Topping Cannabis Plants: The Complete Growing Guide

Written by Brandon Topp

3 October 2025

Your plant has 4-6 nodes and looks healthy. Should you top it today?

Yes, if you have 7-14 days of vegetative time remaining before flipping to flower. No, if you're closer to your planned flip date or already in the flowering stage.

We're breaking down exactly when to cut, how to execute it properly, and what alternatives work when timing doesn't line up. 

This isn't about chasing theoretical maximum yields through complex techniques.

It's about making a confident decision that fits your specific growing situation and timeline without stunting your plant.

Table of Contents

• When to Top Your Cannabis Plant for Best Results

• How to Count Nodes Without Getting It Wrong

• At What Stage Do You Top a Cannabis Plant?

• The Clean Cut That Creates Two Main Colas

• What Does Topping Do to a Cannabis Plant?

• Your Plant's First Week After Topping

• Does Topping Slow Down Growth?

• Should You Top Autoflowers?

• When LST or Supercropping Works Better Than Topping

• Is Topping Necessary?

• Topping Multiple Times for Maximum Branches

• Does Topping Actually Increase Yield?

• When Is It Too Late to Top Your Plant?

• Indoor vs Outdoor Topping Strategies

• What Successful Topping Actually Looks Like

When to Top Your Cannabis Plant for Best Results

The cannabis growing community has reached consensus on the 4-6 true node range for topping. This window works because it balances plant vigor with recovery time.

Your plant needs enough established growth to handle the stress without stunting, but you still need adequate vegetative time for recovery before transitioning to flower. 

A plant topped too early will struggle to bounce back, while one topped too late eats into your flowering schedule or forces you to skip the technique entirely.

The 100% Healthy Plant Requirement

We only select plants that show vigorous, healthy growth with specific observable signs. 

Look for steady upward growth each day, leaves with typical green coloration, no wilting or drooping between watering, and zero pest activity or damage.

Adding stress to a plant already dealing with nutrient issues, pests, or environmental problems compounds the setback. 

If your plant isn't thriving, address those issues first or choose low-stress training methods instead.

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The 7-14 Day Recovery Timeline

Recovery from topping takes 7-14 days of vegetative growth before your plant resumes standard vigor. 

This timeline determines whether topping makes sense for your specific situation.

Count backwards from your planned flip date. If you have two weeks of veg time remaining and want to top, you're in the safe zone.

If you're planning to flip in 5-7 days, topping today means your plant will still be recovering when you switch to flower, which reduces the benefit. 

The math is simple: topping is a scheduling decision first, a technique second.

How to Count Nodes Without Getting It Wrong

Node counting confusion causes more premature topping mistakes than any other factor. 

Here's what actually counts: a true node is where a pair of branches meets the main stem, with accompanying leaves growing from that junction.

Cotyledons never count as nodes. These are the first round, smooth leaves that emerge from the seed, and they're not true nodes.

Your first true node appears above the cotyledons, typically as the first set of serrated cannabis leaves with the characteristic pointed shape. 

Count upward from there: each junction where branches and leaves emerge together equals one node.

Why This Confusion Matters

Growers who count cotyledons as node one end up topping at what they think is node four, but is actually node three. 

This premature cut hits the plant before it has sufficient vigor to recover quickly.

You lose a week or more of growth time fixing a mistake that clear counting would have prevented. When in doubt, wait for the next node to develop fully before making your cut.

At What Stage Do You Top a Cannabis Plant?

Top cannabis plants when they reach 4-6 true nodes and show vigorous, healthy growth, typically 3-4 weeks from seed for photo period varieties. 

The plant should be actively growing with strong stems and consistent leaf development.

This stage represents the sweet spot where the plant has enough established structure to handle stress but still provides adequate recovery time in your vegetative schedule. 

Earlier cuts risk stunting seedlings, while later cuts reduce your ability to shape the plant's structure before flowering begins.

