If you're new to the life of a grower, then you must be wondering whether you should opt for pruning or not. However, experts believe that pruning seems a bit counterintuitive to most experienced plant growers. A common perspective is that you cannot claim yourself a grower if you're not pruning. All these horticultural practice needs are a pair of scissors and a little knowledge of the process.

Let's be honest, as there isn't a single method that is complex enough, which requires specialized plant training. However, pruning is undeniably the most effective method to increase yields. Today, we'll discuss the concept of pruning and how different kinds of pruning can help you increase yields to a significant level.

What is Pruning?

Pruning is widely popular due to its ability to increase yields. However, most growers aren't aware of the fact that it's an essential garden care procedure. In fact, without proper pruning, you may end up with uneven growth. In other words, you don't want a single dominant cola and several small popcorn buds throughout plants.

First, get some garden scissors and control your plants' growth. So, whether you're growing plants indoors or outdoors, pruning is an essential element in controlling your plants' growth. However, it's mandatory if you're growing indoor plants since you don't have much height to work with. The plants' height is further compromised if we include growing lights, pots, and the distance of the canopy. So, it would help if you had consistent practice to control the vertical growth of your plants.

Types of Pruning to Increase Yields

To put it in easier terms, pruning involves cutting off your plant's shoots with scissors to control its vertical growth. Most of the time, growers prune the "dominant shoot of growth," but pruning is more than that! In other words, there are several other complex pruning techniques that not only increase yield but deliver eye-catching plants.

Topping Pruning

Topping is the most basic form of pruning, which delivers astounding results. The most prominent benefit of topping is that it provides light to usually hard-to-reach parts of the plants. Consequently, it also doubles your bud sites with each prune. So, in retrospect, you could end up with four or more dominant colas for your plants.

The Step-by-Step Guide to Top Your Plants

The perfect time to start pruning your plants is to reach 10 inches or comprises 4 to 5 sets of leaves. If you want to evaluate your plant's growth, you can check the signs for secondary growth near lower nodes. It's a clear indication that your plant can handle topping. Further, hold and cut off the top of the shoot entirely. Nonetheless, you must ensure that this is the newest shoot of the plant for optimum results. You can witness results within a few days when new shoots will emerge from the same position.

Keep in mind that it's a slow process at the start since your plants are getting used to the changes. But once they become used to it, new shoots will grow again, with new nodes, leading to more topping. Just make sure to give your plants ample time to grow! Another point to consider is the height limit of plants you can afford. You can try different topping strategies for experimentation to identify which process provides the best yield.

Does Topping Help in Increasing Yields?

Most growers claim that topping doesn't help yield because colas' original size decreases with every prune. However, it has been proven that the cumulative yield is heavier than the plants that aren't pruned. Just remember to add grow lights for proper lighting, and you can end up with heavier and more efficient plants.

FIM Method (Fimming)

FIM Method, or fimming, is another pruning method that is similar to the topping. However, unlike topping, which cuts off the plant's shoot, Fimming only lets you cut off 2/3^rd of shoot growth. However, the process leads to four new shoots every time.

You can try your hand by fimming more than once, but it increases the overall rebound time. Now, as growers, it's up to you which method will result in more yields. But, the added advantage of fimming is that it provides more yields with minimum effort. So, ask yourself, which is the best method for ensuring the growth of your plants?

Lollipopping

This unusually named pruning method removes the lower growth of your plants. This method contradicts both Fimming and topping, which deal with cutting new shoots and promoting new nodes. Lollipopping maximizes the current bud sites.

Further, this method provides access light to the lowered parts of the plants. For instance, flowers on the plant's lower part don't get fatten up as much as those on the upper part. So, some growers chop off those hard-to-reach places of the plants so that the plant can focus all of its energy on the plant's top yields. The result makes a plant look like a lollipop, which gave birth to the process's name.

The Guide to Lollipop Your Plants

Lollipopping is a simple and effective process. The best time to perform lollipopping is right before the switch from a vegetative state to a flowering state. Another advantage of this method is that you can evaluate which areas don't get enough light to remove them. However, don't cut off the lower bud sites from the branches. This is a mistake that most growers make during the pruning process.

Is Lollipopping helpful for increasing the Yields?

Lollipopping is an effective yielding method since you will find many growers who do so for similar reasons. The best part about this process is that you can use it with fimming and topping as well. A few lollipopping method guidelines and you're good to go!

Tips to Effectively Prune Plants

Let's have a look at some of the pruning techniques for effective clearity on the topic.

Pruning during the Flowering Stage of the Plants

Don't prune during the flowering stage of the plants. Remember, pruning is a slow process and can affect the overall development of your buds. Of course, you can also remove large fan leaves if you feel like they are getting in the way of flowers. Just make sure that you aren't topping or fimming your plant during the flowering stage.

Another element to consider is that you mustn't over-prune the plants as well. Remember, less is always more when you're dealing with pruning! Cut off those parts of the plants which need to be removed and ignore the rest of them! Let nature do the rest for you!

How to Care for your Shears and Scissors?

As growers, you need to understand that your gardening tools are your responsibility. If you want them to perform well, then you need to take good care of them. Even a simple pair of garden scissors can last for quite a long time if properly cared for.

Also, make sure that your scissors are sharp all the time. Dull pair of shears or scissors can damage your plants. So, instead of buying a new pair of scissors, why not sharpen them with scissor sharpeners? These sharpeners are not only cheap but can also make your pruning process more efficient.

As growers, you must also ensure that your scissors remain clean to avoid cross-contamination and the spread of diseases. You can also check out our scissors cleaners, which can clean off that sticky resin from your blades in no time!

What are the Few Best Garden Scissors?

There aren't many differences between pruning shears and garden scissors, apart from the ergonomic handles. Some handles are more comfortable than the rest, and it all depends on personal preferences. Furthermore, it also depends on the number of plants in your garden. If you're growing a few plants, then a cheap pair can do the job for you! The few brands you can find here at GroIndoor.com are Corona, Fiskers, Chikamasa, and Shear Perfection.

End Notes

In hindsight, pruning is an important gardening practice to implement if you're a grower. On top of that, pruning can help you increase your plants' yields significantly, all through simple pruning techniques. However, if you want to learn more about plant training, such as well-known methods like SOG, scrOG, LST, and manifolding, take a look at our definitive guide! Or you can connect with us at 866-GRO-INDR to learn from the best in plant growing at GroIndoor.com. So, happy yielding!