The Pony tail technique: just leaf tucking?

[Rev. Green Genes]

So the myth that I read was on another weed growing forum, and it was not a pleasant discussion. I did not respond to it. But here is the premise:

some claim pony tailing is just fancy leaf tucking
some claim that there is proof that it works, but can not respond with the science.
Some claim a hormonal shift but cannot say why or how

I believe that the truth lies in the middle. heres why:

Auxin goes from top to bottom only in shoots, when you cut the lead node off the supply of auxin is interrupted and all the secondary branches respond with aggressive growth. (apical dominance) This is being simulated in a pony tail to lesser degree. Auxin is light avoidant, so preventing the young bud inside from getting light disrupts the auxin flow, but will return to normal unless left tied up for too long.

So it's like the degree of change from an LST to a SuperCrop. An LST is mostly reversible and has a limited recovery time, same with Ponytailing.

 

[Slowmo]

@Rev. Green Genes

I think that's spot on !! I use ponytailing for 2-4 days and it really kickstarts growth of the lowers ! or so i believe

 

[Rev. Green Genes]

So here is the experiment. The pictures show a seedling prior to ponytail. Then I tied up the top for 24 hours, let it free for 24 hours, and then tied it back up for 24 hours a second time. The results speak for themselves.

Prior to ponytail

first day of ponytail

second round of ponytail

This morning, after removing the ponytail.

It is pretty clear to me that the secondary growth exploded in just three days. I am hoping the branches will carry through the whole grow without the apical dominance and have closer to an even canopy where all the buds get the same light.

 

[G.Leave]

Great examples bud!!

 

[G.Leave]

One of those techniques that is overdue to try!! I will try this on my first indoors run next winter

 

[Waira]

Good stuff Rev G'! I saw A-Train use this method to good effect,... my plants often fail to branch well, and next time I'll be trying this to force the fuckers to throw out some lat's!

 

[Master_gRoshi]

My curiosity question is. Why ponytail when you can tie the top down a bit and get same results and still grow the top with out stunting the new growth from the top.
Not at all knocking this method. Is a great method. And loving the write up.


(I pony tail sometimes when i cant get them tied if too squat)

 

[calliandra]

Auxin goes from top to bottom only in shoots, when you cut the lead node off the supply of auxin is interrupted and all the secondary branches respond with aggressive growth. (apical dominance) This is being simulated in a pony tail to lesser degree. Auxin is light avoidant, so preventing the young bud inside from getting light disrupts the auxin flow, but will return to normal unless left tied up for too long.

I like this hypothesis - I assume you meant the auxin is light dependant - it definitely makes sense!
Thanks much for the food for thought, plants are such amazing creatures!

 

[Proph]

I think they are one in the same. They are both ways to get light to the lowers. They will both give decent results. I know growers that simply cut off those two fan leaves, instead of ponytailing them or tucking them.

 

[Tony21]

I think they are one in the same. They are both ways to get light to the lowers. They will both give decent results. I know growers that simply cut off those two fan leaves, instead of ponytailing them or tucking them.

Hey, good stuff. Yeah, I just remove the fan leaves for the same effect.
Ponytailing is cool for a few plants, more than that and it's easier just removing fans. And it works as repeated ponytailing
Try a couple of seedlings with both method and see if there this any differences. I can't see any after a week or so.
Here is 2 almost pure sativa auto plants, a snowflake and a Contraband, that had all the larger center fans removed repeatedly since a couple of weeks old,, they are about 5 weeks old now. Nothing else has been done and I think a decent canopy on both so far

Some super and softcropping would have been better for a flat canopy, but they're gonna go hang in the corners soon with the big lights and plants. They've just been standing on the floor a bit in the shade. Here is a Contraband same age in a 3 l pot but just left to grow, much taller at 1,35 m and still stretching into a Xmas tree