The Clean Cut That Creates Two Main Colas

Position your sterilized scissors or blade just above your chosen node, leaving the node itself completely intact. You're removing the top growth tip and the developing node above it.

The cut should be clean and decisive, roughly a quarter-inch above where the branches meet the stem. Jagged cuts or crushing damage increase infection risk and slow recovery.

Breaking Apical Dominance

Cannabis plants naturally send growth signals to the highest point on the plant. This single main cola dominates resource allocation, which is why untrained plants grow in a Christmas tree shape.

When you remove that top growth tip, the plant redistributes those growth signals to the next set of branches down. 

Those two branches now receive the resources that were flowing to the single top, and they develop into main colas instead of side branches.

Tool Sterilization Matters

We sterilize cutting tools with rubbing alcohol before each cut to prevent introducing bacteria or pathogens into the fresh wound. 

This simple step takes 30 seconds and dramatically reduces infection risk.

Clean, sharp tools also make cleaner cuts that heal faster than tears or crushing damage from dull blades. 

Use scissors, pruning shears, or a razor blade, whatever gives you a confident, precise cut in one smooth motion.

What Does Topping Do to a Cannabis Plant?

Topping removes the main growth tip, breaking apical dominance so lower branches develop into main colas instead of remaining subordinate side growth. 

The plant redirects growth hormones that were concentrated in the single top to multiple growth points.

This creates a bushier structure with two main colas where there was previously one. 

Over the subsequent weeks, the two new tops continue to grow upward, while the overall plant maintains a wider, more balanced canopy, rather than the tall, narrow shape of an untrained plant.

Your Plant's First Week After Topping

Expect slight wilting or slower growth in the first 24 to 72 hours after topping. This is normal as the plant adjusts to the sudden change and begins redirecting resources.

The two branches below your cut will start angling upward within 3-5 days as they receive the growth signals previously going to the removed top. 

By day 7, you should see obvious upward growth from both new main stems.

Water and Nutrient Adjustments

Monitor soil moisture more closely in the days following topping since the plant's water needs may temporarily decrease. We avoid overwatering while the plant recovers.

Maintain your regular nutrient schedule unless you see signs of stress. The plant still needs consistent feeding to support recovery and new growth.

Outdoor Protection for Large Cuts

Outdoor growers can apply pruning sealer to large cuts to prevent moisture infiltration and keep pests away from the fresh wound. 

This protective barrier is particularly valuable in humid climates or during periods of rain.

Indoor growers typically skip this step since controlled environments pose less infection risk. The wound will callus over naturally within a few days.

Does Topping Slow Down Growth?

Topping temporarily slows upward growth for 7-14 days while the plant recovers and redistributes resources to new growth points. 

You're trading that recovery period for improved structure and canopy distribution.

The plant isn't losing overall vigor. It's redirecting that energy laterally instead of vertically. 

After recovery, you'll have two main stems growing at the rate the single top was previously growing, which often results in a wider, more productive canopy despite the temporary slowdown.

Should You Top Autoflowers?

Only top autoflowers show exceptional vigor between days 14-21 of their lifecycle. 

Because autoflowers operate on a fixed genetic timeline regardless of light schedule, any stress that slows growth directly reduces your final harvest window.

A vigorous autoflower shows explosive daily growth, thick stems, and rapid node development. These plants can handle topping stress and recover within their limited vegetative window.

Defining Vigorous Growth

Vigorous autoflowers stack nodes every 2-3 days in early growth, with stems that feel thick and sturdy when gently squeezed. Leaves reach full size quickly, and the plant adds visible height daily.

If your autoflower is growing steadily but not explosively, or if you see any stress signs like slow leaf development or thin stems, skip topping entirely. 

The risk isn't worth the potential setback when you're working with a fixed timeline.

LST as the Safe Default

Low-stress training works for autoflowers of any vigor level without risking the recovery delay that topping requires. 

Gently bending and tying down branches achieves canopy spread without cutting the plant.

We recommend LST as the default approach for autoflowers unless you're highly confident in your plant's vigor and timing. 

