LST time frame?

[Badfinger]

Hi, the girls are 4 1/2 weeks old. This is my first grow and I wanted to try this LST I been reading about.
So as I understand I start by just tying down the main stalk. And I have not read anywhere as to how long I leave it like this, until I can untie it. I assume I let it tied until the side stalks branch out level with the old main stalk? Their a foot tall in a 5 gallon pot, did I wait too long?

 

[Boognelson87]

Hi, the girls are 4 1/2 weeks old. This is my first grow and I wanted to try this LST I been reading about.
So as I understand I start by just tying down the main stalk. And I have not read anywhere as to how long I leave it like this, until I can untie it. I assume I let it tied until the side stalks branch out level with the old main stalk? Their a foot tall in a 5 gallon pot, did I wait too long?

Usually I start training around day 21 to 24. I leave them tied down til grow is over. But may move up the branch or stalk is it grows to pull it down more. Jumping up internode spaces. Starting slow to not stunt the plants. They bend more and more each time you do it. Some plants need it everyday once they start stretching others need it every couple days. Let side branches grown enough to pull to side of pot. But the goal is to keep an even canopy and open up the plant to get more tops. You'll get better as you do it. I love love training plants. I sucked at first. Just keep at it. For what it's worth ive broke many branches including main colas while training get some needles or something and if you break it stick it back together. I've yet to not have a recovery and ive cut the head off many snakes if you will lol good luck have fun

 

[Capt.Quirk]

As you can see in your third picture, the apical stem has turned up toward the light source and needs to be restrained again by moving your tie down, up three nodes, which will expose the internodal bud sites. At the same time try to lightly train the other nodes around the pot to keep bud sites exposed to maximum light. I adjust daily and don't remove until well into flower. Pictures show anatomy I strive to achieve. This works for me.

 

[Bill.de.Cat]

Hi, the girls are 4 1/2 weeks old. This is my first grow and I wanted to try this LST I been reading about.
So as I understand I start by just tying down the main stalk. And I have not read anywhere as to how long I leave it like this, until I can untie it. I assume I let it tied until the side stalks branch out level with the old main stalk? Their a foot tall in a 5 gallon pot, did I wait too long?

Might try a circular training. Bend it to follow the rim of the pot around and give branches a chance to catch up.

 

[TheFerret]

Might try a circular training. Bend it to follow the rim of the pot around and give branches a chance to catch up.

This! I had a Toofless Alien that started out as a mutant I bent over once and didnt think anything of and it ended up being soooooo tall I wish I trained it around my pot instead of just off to the side. The idea is to tie down the highest part of the plant (usually the main stalk at first) to redistribute where the growth hormones go to encourage multiple colas instead of just one main one. Once you tie a branch down you will usually see another 1 start to poke out that you can tie down and so on but for now go around the edge while its still able to be bent.