounts of light given. Dont trust there coverage specs they all try to show the veg coverage only as the plant doesn't need as much light then as when flowering.

[MeEasy]

I'm trying manifold for the first time to. These girls are 5 weeks old from seeds transplanted once I just top dressed them with flower nutes meaning I'm one week from switching to flower. The last picture is one that doesn't want to grow up (mutant) it has never been topped but has multiple 11 finger leaves her nodes are so close together they touch I'm starting to think the branches are going to grow around then above her main you can see them around the sides. I have 2 blurples think 230w together and a sf2000 205w all actual draw. I keep my lights at about 30 inches until I get the second multi fingered leaves then I stay around 25 inches until the switch to flower I let the girls grow to the lights until they're around 16 inches away where they stay until harvest. Last harvest from 7 plants I got think it was 25.9 ounces I'd have to look at my grow sheet to be sure if not it's 26 something hopefully I'll better that this time with manifold definitely beat the one before at under 10 that's before the sf2000

EDIT = Sorry I think I ended up with 6 plants by the end last time, I lost one that hermied

[Damngrower]

They look great! A real neat job!

[USMCnoviceMedical]

Absolutely beautiful