Question about Nebula's manifold technique

[tommyfade]

I am new to growing and on my second grow. I have a question about Nebula's manifold technique. I topped my plants at the third node and left the "growth tips". I've read Nebula's tutorial several times but I'm unsure what to do with the growth tips now since the tips are growing like crazy. Sorry if the question sounds dumb. My first grow I just let my plants grow and didn't top or do anything since I'm a beginner. Thanks in advance for any helpful info.

[Canuck147]

Pics help, but you should go to the next step, LST. Bend the new growth branches down towards your growing medium.

[tommyfade]

Ok so "tie" down the growth tips but what about the original third node that I originally cut to before? What do I do with that? I have a pic posted below- thanks for any help

[tommyfade]

Ok so "tie" down the growth tips but what about the original third node that I originally cut to before?

[gbauto]

It will just wither into a nub. The idea of manifolding is to create multiple 'main stems' vs. the single stalk that the plant grows naturally.
Those two branches will allow you to repeat the process to create more cola producing branches.

[tommyfade]

Ok so cut off the whole stem with the fan leaf? I was assuming I should do that but I didn't want to make a mistake

[Mr.furley]

If you a little nervous, you can leave a little nub of steam, but yah there in your way. Just don't cut your two new growth tips, let them grow out to six or seven leaf sets. bending them down level.

[tommyfade]

Perfect thanks for you help!

[KingSimon]

What about the growth tips from the first two nodes? How come people cut them off?

[Mr.furley]

The bottom growth below your topping? It is to let the plant Focus only on the growth tips not extra leaves that you're going to cut off down the road. You're trying to grow multiple colas large not a bushy plant with small buds

[KingSimon]

Are they not growth tips as well?

[Mr.furley]

Yes but you are trying to control which ones you keep. If you leave the lower tips they grow bud, fighting for nutrition, light and space. By removing all but the final two topping (8 colas) all the plants energy grows ONLY into 8 fat,large, juicy colas and no artificial fillers

[Obi-Wan]

Yes, they certainly are growth tips as well but when creating a manifold, the idea is to create a stem system that feeds each cola equally producing evenly sized large colas. If you leave growth tips below the manifold your stem system will not distribute equally. Nothing wrong with doing it that way, it just won't be a manifolded plant.

[KingSimon]

Okay that makes sense. Thanks.

[Jeg]

Great little thread. I liked y'alls explanations. That is all I wanted to say.