More Training Techniques: Topping and LSTUpdated 3 months ago
Topping and Low Stress Training (LST) are two of the most popular cannabis training techniques used to improve plant structure, manage height, and increase yields. While both aim to help your plants make better use of light and space, they work in very different ways and place different levels of stress on the plant.
Understanding how each technique works—and when to use them—can help you decide which approach fits your grow style best.
What Is Topping?
Topping is considered a high-stress training technique. It involves cutting off the plant’s main growth tip, usually just above a node during the vegetative stage. By removing the dominant top, the plant redirects its energy into side branches instead of growing straight upward.
This change in growth pattern encourages a bushier structure with multiple main colas rather than a single central one.
Benefits of Topping
Encourages wider, bushier growth
Creates multiple main colas instead of one
Improves light penetration to lower branches
Helps control plant height in indoor grows
Drawbacks of Topping
Causes temporary stress and recovery time
Must be done at the right stage to avoid stunting growth
Improper cuts can increase the risk of infection
Topping is best done once the plant has at least 4–5 nodes and is actively growing in the vegetative phase. Avoid topping during flowering, as the plant will struggle to recover.
What Is Low Stress Training (LST)?
Low Stress Training focuses on gently shaping the plant rather than cutting it. Branches are bent and tied down to guide growth horizontally, allowing more light to reach multiple bud sites. Because no plant tissue is removed, stress levels remain low.
LST works by redistributing growth hormones, encouraging side branches to grow more evenly and creating a flatter, more productive canopy.
Benefits of LST
Minimal stress to the plant
Improves light exposure across the canopy
Ideal for small grow spaces
Encourages more bud sites without cutting
Drawbacks of LST
Requires regular adjustments as the plant grows
Results take longer to become visible
Branches can snap if bent too aggressively
LST can be started early in the vegetative stage while stems are flexible and can be continued well into flowering with careful adjustments.
How Topping and LST Affect Growth Differently
Topping physically removes apical dominance, forcing the plant to grow outward and develop multiple leading colas. LST, on the other hand, reshapes the plant by guiding growth rather than removing it, encouraging an even canopy without shock.
Both methods improve airflow and light distribution, which can lead to healthier plants and better bud development.
Yield and Quality Impact
Topping often results in a noticeable increase in yield by creating multiple large colas. LST increases yield by exposing more bud sites to light and improving overall plant efficiency. While topping can deliver faster structural changes, LST offers steady improvements with less risk.
Bud quality can benefit from both techniques thanks to improved light penetration and air circulation. Final results still depend on genetics, feeding, and overall plant care.
Using Both Techniques Together
Many growers combine topping and LST for the best results. Topping establishes multiple main branches, while LST helps spread them out evenly. When used together correctly, these techniques can create an ideal canopy that maximizes space, light, and yield.
Which Technique Is Best for Beginners?
LST is generally more beginner-friendly due to its low-risk approach and forgiving nature. It allows new growers to learn plant training without making irreversible cuts.
Topping is highly effective but requires confidence, timing, and clean technique. New growers may want to gain experience with LST first before moving on to topping.
Both methods are valuable tools. The key is choosing the one that matches your experience level, grow space, and goals—or learning how to use both together for optimal results.