Most training guides explain individual techniques — topping, LST, SCROG — but don't tell you when to deploy them during a real grow. This guide is the timeline: a week-by-week training schedule from seedling through the flip, with concrete node-count decision points instead of vague advice.
This schedule assumes an indoor photoperiod grow with a 4–8 week veg period. Adjust timing for autoflowers (faster timeline, less aggressive training) and outdoor grows (larger plants, more vertical space).
The principles
Before the schedule, three principles that govern all training decisions:
1. Train based on node count, not calendar days
A plant under strong light with good conditions may reach 5 nodes in 3 weeks. The same genetics under weaker light may take 5 weeks. Don't train by date — train by development stage.
2. Only train healthy plants
Training is controlled stress. A plant that's fighting pH issues, nutrient deficiency, or overwatering does not need additional stress. Fix the problem first, wait until you see vigorous new growth, then resume training.
3. Stop all training 1–2 weeks before the flip
The plant needs to recover from the last training stress before the hormonal shift to flowering. Training during the first 2 weeks of flower (the stretch) is risky — stress during flower transition can trigger hermaphroditism. See our hermaphrodite guide.
The schedule
Weeks 1–2: seedling (no training)
Node count: 1–3
The plant is establishing its root system and developing its first true leaves. Do nothing to it. No touching, no bending, no removing leaves. The cotyledons and first few fan leaves are powering root development — they're critical.
Only intervention: if the seedling is stretching excessively (long, thin stem), lower the light slightly or increase intensity. The stem should be short and thick. See our seedling guide.
Week 3: first LST (optional)
Node count: 3–4
If you plan to do LST only (no topping), you can start gentle bending now:
- Bend the main stem 45–90 degrees by tying it to the pot edge with soft plant wire or pipe cleaners
- Anchor near the base (just below the lowest node)
- The goal: break apical dominance gently. Lower branches receive more light and begin growing upward
If you plan to top: wait. Let the plant reach 5–6 nodes before the first top. Topping at 3–4 nodes is too aggressive — the plant doesn't have enough leaf area to recover efficiently.
Week 4: first top
Node count: 5–6
This is the primary training event for most grows.
How to top:
- Identify the 5th or 6th node from the bottom
- Cut the main stem cleanly just above that node with sterilized scissors or a razor blade
- You'll see two small growing tips at the node — these become your two new main stems
What happens after:
- Growth stops for 2–5 days while the plant redirects hormones
- The two growing tips at the top node begin growing upward
- Lower branches also accelerate (apical dominance is broken)
- Within 7–10 days, the two new tops are growing vigorously
Alternative — FIM (F* I Missed):** Instead of cutting cleanly through the stem, pinch off about 80% of the new growth tip. This can produce 3–4 new tops instead of 2, but is less predictable. See our topping guide.
Week 5: post-top recovery + LST begins
Node count: 6–8 (including new growth from the top)
The two new main stems are 2–3 inches long. Now is the time to start shaping the canopy:
- Bend both new main stems outward and down — each should point toward opposite sides of the pot
- Secure with plant wire to the pot edge or stakes
- Expose the interior — lower branches now receive direct light and accelerate their growth
The shape you're building: a flat, Y-shaped canopy where both tops are at the same height and lower branches are filling in below them. This is the foundation for an even canopy at flip.
Week 6: second top (optional) + continued LST
Node count: 8–12
For maximum yield, top each of the two main stems again, creating 4 main colas. This is the basis of manifolding/mainlining — see our mainlining guide.
For a simpler grow: skip the second top and continue LST only. The two main stems from the first top, plus 4–6 lower branches, give you 6–8 cola sites — plenty for a home grow.
LST tasks this week:
- Continue bending main stems outward as they grow
- Begin bending lower branches to fill empty canopy space
- Remove any growth that's growing inward toward the center (it'll be shaded and produce larf)
- The canopy should start looking like a flat disk from above
Week 7: SCROG installation (if using)
Node count: 12–16
If you're using a SCROG net, install it now — with the top of the net 8–12 inches above the pot rim. The plant should be just starting to grow through the net.
SCROG technique:
- As branches grow above the net, tuck them back under and guide them horizontally toward empty net squares
- Repeat every 1–2 days during peak veg growth
- Fill 60–70% of the net squares before flipping to flower
- During the stretch (first 2 weeks of flower), continue tucking — this is the last active training
Without SCROG: continue LST, ensuring all growing tips are at roughly the same height. Use stakes or a plant yo-yo to support heavy branches.
