Topping alternating node branches?

[Need2Know]

I've already topped this photo plant once. The 5th node branches were parallel when I topped it the first time. Now the two branches after topping are coming out with alternative nodes. I'm wondering if I top for the second time above the pictured second node, will I then get two colas producing shoots from these two shown? This plant was grown from seed and is outside.

[OldManGrower]

Really interesting question!
My reading says you will. I have never done it but I am going to mainline my next grow and it's pretty much the same thing. Be aware that doing this will slow down your plants progress for a short while. Also once the new nodes show, I would clear out most of any growth lower than your first split.

If I'm wrong, let the comments fly!

[Need2Know]

Thanks OldManGrower for the input. Everything I read on topping tells me to top once and then top a second time. The ones who say this always picture the branches being parallel at the nodes, even the second topping. I never see instructions for when the nodes only have one branch with one leaf, like a clone. I mean, how do you top a clone? Hopefully someone on here knows the answer and is willing to share the info.

Hey, by the way, I got the same deadhead sticker on the gooseneck of my repainted red 40 year old mountain bike. Ha ha. It stands out to other Americans over here in Europe.

[SoOrbudgal]

LOL i'm looking at my clones now and your right about where to top them. Now i did top what i think were the main stalk but i'm not gonna do anymore topping. These are photoperiods and they'll be going outdoors anyway. I mainly did it cause they were getting too tall for my tent, now they'll most likely be under 6ft i think? I'm in Oregon so there's a few growers here LOL shit the whole town smells of weed.

[Need2Know]

Hi ya SoOrbudgal. So you think I should do the second top after the second node pictured then? At this point the branch will divide into two new branches? When I lived in the states I use to go up to northern Calif for my weed. They used to have the greatest parties around October with prizes for the best buds.

[SoOrbudgal]

I'm not saying to do it I'm just saying i've only ever just topped the main stalk of my clones i've never done multi topping. Yes back in the 80's i attended one of those gatherings.

[Gator]

Green crack clones, topped once, getting ready to flip to flower

[Allenpro]

Is that a clone?
Clones always have off set nodes

[No3odiesShad0w]

That's what I've noticed too.

[Allenpro]

Thats why I stopped mainlining clones, the uneven node spacing makes it less pretty,

[Smallgrow]

I’ve topped photos 2 and even 3 times with the expected result of increasing the number of tops , but never had the offset situation you have.
Interesting situation

[Need2Know]

Wow! You would think with all the cloned plants around there would be a quick answer to this question of how to top alternative nodes producing a single leaf. I'll give it a few more days to see if its been done and what to expect. If in a few days no one respondes, I'll top this plant after the second pictured node and repost later the results on this thread. Thanks for all the interest.

[Allenpro]

Clones will have node spacing like that but if its not a clone you have somewhat of a freak growing there, Since each side of the node is a bud site so it may balance out the stacking a bit or that is what I have noticed with clones anyway

[Need2Know]

I've never studied Cannabis plants like I have as of late. Of note is that alternating nodes happen to both plants from seeds and clones as a sign of maturity. Clones have maturity from when they were cut from the parent plant. I guess if you want to top a plant from seed so that you get parrallel growth after the first topping, you need to do it when the plant is very young because further into the veg state, the nodes start becoming alternative growth. If you cut a clone where two nodes are close together, then both will grow out into two branches. I thought I would pass on this info... Let me know if I'm wrong.

[Allenpro]

I always top and I have never noticed uneven nodes at any stage of growth but I always see it in new growth with clones.. Sometimes inconsistency is consistent

[Need2Know]

I remember on my last plant when I cut the buds off, they were alternating. I never thought about or noticed when this started to happen when growing. One guy in my searches said seed plants go from paralell to alternating nodes around node 5 or 6. The current plant is outside. I want a couple big tops and to keep the height lower than 7 feet. The shape of the plant is going kind of barrel shaped after the first topping rather than X-mas tree. I'm tying all the braches down at different heights to encourage them to get maxium sun exposure. I may just top this once since I want the plant to be mobile and not under a SCROG. It's in a ~ 13 gallon pot with an organic super soil called BioBizz All Mix. Thanks for your comments...

[Allenpro]

The Christmas tree shape is kind of strain dependent in my grows if I know its a strain that grows like that I do some bud tipping and it rounds them off

[Allenpro]

Well you do learn something new every grow, I never noticed the nodes being offset before for who knows what reason but they very clearly are and looking back at old pictures they generally are uneven by the time the stretch is over. I humbly apologize for giving out bad intel and adding to the Bro Science encyclopedia

[Bluey]

I've only recently started cloning cannabis and noticed that even with what appears to be a perfectly symmetrical top cut then used for cloning it ends up being anything but symmetrical. Even with young plants you don't end up with any symmetry.

Slower to grow, more finicky when it comes to nutes & light and clearly will be less yield probably all comes back to one important difference, no tap root.