Low Stress Training (LST) is an essential technique in cannabis cultivation aimed at enhancing plant growth and yield without causing significant stress. This method involves gently bending and tying down branches to encourage horizontal growth, exposing more of the plant to light. This guide explores the intricacies of LST, providing insights into its benefits, implementation, and best practices for maximizing your cannabis cultivation efforts.
Understanding Plant Stress Response
Plants, including cannabis, respond to various environmental stresses through physiological changes that can alter their growth patterns. LST leverages this response by gently bending and securing branches, simulating mild stress that redistributes the plant’s energy and growth hormones, such as auxins, toward new growth sites.
The Role of Phototropism in LST
Phototropism, the growth of plants in response to light, is crucial for LST’s effectiveness. Cannabis plants naturally grow towards light sources, prioritizing the main stem. LST manipulates this tendency by adjusting the plant’s orientation, ensuring even light distribution, promoting multiple colas, and resulting in a fuller, bushier plant with increased bud sites.
Apical Dominance and Auxins
Apical dominance is the phenomenon where the main stem grows more vigorously than side branches due to concentrated growth hormones at the tip. LST disrupts this dominance by bending the main stem, encouraging side branches to grow more vigorously. This redistribution of auxins breaks apical dominance and promotes uniform growth, leading to a plant with numerous dominant colas.
Stress Recovery and Enhanced Growth
An essential aspect of LST is the plant’s ability to recover from induced stress. This recovery strengthens bent areas, resulting in thicker stems and branches capable of supporting larger buds. Additionally, mild stress from LST can trigger increased production of cannabinoids and terpenes, enhancing the quality and potency of the final product.
Optimizing LST for Maximum Yield
Successful LST requires a balanced approach to stress management. By understanding natural responses to light and hormone distribution, growers can manipulate growth patterns to maximize yield and potency. Key to successful LST is making gradual adjustments to encourage a wide, even canopy, ensuring all branches receive ample light.
Benefits of LST in Cannabis Cultivation
1. Enhanced Light Distribution: LST improves light distribution by spreading branches and creating a flatter canopy, ensuring all parts of the plant receive equal light. This promotes efficient photosynthesis, leading to increased yields.
2. Increased Yield: By optimizing light exposure, LST encourages the development of multiple bud sites, maximizing each plant’s productive capacity and leading to a more substantial overall harvest.
3. Improved Air Circulation: LST promotes better air circulation by spreading branches and opening the canopy, reducing humidity levels and the risk of mold and fungal diseases, ensuring plant health and resilience.
4. Efficient Use of Growing Space: LST allows growers to direct plant growth horizontally, making efficient use of limited space, particularly beneficial for indoor growing setups.
5. Stress Reduction and Plant Health: LST involves gentle bending and securing of branches, reducing significant harm or stress to the plant compared to high-stress training methods. This approach promotes healthier growth and stronger, more robust plants.
Implementing LST on Cannabis Plants
Preparation: Gather necessary materials such as soft ties, plant wire, or string, and stakes or hooks for securing branches. Soft, flexible ties are crucial to avoid damaging the plant.
Timing: Start LST when the plant has three to four nodes, usually a few weeks into the vegetative stage. This timing ensures the plant is pliable yet resilient enough for manipulation.
Step-by-Step Process:
- Gentle Bending: Bend the main stem away from the vertical and secure it to the side of the pot or ground, encouraging horizontal growth.
- Securing Branches: Use soft ties to pull down and secure side branches to create an even canopy, maximizing light exposure.
- Adjustment and Maintenance: Regularly adjust ties to guide plant shape and ensure even light distribution, monitoring the plant’s response and making adjustments as needed.
Combining LST with Other Techniques
For optimal results, LST can be combined with other techniques such as topping or pruning:
- Topping: Cutting the top off the main stem encourages two main colas instead of one, significantly increasing top colas when combined with LST.
- Fimming: A less precise cut encourages four main colas at the cut site, creating a bushier plant with numerous bud sites when combined with LST.
Expert Tips for Maximizing LST Benefits
- Start with a Plan: Visualize the desired shape and structure before starting LST.
- Regular Observation: Regularly observe and adjust ties as the plant grows.
- Allow Recovery Time: Give plants time to recover from stress before making further changes.
- Maintain Soil Health: Ensure soil is well-aerated and nutrient-rich to support vigorous growth.
Low Stress Training (LST) for Autoflowering Cannabis
Characteristics of Autoflowers:
- Rapid Growth Cycle: Completing their lifecycle in 8-10 weeks, with a narrow window for training.
- Resilience: Autoflowers are robust and recover quickly from stress.
- Size: Typically smaller than photoperiod strains, influencing training extent.
Timing: Start LST on autoflowers once they have developed 4-6 true leaves, typically in the second or third week of growth.
LST Steps for Autoflowers:
- Gentle Bending: Bend the main stem and secure with soft ties, creating a wider plant structure.
- Monitor Growth: Regularly adjust ties and redirect growth to maintain an even canopy.
- Avoid High-Stress Techniques: Due to the short vegetative phase, avoid techniques like topping or fimming.
Best Practices for LST on Autoflowers
- Start Early but Not Too Early: Ensure the plant is strong enough for manipulation.
- Be Gentle: Make gradual adjustments to avoid damaging the plant.
- Optimize Environmental Conditions: Provide optimal light, nutrients, water, and airflow from the start.
- Continuous Adjustment: Regularly monitor and adjust ties to maintain a balanced canopy.
Troubleshooting LST on Autoflowers
Stunted Growth: Ensure optimal growing conditions and consider easing the intensity of training if the plant appears stunted.
Overcrowding: Prune lower, non-productive branches to improve airflow and light penetration.
Enhancing Autoflower Yields with LST
By understanding autoflower characteristics and applying LST principles thoughtfully, growers can significantly improve their harvest. Gentle, timely interventions encourage a productive canopy without over-stressing the plants.
Conclusion
Low Stress Training is a powerful technique that can significantly enhance cannabis yields and quality. By understanding and mastering LST, growers can achieve highly efficient and productive grow operations. Patience, observation, and continuous learning are key to successful LST, enabling both novice and experienced cultivators to produce exceptional cannabis.
