Should I train my plants, if so then which method?

[Planthero2554]

Hello everyone, this is my first post and grow. I have two plants Blue Cheese (by Big Buddha Seeds) and Blueberry Headband (by Emerald Triangle Seeds). The seeds were planted in solo cups on March 3, 2017. I pretty much followed the tutorials available on the main website and so far it has turned out great, but I find the training tutorials a little bit confusing. I was wondering if I should train my plants and if so then which method? From what I understand training is required so the plant grows multiple colas as opposed to one main cola.

Setup:
Growing medium: Foxfarm Coco Loco Potting
Lights: 2x 40-Watt CFL bulbs (150-Watt equivalent), Daylight (18 hours on and 6 hours off)
Nutrients: General Hydroponics Flora Grow, Bloom, Micro, and CALiMAGic
Temperature, RH, and overview (left is Blue Cheese and right is Blueberry Headband):


Blue Cheese:



Blueberry Headband:

 

[PuravidaC]

I always top and LST without any issues. If you are growing with CFL's (like me), then you need to add more lights and training plants to grow flat is highly recommended. Good luck and feel free to ask lots of questions. There are plenty of really good growers here with solid experience and advice!

 

[GreenArmadillo]

Yes.
Yes.
And yes.

Do train your plants. My main mistake as a first time grower is not understanding how the plants would grow and therefore not taking the plant training seriously enough. Now my girls are budding, but they are slightly out of control, so I have to do some damage control. >.<
I'd love to try mainlining (manifolding) for my next grow. When Nebula does it, the plant grows so beautiful it's unreal!

 

[Tika]

WELCOME! Great pictures! And ditto.
top, LST, get comfortable with those . GWE for both.
i understand- as I remember well- my first confusions..some remain.
Personally I think once you top via GWE top again, perhaps again..the LST will become more " sensible".
great growing to you and as with the above comments there are plenty of great folk here to assist.
)

 

[Planthero2554]

Alright I will try to top and LST. Thank you all.

 

[Planthero2554]

I have topped them. What do u guys think? and which branches do I bend?

BC:



BH:

 

[Inuart88]

I only lst my first set on my second set I topped two and lst the other too I find it ezer to practice and find out what you like and are comfortable with. I was nervous at first with lst super cropping and topping also giving haircuts now I'm comfortable and just bang it out

 

[Newf]

No Title

Do be careful what you use to tie down and monitor for "strangulation" over time. I almost missed releasing these plastic coated wire gardening ties.

 

[Planthero2554]

I only lst my first set on my second set I topped two and lst the other too I find it ezer to practice and find out what you like and are comfortable with. I was nervous at first with lst super cropping and topping also giving haircuts now I'm comfortable and just bang it out

Do be careful what you use to tie down and monitor for "strangulation" over time. I almost missed releasing these plastic coated wire gardening ties.

Alright will do thank you both

 

[furrysparkle]

About your sig... my first grow had balls, and yes I will forever know them.

 

[furrysparkle]

Train, train, train; stressing out the plant to refocus its energy into more colas(growth tips) rather than growing tall to catch pollen.

 

[Planthero2554]

Hello everyone, I bent the plants today with some rubber bands and binder clips until the gardening ties I ordered come in. I accidentally made a very small cut on the plants while tying them down. I hope they recover and I also put more lights in at least until the lamps arrive and then I can position them the right way. Please let me know if u see anything wrong.