The technique is forgiving, and you can adjust your training as the plant develops without committing to an irreversible cut.

When LST or Supercropping Works Better Than Topping

Strong LED grow lights providing 800+ PPFD across the canopy often eliminate the need for aggressive structural training. 

Modern lighting penetrates deeper into the plant, making the uniform canopy from the topping less critical for yield.

If you're running powerful lights and have adequate vertical space, gentle branch manipulation through LST can achieve similar canopy distribution without the recovery period that topping requires. 

You're using light intensity instead of plant structure to drive productivity.

Outdoor Benefits of Multiple Smaller Colas

Outdoor growers in humid climates benefit from multiple medium-sized colas instead of one massive top cola. Smaller, well-spaced colas allow better airflow and faster drying after rain.

This structural advantage reduces bud rot risk as harvest approaches and fall weather becomes unpredictable. 

Topping also helps keep plants below fence lines or sight lines when stealth matters.

FIM as a Less Predictable Alternative

FIMming involves a partial top cut that can create 4+ new growth points instead of the clean two-cola result from standard topping. The technique is less precise. 

You're intentionally making an imperfect cut.

Results vary more than with standard topping, and the new growth points may not develop as uniformly.

We mention it as an option, but most growers prefer the predictable results of a clean top cut or the control of LST.

Is Topping Necessary?

Topping is a useful tool for height control and canopy structure, but it's not necessary for successful cannabis cultivation. 

Many growers achieve excellent results using only LST, supercropping, or allowing natural growth patterns.

The decision depends on your specific constraints: indoor height limits, desire for stealth outdoors, preference for uniform colas that trim efficiently, and available vegetative time for recovery. 

If your situation doesn't benefit from those advantages, training-only approaches work beautifully.

Topping Multiple Times for Maximum Branches

Each topped branch can be topped again once it develops 2-3 new nodes on the resulting stems. 

This exponential multiplication creates four main colas after the second topping, eight after the third, and so on.

Plan for 7-14 days of recovery after each successive topping before executing the next one. 

Add up those recovery periods when scheduling your vegetative phase—multiple toppings require significantly longer veg time than a single topping.

The Uniform Cola Advantage

The real benefit of multiple toppings isn't necessarily increased total weight—it's getting uniform, medium-sized colas that all finish at the same time and trim with similar efficiency. 

You eliminate the mix of huge top colas and tiny popcorn buds lower on the plant.

This uniformity reduces harvest workload and improves the quality consistency of your final product. Every cola receives similar light exposure and develops to similar maturity.

When Support Becomes Necessary

Plants with multiple toppings develop many medium-sized colas on branches that may not naturally support that weight. Install trellis netting or SCROG screens to support developing colas as they gain mass during flowering.

Without support, heavily topped plants risk branch breakage or colas bending toward the floor under their own weight. Plan your support structure during vegetative growth before flowering begins.

Does Topping Actually Increase Yield?

Topping increases cola count and uniformity, but total weight gains vary significantly by growing setup and genetics. 

Some strains and environments show measurable yield increases, while others show improved distribution without more total weight.

The consistent benefit is better light distribution across uniform colas and reduced waste from underdeveloped lower growth. 

Think of topping as a quality and efficiency improvement rather than a guaranteed yield booster.

Whether you're growing popular strains like Runtz, Jealousy, and Tropicana Cherry Cookies or exploring the best strains for 2025, proper topping technique helps maximize what each strain naturally offers.

When Is It Too Late to Top Your Plant?

Never top after flowering begins or within 7 days of your planned transition to flower, as recovery requires vegetative growth that stops once flowering starts. 

Topping during flower redirects energy away from bud development and significantly reduces the final harvest.

If you've missed your topping window, you have effective alternatives that work during early flowering.

Gentle LST can still guide branches for better light distribution without the stress of cutting.

Safe Height Management Alternatives

Strategic supercropping involves carefully bending tall stems at a 90-degree angle to reduce height without removing growth tips. The technique requires practice but works well for emergency height control.

