Marijuana cultivation doesn’t only revolve around letting stages of growing take its course, especially if highly-experienced growers are into expounding their works onto much better condition. Because of that, techniques are being employed, regardless of the success rate. Nonetheless, it’s a good start for growers who dedicate their entire efforts to making sure that they will reap what they sow.
One of the most used techniques, and perhaps the most acknowledged, is the low stress training on cannabis plants. The said practice done by growers is prevalent due to its ability to give cultivators a manipulative power on how abundant they wish their crop would turn out. Aside from that, low stress straining is also a wise choice for gardeners who are quite new to such a thing.
In this discussion, you will know everything there is to know about low stress training, among other important things to figure. Then, you’ll get the chance to glimpse at the step-by-step procedure for future reference.
Getting Deeper with Low Stress Training
To fully understand the definition of low stress training, it would be nice to see its history and track other gardeners’ take on techniques. Ever since gardening implanted itself as highly essential for humanity, horticulturists are devising a plan to create techniques that will ease their way out of cultivation and benefit them. One of the oldest methods merely is topping and pruning, intentional bending of branches, green screen, and other simple approaches.
The mentioned techniques aren’t entirely non-hassling back then because it has to be paired up with different materials, which aren’t usually present on a normal day. As a consequence, cultivators were encouraged to find new ways, and low stress straining was born. Back in Egypt, they are using low stress training to grow trees abundantly. Another method was born called espalier, and it consists of trimming and shipping fruit trees to increase the harvest.
On the other hand, as we know it, low stress training is a way to boost cannabis plants’ yields. This simple training technique will only require growers to bend and tie their crops stems at their specific period of life. Also, it may involve lighting and commodious space since it aims to improve the production rate.
How do Low Stress Training works?
By intentionally bending and eventually tying down the branches and stems of cannabis plants, growers are now supposed to expose it towards plentiful light and move them into a spacious area. The physical effort of bending and tying will ensure that plants will break free from apical dominance, a condition where stems branch out from other branches, and bring them towards an increase in bud production.
But take note that LST or low stress training will not forcefully encourage you to change your approach to achieve better standards. In fact, you will only need a few tools and a couple of helpful information.
How to Perform Low Stress Training on Your Cannabis?
Before proceeding, take note of the term “low stress,” which refers to its obvious separation from the “high stress” training. It’s called low stress because it’s way more gentle than the high-stress technique. LST or low stress training, compared to HST, creates lesser risk in terms of over-stressing the marijuana plant. Meaning, anyone can do this, considering that the procedure was followed correctly.
- For the materials, provide the following:
- Soft plant wires, preferably made out of rubber.
- Thin wooden poles
- Drill
- Duct tape
Expert growers are ill-advising the use of regular wires or string that will hold down the plant branch as it may accidentally cut the plant. For a safer precaution, make sure to seek for plant ties, which are the most suitable.
- Provide a container for securing the shoots
To make sure that your tied down stems are in a good position for the required time, provide a container that you will drill holes first. Then, loop the wires around the holes to hold the shoots well.
- Disrupt the presence of apical dominance
As mentioned before, apical dominance is prevalent around the cannabis plant, suppressing growers from applying bending techniques for better results. To eliminate this behavior, you can follow the steps in doing so:
- Bend the primary branch down on the container’s rim.
- Make use of the plant wire and the drilled holes by tying the branch in place.
Or, you can follow the other method:
- Top the primary stem first.
- Bend subordinate shoots to its side.
Regardless of what you will follow, this will stop the spider-like structure of the cannabis plant’s growth. This way, you have already done the first part of performing low stress straining.
- Shaping the plants
Low stress training means retaining the presence of a flat canopy, where no branch will be taller than others. In this last part of performing low stress straining, you will have to proceed in bending the branch outwards and away from the primary shoot. This will keep the plant’s shape, which is tied down, for a balanced stature with other branches.
What to do if a branch snapped?
If by any chance, you accidentally went over the top by snapping a branch that you’re supposed to bend, then there’s no room for freaking out because, by the time low stress straining is applicable, it is assumed that your plants are already strong enough. The purpose of having duct tape around is to wrap it around the broken shoot.
But take note that applying duct tape is only employable if the stem hasn’t completely come off. Because if that’s the case, then I’m afraid you will need more than duct-taping. Also, the time of healing is estimated to be a week or two.
Conclusion
Low stress training is a practice that will test your patience, sure, but it will also give you better things to look for like higher yields. Besides that, the step towards successful low stress training isn’t that difficult and will only take a few twists and turn.
