Why not second node?

[BenLomond]

I’m trying out the manifold method for the first time. I’m ready to cut my plants at the third node, they’re really healthy and they’ve just got a sixth node and no more so time to go. Just wondering though, why we don’t use the second node, still waiting for the plant to have five or six nodes of course? It’s more developed than the third, it’s symmetrical on the trunk. I can’t see the difference between second and third other than the second is more advanced. I’m sure someone with a bit of experience can explain why.

 

[Chipmunk]

Hello and welcome! You are spot on wanting to manifold your ganja plants. It's the best method ever if you don't like to do a SCROG. Manifold is all I do unless I have a short growing strain or plant. I don't know the biology of why to just use the 3rd node, I guess you can read up on that. I have tried Unkle Bens 4 main colas and Nug Buckets 8 main colas and Nebulas preferred method for 8 main colas. You do want to take off the 1st node and below to help keep the leaves off the soil. Sometimes I create a manifold that may use a little of each technique. If I have a plant that is growing fast and tall with good node space, I might create a manifold using the 2nd and 3rd node and leave a few extra side branches on if I can get a couple of inches between bud sites. Good luck and good experimenting!

 

[Chipmunk]

Also, what I do to spread the plant out farther than the pot and if you have the room between pots is to burn a hole in the cloth pot about 1in below the soil level, I use my soldering iron to burn the hole. I use about a 6-8 in piece of bamboo and stick it in the hole far enough (3in) into the soil to make it sturdy. That gives me what looks like the spokes of a wheel sticking out of my pot. Now you can tie those branches down far past the rim of the pot and still be able to move the pot around unlike the SCROG. Good luck!

 

[Allotrope1000]

Great techniques from Chipper!

 

[BenLomond]

Also, what I do to spread the plant out farther than the pot and if you have the room between pots is to burn a hole in the cloth pot about 1in below the soil level, I use my soldering iron to burn the hole. I use about a 6-8 in piece of bamboo and stick it in the hole far enough (3in) into the soil to make it sturdy. That gives me what looks like the spokes of a wheel sticking out of my pot. Now you can tie those branches down far past the rim of the pot and still be able to move the pot around unlike the SCROG. Good luck!

Hey Chipmunk, thanks for all the great advice. This is my first time with a manifold. So far everything is going just fine. Today is the day of topping down to the third node and cleaning up the plant. I’ll let my new mains grow out a bit for the next couple of days before I start to train them horizontally. TBH, apart from the fact that manifolding makes sense re space and yield it’s also quite enjoyable just being able to get really involved with your plants development.
That’s good advice about how to spread the plant out, unfortunately I don’t have the flexibility to make holes in things. I’m using a RDWC setup and, in my part of the world, I can’t source the large tomato rings that Nugbuckets used. I’m using a grow tent so I’ll just have to get creative with using the frame as anchor points for garden wire and plant yo-yo’s. Thanks for taking the time to reply.