Selective defoliation removes large fan leaves that block light penetration without cutting main stems. Target leaves that shade entire bud sites rather than removing foliage that's actively conducting photosynthesis.

Lollipopping for Lower Growth

Lollipopping removes lower branches and growth sites that won't develop into quality colas due to insufficient light penetration. 

This focuses plant energy on the top canopy, where light intensity drives bud development.

Execute lollipopping in early flower rather than late vegetative growth to avoid multiple stress events close together. Remove lower growth that sits in shadow beneath your main canopy.

Indoor vs Outdoor Topping Strategies

Indoor growers count backwards from their planned flip date to ensure adequate recovery time. 

If you're flipping to 12/12 on September 1st and want to top, make the cut no later than August 18th to provide two weeks of recovery.

This calculation matters more indoors because you control the light schedule and can time your flip precisely. 

Topping too close to flip means recovery happens during early flower instead of late veg, which reduces the structural benefits you're trying to achieve.

Outdoor Seasonal Windows

Outdoor photoperiod plants begin transitioning to flower as day length shortens after the summer solstice. 

In most North American climates, this means June and July represent your topping window for structural development before preflowering begins.

Wait until late July or August to top, and your plant may already be showing preflower signs or early flower development. Regional climate variations affect this timing—southern growers may have until early August, while northern growers need to finish topping by mid-July.

How Container Size Affects Decisions

Plants in smaller containers (1-5 gallons) naturally stay more compact and may not require topping for height control. 

Larger containers (10-20+ gallons) allow explosive growth that benefits more from structural training.

Match your training intensity to your container size and planned vegetative length. 

A plant in a 3-gallon pot with 6 weeks of veg needs less intervention than a 20-gallon plant with 12 weeks of veg time.

What Successful Topping Actually Looks Like

Success means your plant recovered within the expected timeline without stunting, and you achieved more uniform cola development across the canopy. 

The win isn't hitting some theoretical maximum yield. It's avoiding setbacks while improving your plant's structure.

We see successful topping when the two new main stems grow vigorously upward within a week, the plant maintains healthy green leaves throughout recovery, and the final canopy shows even light distribution across multiple colas. 

Those practical outcomes matter more than chasing perfect numbers.

Understanding what quality cannabis looks like helps you evaluate your harvest objectively. 

Look for vibrant colors, frosty trichomes, and proper density, all signs that your growing techniques paid off.

Both Approaches Produce Excellent Results

Both top-producing plants and training-only plants regularly produce high-quality harvests when grown with attention and care. 

The technique you choose matters less than the consistent execution of your chosen approach.

We've seen exceptional results from heavily topped plants with 16+ main colas and equally impressive results from gently trained plants with 4-6 natural tops. 

Your growing environment, available time, and personal preferences determine which approach fits your situation better.

The key is making an informed decision about whether topping fits your timeline and goals, then executing that decision confidently without second-guessing through the growth cycle. 

Quality cultivation practices at every stage—from germination through harvest—matter more than any single training technique.

After perfecting your cultivation skills, proper storage becomes critical for preserving the quality you worked hard to achieve. 

Temperature, humidity, and light exposure all affect your final product's potency and flavor, so keeping your harvest fresh requires the same attention you gave it during growth.

Whether you're growing top-shelf quality flower, premium flower, or experimenting with different quality tiers, the topping decisions you make during vegetative growth directly impact your final harvest structure and efficiency.

For growers interested in specific effects, consider how topping affects strains designed for creativity versus energizing varieties.

Different strain types respond to training techniques in unique ways based on their genetic structure and growth patterns.

Once harvest arrives and you're ready to enjoy the results, explore Mood's selection of THCa flower to see how professional cultivation and careful curing create exceptional cannabis. 

Understanding how long cannabis stays fresh helps you plan consumption and storage strategies that maintain peak quality.

For those who prefer convenience, pre-rolls made from quality flower offer the same carefully cultivated genetics you could grow yourself, already prepared and ready to enjoy.