T
Truu
Guest
So you want to LST?
LST means Low Stress Training. It can be used for multiple reasons. Most people use it to keep their plants height to a minimum. This is useful when growing space is short. It can also be used to help increase yeild. While doing this you want to try and keep all the buds at the same height. This will allow for maximum light absorbtion for all the buds. While the plant is being pulled down, it is also spreading the branches apart allowing more light to reach the lower bud sites. Remember if your main cola is 10" above your lower bud sites, and you have 20k lumens at the top, the lower sites are probably only getting about 7k lumens (this is just an example.)
Here is a chart for a HPS bulb. Notice how much the lumens fade just 5" from each measurement.
Now that we have been introduced to the idea of LST, lets talk about the process of how its done. In "simple" terms, you are basically pulling the branches apart to allow more light through the canopy. One way to do this is to pull the main stem to the side when your plant is at a young age. By pulling your plant to the side, this allows new side branches to grow up, while your main cola is growing towards the side you pulled it to and out.
All colas same height.
Here you can see how I have began to pull the main stem to the side. This is a slow process, and should not be done all at once. Every day you can pull her down a little more until she's to your liking. Once she stretches to far, just move your tie down towards the end of the branch and continue the process. Do this for all the side branches too, pull them away from shade! Once they are well established, you can remove the tie downs and they will stay where you have trained them to be. Relax and smoke a nice bowl, your hard work will pay off in the end.
And here is what the final product will look like. NOTE: I allowed my main cola to grow taller than the rest (I think it looks cooler that way
). Notice how all the colas are about the same height.
Main Cola is straight, with side branches pulled out.
With this method, there is no pulling your main stem. Also, it is done at a later time in the plants life (normally when side branches and bud sites are established). This is a very simple procedure. Simply pull the side branches out so that they will not shade each other.
Here you can see how my plant was a complete bush, and all of my side branches were growing straight up. My main cola was shading 75% of my bud sites, and the fan leaves were definatly dominating all the light, leaving none for the lower buds. We cant smoke fan leaves right!? So get them out of the way so the good stuff can get big!
Now you can see how I have spread the branches apart from the main stem, notice how much more light is getting in! They will turn up towards the light in no time. And the Branches higher up on the main stem will eventually fall down and go out from under the shade of the fan leaves. Sorry about my other plants being in the way, I didnt think that one out. But you can tell wich is wich.
Well thats about it for LST. It can be a great space saver, and a great yeild increaser. Hope this guide is helpful, and please let me know if you have any questions. Remember- LST with auto flowers can cause some stress. So ALWAYS make sure your plants have moist soil (meaning they aren't thirsty!). This will keep them limber.
Thanks for reading, and keep on growin!
LST means Low Stress Training. It can be used for multiple reasons. Most people use it to keep their plants height to a minimum. This is useful when growing space is short. It can also be used to help increase yeild. While doing this you want to try and keep all the buds at the same height. This will allow for maximum light absorbtion for all the buds. While the plant is being pulled down, it is also spreading the branches apart allowing more light to reach the lower bud sites. Remember if your main cola is 10" above your lower bud sites, and you have 20k lumens at the top, the lower sites are probably only getting about 7k lumens (this is just an example.)
Here is a chart for a HPS bulb. Notice how much the lumens fade just 5" from each measurement.
Now that we have been introduced to the idea of LST, lets talk about the process of how its done. In "simple" terms, you are basically pulling the branches apart to allow more light through the canopy. One way to do this is to pull the main stem to the side when your plant is at a young age. By pulling your plant to the side, this allows new side branches to grow up, while your main cola is growing towards the side you pulled it to and out.
All colas same height.
Here you can see how I have began to pull the main stem to the side. This is a slow process, and should not be done all at once. Every day you can pull her down a little more until she's to your liking. Once she stretches to far, just move your tie down towards the end of the branch and continue the process. Do this for all the side branches too, pull them away from shade! Once they are well established, you can remove the tie downs and they will stay where you have trained them to be. Relax and smoke a nice bowl, your hard work will pay off in the end.
And here is what the final product will look like. NOTE: I allowed my main cola to grow taller than the rest (I think it looks cooler that way
). Notice how all the colas are about the same height.
Main Cola is straight, with side branches pulled out.
With this method, there is no pulling your main stem. Also, it is done at a later time in the plants life (normally when side branches and bud sites are established). This is a very simple procedure. Simply pull the side branches out so that they will not shade each other.
Here you can see how my plant was a complete bush, and all of my side branches were growing straight up. My main cola was shading 75% of my bud sites, and the fan leaves were definatly dominating all the light, leaving none for the lower buds. We cant smoke fan leaves right!? So get them out of the way so the good stuff can get big!
Now you can see how I have spread the branches apart from the main stem, notice how much more light is getting in! They will turn up towards the light in no time. And the Branches higher up on the main stem will eventually fall down and go out from under the shade of the fan leaves. Sorry about my other plants being in the way, I didnt think that one out. But you can tell wich is wich.
Well thats about it for LST. It can be a great space saver, and a great yeild increaser. Hope this guide is helpful, and please let me know if you have any questions. Remember- LST with auto flowers can cause some stress. So ALWAYS make sure your plants have moist soil (meaning they aren't thirsty!). This will keep them limber.
Thanks for reading, and keep on growin!
