Cannabis lifecycle: Topping & training

July 10, 2025

Cannabis lifecycle: Topping & training

Est. reading time: 3-4 min

From early June to early August, healthy cannabis plants go through their equivalent of a teenage growth spurt (after they’ve already been germinated and moved outdoors). Left alone, they put most of their energy into one tall center stalk. To turn that lanky “Christmas-tree” shape into a wider, light-loving bush, growers use two simple tricks:

From early June to early August, healthy cannabis plants go through their equivalent of a teenage growth spurt (after they’ve already been germinated and moved outdoors). Left alone, they put most of their energy into one tall center stalk. To turn that lanky “Christmas-tree” shape into a wider, light-loving bush, growers use two simple tricks:

Topping – snipping off the very tip of the main stem
Training – gently bending or tying branches so light reaches every corner

Topping – snipping off the very tip of the main stem
Training – gently bending or tying branches so light reaches every corner

Why bother? Because more sunlight on more branches means more buds later on.

The science, simplified

Cannabis naturally follows apical dominance, a fancy term for “growing upward first.”
The top shoot produces a hormone called auxin. Auxin tells lower buds, “Stay small, I’ve got this.”
When you cut that top off, auxin levels drop. The side branches get the chemical green light to stretch outward and up.
Plant biologists have found that within days of removing the tip, those side shoots spring into action, quickly turning one cola into several.

Cannabis naturally follows apical dominance, a fancy term for “growing upward first.”
The top shoot produces a hormone called auxin. Auxin tells lower buds, “Stay small, I’ve got this.”
When you cut that top off, auxin levels drop. The side branches get the chemical green light to stretch outward and up.
Plant biologists have found that within days of removing the tip, those side shoots spring into action, quickly turning one cola into several.

Topping enables the plant to maximize its exposure to light, which helps it take in more energy and grow stronger. Think of it like pruning a rosebush: clip the top, and you get more blooms across the plant instead of one giant flower at the peak.

Topping enables the plant to maximize its exposure to light, which helps it take in more energy and grow stronger. Think of it like pruning a rosebush: clip the top, and you get more blooms across the plant instead of one giant flower at the peak.

Bigger branches, better yields

A topped plant doesn’t just look fuller – it’s stronger, too.

Multiple bud sites – Instead of one main cola, you now have a dozen or more tops, each capable of stacking resinous flowers.
Stronger stems – As branches share the job of holding buds, they thicken and stand up better to wind or heavy rain.
Improved airflow – A flatter canopy lets fresh air move through the leaves, reducing the risk of mold in late summer.

Multiple bud sites – Instead of one main cola, you now have a dozen or more tops, each capable of stacking resinous flowers.
Stronger stems – As branches share the job of holding buds, they thicken and stand up better to wind or heavy rain.
Improved airflow – A flatter canopy lets fresh air move through the leaves, reducing the risk of mold in late summer.

Side bonus: those big fan leaves the plant continues to grow? They’re basically solar panels, capturing light and powering this rapid growth spurt right up to bloom time.

How to top & train without stressing your plants

Step

What to do

Why it matters

1. Pick the moment

Wait until the plant has 4–6 strong nodes (pairs of leaves). Earlier can stunt growth; later wastes precious light.

Gives the plant enough foliage to bounce back quickly.

2. Use clean tools

Sterilize your scissors or razor.

Prevents infection at the cut site.

3. Snip the tip

Cut just above a node, leaving two little shoots behind.

Those shoots will become twin main stems.

4. Guide the branches

Gently bend or tie new tops outward, or set up a low trellis.

Spreads the canopy so every future bud gets sunshine.

5. Let it recover

Give plants a few days of good light, water, and nutrients.

They’ll redirect hormones and surge back even stronger.

Curious what this looks like in practice? Check out this great video guide.

Step

What to do

Why it matters

1. Pick the moment

Wait until the plant has 4–6 strong nodes (pairs of leaves). Earlier can stunt growth; later wastes precious light.

Gives the plant enough foliage to bounce back quickly.

2. Use clean tools

Sterilize your scissors or razor.

Prevents infection at the cut site.

3. Snip the tip

Cut just above a node, leaving two little shoots behind.

Those shoots will become twin main stems.

4. Guide the branches

Gently bend or tie new tops outward, or set up a low trellis.

Spreads the canopy so every future bud gets sunshine.

5. Let it recover

Give plants a few days of good light, water, and nutrients.

They’ll redirect hormones and surge back even stronger.

Step

What to do

Why it matters

1. Pick the moment

Wait until the plant has 4–6 strong nodes (pairs of leaves). Earlier can stunt growth; later wastes precious light.

Gives the plant enough foliage to bounce back quickly.

2. Use clean tools

Sterilize your scissors or razor.

Prevents infection at the cut site.

3. Snip the tip

Cut just above a node, leaving two little shoots behind.

Those shoots will become twin main stems.

4. Guide the branches

Gently bend or tie new tops outward, or set up a low trellis.

Spreads the canopy so every future bud gets sunshine.

5. Let it recover

Give plants a few days of good light, water, and nutrients.

They’ll redirect hormones and surge back even stronger.

