Low Stress Training (LST), Step by Step

LST is bending and tying down branches instead of cutting the plant. It works because cannabis pushes most of its growth into the highest point (apical dominance) — bend the main top below the side branches and the plant redistributes growth across all of them. Same plant, same light, dramatically more even canopy and more top sites. WHEN TO START Once the plant has 3–4 nodes and a flexible stem — usually 2–4 weeks from sprout for photos. Autos: start around day 14–21 and be gentle; there's no recovery time in an auto's fixed schedule. WHAT YOU NEED Soft plant ties, garden wire covered in something soft, or pipe cleaners. And something to anchor to — holes drilled in the pot rim work, or tie to the pot itself. THE METHOD 1. Water a few hours before — well-hydrated stems bend; dry ones snap. 2. Pick a bend point a few nodes up where the stem still flexes. Hold below the bend with one hand, press gently with the other thumb until you feel the stem soften, then ease it over 90 degrees. 3. Tie the top down so it sits below the side branches. Loose loop — a tight tie girdles the stem as it thickens. 4. Every day or two, adjust ties to keep the canopy level. That's it — LST is a daily five-minute habit, not a one-time event. IF YOU SNAP A STEM Tape it back together with plant tape or even duct tape and support it. A partially attached stem heals in a week or two — the plant is tougher than it looks. Full break = it becomes a clone or compost. COMBINING WITH TOPPING Topping (cutting the main tip) plus LST is the classic manifold setup: top once at 4–5 nodes, then train the resulting mains outward. More aggressive, still reliable. Never top an auto on a tight schedule — the stunting can cost more than it gains. WHEN TO STOP Keep shaping through the first two weeks of flower (the stretch). After week 3 of flower, leave the plant alone — stems lignify, bending gets brittle, and the plant's focus should be on buds.