Should I cut my autoflowers main stalk if it gets too tall?

[Taino1171]

My autoflower is currently 4 weeks old, it has developed and is continuing to develop large numbers of calyxes with pretty pistils on them. Right now at the time of this thread being made my plant from the base to the highest tip of the plant stands right now at 30 centimeters (around 12 inches), the total height from the base of the plant to the closet railing where the grow light is being suspended is about 120 centimeters (around 48 inches or 4 feet).

If the plant grows so tall that it gets too close to the grow light, could I just cut the main stalk to shorten it? I know curing the main stalk will lose my maximum buds when it goes into fruiting, but I've never successfully grown before and I'm willing to sacrifice a large harvest just so it doesnt get too tall and hits my grow light as long as it produces buds.

 

[Mañ'O'Green]

DON'T CUT IT!

Super Cropping
Hardest thing for a new grower to do emotionally and physically is to super crop a plant to keep it out of the lights. The problem is many new growers as well as all of us end up in that situation indoors sooner or later. Have some grafting PARAIN TAPE on hand just in case. 6" lower than you think you should, roll the stem crushing the inside 3 x the diameter of the stem in length between your forefinger and your thumb, then bend the branch over at that pinch. Bend to 90° from the stem or horizontal to the light. If you did not get a good enough interior crush the stem can break usually just on the top. If this happens just wrap with the grafting tape and all will be well. You may need to tie down the bent over top as many branches just lift themselves right back up. A great lesson to teach yourself on your first harvest or any harvest for that matter is to practice super cropping on branches you have harvested. You will get a good feel for what it is to crush and bend without the dread of "Killing a Cola".



PS you can probably get as close as 12 inches to that light without any problems.

 

[Taino1171]

DON'T CUT IT!

Super Cropping
Hardest thing for a new grower to do emotionally and physically is to super crop a plant to keep it out of the lights. The problem is many new growers as well as all of us end up in that situation indoors sooner or later. Have some grafting PARAIN TAPE on hand just in case. 6" lower than you think you should, roll the stem crushing the inside 3 x the diameter of the stem in length between your forefinger and your thumb, then bend the branch over at that pinch. Bend to 90° from the stem or horizontal to the light. If you did not get a good enough interior crush the stem can break usually just on the top. If this happens just wrap with the grafting tape and all will be well. You may need to tie down the bent over top as many branches just lift themselves right back up. A great lesson to teach yourself on your first harvest or any harvest for that matter is to practice super cropping on branches you have harvested. You will get a good feel for what it is to crush and bend without the dread of "Killing a Cola".



PS you can probably get as close as 12 inches to that light without any problems.

The problem with supercropping is that I cant even get to the stalk because the plant itself is thick like a Bush theres alot of leaves and pistils in the way.

 

[Mañ'O'Green]

The problem with supercropping is that I cant even get to the stalk because the plant itself is thick like a Bush theres alot of leaves and pistils in the way.

This is academic since you are a long way from that light but If I can get in here to super crop you should be able to as well.

 

[Simplicio]

What really matters is whether the unused, but usable tent volume can accommodate all the vegetation that the plants will produce.
Your picture shows a lot of unused floor space, above which branches could be bent.
Low Stress Training, possibly using small weights, could likely bend the vegetation to where you want it.
As the plant gets bigger, its branches will get easier to train, and you can use thick twine to tie them to tent poles, and keep them away from the lights.
That won't be effective if there is so much vegetation that tieing branches off to the side covers up other vegetation.