Week 8: pre-flip preparation
This is your last week of active training.
Tasks:
- Lollipop — remove growth on the bottom 1/3 of the plant (small branches and growth tips that will never receive adequate light). These would produce larf and consume energy that should go to top colas
- Final defoliation — remove fan leaves that are blocking light to bud sites. Don't strip the plant — remove only leaves that are directly shading a growing tip
- Check symmetry — look at the canopy from above. Is it roughly even? Any one branch dramatically taller than the rest? Bend it down now
- Assess height — the plant should be roughly 50% of your maximum canopy-to-light distance. It will stretch 50–100% during the first 2 weeks of flower
If the plant isn't ready to flip: extend veg. It's better to veg another 1–2 weeks than to flip a plant that hasn't filled the canopy.
Weeks 9–10: the flip and stretch
Flip to 12/12. Stop all intentional training except SCROG tucking.
During the stretch:
- The plant grows aggressively for 10–14 days
- SCROG growers: continue tucking through the net
- Non-SCROG growers: you can gently bend branches that are growing significantly taller than the rest, but avoid aggressive LST
- Install support stakes or a trellis for heavy-producing strains — colas will need support later
After the stretch (week 3+ of flower): no more training. The plant is now committed to flowering. Let it focus entirely on bud production.
Adjustments for autoflowers
Autoflowers have a compressed lifecycle — you have less time for training and less margin for error (stress during veg directly reduces yield because veg time is genetically fixed).
| Training technique | Autoflower recommendation |
|---|---|
| LST | Yes — start at node 3–4, continue through early flower |
| Topping | Only if the plant is very vigorous and you have experience. Top once at node 4–5, never later |
| Second top | No — not enough recovery time |
| SCROG | Optional — effective but requires an experienced hand |
| Mainlining | No — too much stress for the compressed timeline |
| Lollipoping | Minimal — light removal of clearly unproductive lower growth |
| Defoliation | Very light — autoflowers don't recover from aggressive defoliation the way photoperiods do |
Autoflower training timeline:
- Week 1–2: no training (seedling)
- Week 3: begin LST (gentle bending)
- Week 4: first and only top (optional, for experienced growers)
- Week 5+: continue LST, plants may begin pre-flower
- Flower: light LST only (tucking branches for light exposure)
See our autoflower guide.
Adjustments for outdoor grows
Outdoor plants have more veg time (months instead of weeks) and unlimited vertical space. Training priorities shift:
- Top multiple times — outdoor plants can handle 3–4 toppings over the long veg period, creating 8–16+ main colas
- Width matters more than flatness — spread the plant wide for maximum light capture rather than creating a flat indoor canopy
- Support is critical — outdoor colas get heavy. Tomato cages, bamboo stakes, or netting prevent branches from snapping in wind or under bud weight
- Stop training by mid-July (in WNY) — the plant begins transitioning to flower in August. See our WNY calendar
Reading the plant's response
The plant tells you whether training is going well:
| Observation | Meaning | Action |
|---|---|---|
| New growth within 2–3 days of bending | Healthy response | Continue training |
| Wilting after bending | Stem kinked or root disturbance | Reduce bending angle, check for damage |
| Yellow leaves after topping | Minor stress response | Normal if limited to 1–2 leaves |
| Growth stall for 5+ days after topping | Recovery taking too long | Check environment (light, pH, nutrients) |
| Multiple branches growing evenly | Training is working | Maintain current approach |
| One branch dominating despite LST | Apical dominance not fully broken | Bend the dominant branch lower or top it |
Common mistakes
- Training too early — topping a 3-node seedling removes half its leaf area and cripples recovery. Wait until 5–6 nodes
- Training too late — starting LST in week 6 of an 8-week veg means you're still recovering from training when you flip. Start early, train gently, build progressively
- Training during flower — anything beyond gentle SCROG tucking or light branch repositioning during flower risks hermaphroditism. The plant's stress tolerance drops significantly after the flip
- Removing too many fan leaves — defoliation is a tool, not a philosophy. Each removed leaf is removed solar energy capacity. Removing 50% of leaves because a YouTube video said to is aggressive even for experienced growers
- Not securing LST ties — a plant wire that slips frees the branch to spring back upright, undoing days of training. Secure ties firmly to the pot edge, and check them daily during peak growth
- Ignoring recovery time — each training event (topping, heavy LST, defoliation) costs 2–5 days of growth. Stack them and you're spending more time recovering than growing. Space training events at least 5 days apart
For individual techniques, see our topping guide, LST guide, SCROG guide, and training comparison.