Ready for the flower show

By late July, a well-managed plant should have:

A wide, even canopy with plenty of budding tips.
Sturdy stems ready to hold hefty colas.
A deep, healthy root system to feed explosive flower growth.

A wide, even canopy with plenty of budding tips.
Sturdy stems ready to hold hefty colas.
A deep, healthy root system to feed explosive flower growth.

In August, as the days begin to shorten more noticably, the plant naturally shifts from building branches to building buds. Thanks to topping and training, every inch of that canopy is now primed to turn late-summer sunlight into dense, aromatic flowers.

In August, as the days begin to shorten more noticably, the plant naturally shifts from building branches to building buds. Thanks to topping and training, every inch of that canopy is now primed to turn late-summer sunlight into dense, aromatic flowers.

Takeaways

Topping breaks apical dominance, telling the plant to grow out, not just up.
Redirected energy creates multiple main colas, boosting yield and strength.
Combined with gentle training, you get a flatter, brighter canopy – the perfect setup for big, healthy flowers when bloom season arrives.

Topping breaks apical dominance, telling the plant to grow out, not just up.
Redirected energy creates multiple main colas, boosting yield and strength.
Combined with gentle training, you get a flatter, brighter canopy – the perfect setup for big, healthy flowers when bloom season arrives.

In short: a watchful eye and a quick clip now sets the stage for a harvest that’s bigger, sturdier, and more evenly lit.

Curious about the stages cannabis plants go through before topping & training?Check out our earlier articles on germination and early growth and sowing & outdoor to learn more.

July 10, 2025

Cannabis lifecycle: Topping & training

Cannabis lifecycle: Topping & training

Cannabis lifecycle: Topping & training

Est. reading time: 3-4 min

Topping – snipping off the very tip of the main stem

Training – gently bending or tying branches so light reaches every corner

Why bother? Because more sunlight on more branches means more buds later on.

In this article:

In this article:

The science, simplified

Bigger branches, better yields

How to top & train without stressing your plants

Ready for the flower show

Takeaways

The science, simplified

The science, simplified

Cannabis naturally follows apical dominance, a fancy term for “growing upward first.”

The top shoot produces a hormone called auxin. Auxin tells lower buds, “Stay small, I’ve got this.”

When you cut that top off, auxin levels drop. The side branches get the chemical green light to stretch outward and up.

Plant biologists have found that within days of removing the tip, those side shoots spring into action, quickly turning one cola into several.

Topping enables the plant to maximize its exposure to light, which helps it take in more energy and grow stronger. Think of it like pruning a rosebush: clip the top, and you get more blooms across the plant instead of one giant flower at the peak.

Bigger branches, better yields

Bigger branches, better yields

A topped plant doesn’t just look fuller – it’s stronger, too.

Multiple bud sites – Instead of one main cola, you now have a dozen or more tops, each capable of stacking resinous flowers.

Stronger stems – As branches share the job of holding buds, they thicken and stand up better to wind or heavy rain.

Improved airflow – A flatter canopy lets fresh air move through the leaves, reducing the risk of mold in late summer.

Side bonus: those big fan leaves the plant continues to grow? They’re basically solar panels, capturing light and powering this rapid growth spurt right up to bloom time.

How to top & train without stressing your plants

How to top & train without stressing your plants

Step

What to do

Why it matters

1. Pick the moment

Wait until the plant has 4–6 strong nodes (pairs of leaves). Earlier can stunt growth; later wastes precious light.

Gives the plant enough foliage to bounce back quickly.

2. Use clean tools

Sterilize your scissors or razor.

Prevents infection at the cut site.

3. Snip the tip

Cut just above a node, leaving two little shoots behind.

Those shoots will become twin main stems.

4. Guide the branches

Gently bend or tie new tops outward, or set up a low trellis.

Spreads the canopy so every future bud gets sunshine.

5. Let it recover

Give plants a few days of good light, water, and nutrients.

They’ll redirect hormones and surge back even stronger.

Curious what this looks like in practice? Check out this great video guide.

Step

What to do

Why it matters

1. Pick the moment

Wait until the plant has 4–6 strong nodes (pairs of leaves). Earlier can stunt growth; later wastes precious light.

Gives the plant enough foliage to bounce back quickly.

2. Use clean tools

Sterilize your scissors or razor.

Prevents infection at the cut site.

3. Snip the tip

Cut just above a node, leaving two little shoots behind.

Those shoots will become twin main stems.

4. Guide the branches

Gently bend or tie new tops outward, or set up a low trellis.

Spreads the canopy so every future bud gets sunshine.

5. Let it recover

Give plants a few days of good light, water, and nutrients.

They’ll redirect hormones and surge back even stronger.

Step

What to do

Why it matters

Ready for the flower show

Ready for the flower show

By late July, a well-managed plant should have:

A wide, even canopy with plenty of budding tips.

Sturdy stems ready to hold hefty colas.

A deep, healthy root system to feed explosive flower growth.

In August, as the days begin to shorten more noticably, the plant naturally shifts from building branches to building buds. Thanks to topping and training, every inch of that canopy is now primed to turn late-summer sunlight into dense, aromatic flowers.

Takeaways

Takeaways