Marijuana Pruning: Topping Vs Fimming

Fimming and topping cannabis plants are both cutting methods used by cannabis growers to improve the shape of the plant (so they can better access light), induce the growth of more colas (flowering sites) and, ultimately, harvest bigger yields. But which is the best method for training your plants? Here we will go over the pros and cons of each technique to help you make your decision.

What Is Topping?

Topping is a technique used by cannabis growers during the vegetative cycle, during which time you cut off the top part of a plant to stop vertical growth in order to instead promote lateral growth toward the bottom branches of a plant. It may sound absurd to cut off and dispose of part of your cannabis plant, yet this is an essential step to ensure your plants are healthy and provide a quality yield. Think of it as a short-term loss for a long-term gain – and it truly is a gain. After topping, growth hormones are evenly distributed toward the lower end of the plant, allowing these smaller side branches to grow out and form large, dense buds.

What are the Pros and Cons of Topping?

Topping is the recommended HST for those that are beginners to growing as it is very easy to undertake and will give you some great results. All you need to do is wait until your plant has grown a minimum of 3 nodes and then cut off the newest node – cutting just above where the leaves of the node underneath are. This will lead to 2 colas growing in the place of the 1 you cut off – giving you 2 for the price of 1!

This is a quick and easy technique which will not only increase the number of colas you produce but also help your plant to grow bushier and healthier. Topping will also help to control the shape of your plants, making them less like a Christmas tree and more able to be exposed to more light – this is especially important if you are growing indoors to make the most of your grow lights.
This is a pretty successful technique but the one con of topping is that it might take a bit of time to work up the courage to take a scissor to your plants – but it will be worth it for those bigger yields.

What Is FIMming?

FIMming is a technique used by cannabis growers to dramatically increase the yield of their plant while also making the plant more manageable. It’s usually done by growers with limited space. As no two FIMs are the same, it’s important not to expect the same result every single time. Commonly referred to as ‘FIM’, the act of cutting a young cannabis plant in a certain way is historically known as an acronym for “F**k! I missed”. The key difference between topping and FIMming is the location at which the cannabis plant is cut. With FIMming, you remove any new growth while avoiding any cuts between the nodes, whereas with topping, you cut off the top of the plant altogether.

What are the Pros and Cons of Fimming?

Fimming is pretty similar to topping but this technique will produce even more colas so is a good choice if you just have a couple of plants growing in order to achieve maximum productivity. It is also pretty easy and hard to get wrong so, while a technique favored by more advanced growers, you can still try it out as a beginner. Simply wait until you have at least 3 nodes on your plant and then pinch the leaves of the most recent node with your finger and thumb.

After a few weeks of the fimming taking place, you will be blessed with at least 4 new colas and it will help your plant to grow bushier. However, fimming it isn’t as effective as topping at reducing the height of your plants and, as it isn’t as ‘stressful’ to plants as topping, it might not always achieve the desired effect.

Topping Vs. FIMming

There are many factors to consider when choosing which HST techniques to use. As both have their pros and cons, it’s for you to decide what will best suit your needs. For example, FIMming is better suited for indoor or micro-growers with limited space, as it allows them to maximize their plant yield. Conversely, topping is preferred by outdoor and large commercial growers, as they will usually top a plant multiple times to produce a strong, bushy weed that will require less support than those that have been FIMmed.

The Best Pruning Tools for Cannabis

You don’t need much in terms of equipment for topping and fimming. For fimming, you simply need your fingertips but for topping it is a good idea to get a pair of good quality pruning tools/leaf trimmer machine so that you can be assured of a quick, clean snip to your precious plants.

Trimming Shear

• REDUCE HAND STRAIN: These micro tip snips are built spring-loaded so that they automatically push themselves open without you having to do the work which greatly reduces hand fatigue making these snips great for those with arthritis, carpal tunnel, hand or wrist issues. Comfort Grip handles will make it easy to work for long periods of time without discomfort.
• ULTRA SHARP BLADES: These quality snips come with stainless steel precision-sharpened blades and are ready to tackle all of your deadheading, trimming, and shaping needs for your roses, annuals, vegetable and small flower gardens.
• SECURE, EASY TO OPERATE LOCK: These micro tip snips feature a safe and secure sideways locking mechanism that keeps your blades protected and closed when not in use. The design of these pruning snips are perfect to use whether you are right or left handed with ease.
• MAKE PRECISE CUTS: With these micro tip snips, you can easily get between plants to "clip and snip" only the area or part that you want to cut with one-hand and without damaging the other vital stems and branches of your other plants.

Final Thoughts

When fimming or topping cannabis plants this will definitely get you some bigger colas and possibly more if done correctly. It does take some practice with theses methods and to see which one you would prefer to use.

I usually start of with the fim and then move to the ice method of topping.This produces a lot of bud sections to my liking a keeps the canopy even for the most part.What methods do you use?

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