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What Is Low-Stress Training And Why Do We Do It?

Low-Stress Training (LST) is a yield-boosting technique that involves gently bending and tying down cannabis plant branches and stems to reshape the plant's growth pattern.

The primary purpose of LST is to break up the natural apical dominance, or “Christmas tree” shape, which causes large buds to appear on the upper part of the foliage while small buds remain on the sides. Training the plant in this way, allows better light penetration for side colas, leading to bigger yields and greater density.

When using Low-Stress Training methods, growers must be mindful of the potential damage that may occur from too much pulling or tying. If done wrong, bruising can occur along with increased susceptibility of plants to infection or spider mite infestations.

Additionally, most varieties respond best when they are trained at a young age when they are smaller in size and more delicate. When trained correctly, however, growers will see an increase in top-shelf quality buds as well as overall weight at harvest time.

The History Of Low-Stress Training

Low-stress training has been used for centuries to improve the yield of fruit and vegetable crops. Growers have been manipulating their plants to take advantage of the limited light and resources available, using techniques such as topping and pruning, as well as bending and trellising.

Low-stress training is a modern version of this ancient practice, used specifically to force fruiting trees into a flat structure. By bending and restricting the plant's branches, the grower can make sure that the buds get maximum exposure to the sun while still allowing air to flow through them.

This method leads to maximum yields with more efficient use of space and light, making it a popular choice among growers of all kinds.

LST: A Training Technique That Your Cannabis Plants Won't Mind

Low Stress Training (LST) is a popular training technique that cannabis growers use to encourage the best yields from their entire plants. It involves gently manipulating and guiding the plant's growth hormone with techniques that are proven to decrease the risk of over-stressing it.

To do this, there is no inherent pruning or trimming involved; rather LST simply involves gently pushing and tying down stems and branches to create an even canopy structure, allowing for maximum light and air exposure for all buds. This also helps prevent quick stretching during the vegetative stage which can limit yields later in the flowering stage.

Many cannabis plants respond very well to LST, as it encourages new bud sites far more evenly throughout the plant than other high-stress techniques like topping. LST not only results in healthier, happier plants with better marijuana yields, but it also saves time due to having fewer wait times while the plant recovers and adapts after undergoing such changes.

In addition, this method is often used in combination with other environments such as topping or removing lower fan leaves to ensure maximum bud production without damaging any of the key parts needed for proper growth.

What You Need For LST

LST, or low-stress training, is an increasingly popular method of optimizing plant growth and yield. It involves bending the stems of plants to achieve desired shapes and sizes. Given that this method doesn't involve pruning or seriously stressing the plants, it allows for better light penetration and even growth stages. To properly perform LST on your plants, there are certain supplies that you need to have at your disposal.

First off, you will need rubber-coated wire or soft plant ties. This is necessary to safely hold down the stem without causing too much strain on the plant itself. Thin wooden or bamboo stakes can also be very useful in anchoring the rubber-coated wire and giving it something to grip securely.

Additionally, a small hand drill is needed for drilling holes into any stakes required as well as for securing duct tape when necessary. Despite requiring only a few supplies, we strongly advise against using regular string when performing LST since this can easily harm your plant by cutting into its stems.

Prepare Your Container For LST

When it comes to pre-LST preparation, having your container ready is just as important as the actual task of Low-Stress Training. Fortunately, it doesn’t take much to do this. Start by drilling several holes around the rim of your growing container.

These can then be used to loop ties or strings through for securely holding in place any stems or branches you wish to manipulate. You may also want to consider a few thin wooden or bamboo stakes at around 30cm in length which offer additional support and help keep everything in position.

How To LST Your Cannabis Plants

Discover the secrets of Low-Stress Training (LST) to optimize your cannabis plants' growth, yield, and potency. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process, techniques, and benefits of LST, ensuring your plants thrive and reach their full potential.

Break Apical Dominance

Breaking apical dominance is an important step in the process of cultivating healthy, productive plants. This technique involves bending the main stem of a marijuana plant gently down toward the rim of its plant container.

Once flattened, light will be able to reach many more lower bud sites which will result in producing a greater yield come harvest time. To accomplish this task, you can use some soft marijuana plant wire and pre-drilled holes to secure the downward-bent stem in place.

After this has been done your buds will likely become fuller and bushier, making for better growing conditions with easier access to both air and light.

By following these simple steps, you'll be able to break apical dominance to benefit from an increased yield and healthier plants overall. This method works particularly well when it comes to outdoor gardening as it makes access much easier than if the plants had grown tall and unruly.

Shape And Maintain Your Plants

Shaping and maintaining outdoor plants is an essential part of successful growth. To get the desired effect, Low-Stress Training (LST) is employed by many gardeners. The idea behind this technique is to keep a flat canopy with each branch evenly spaced, so no single one gets taller than the other thus preventing any light wastage due to it blocking other parts of the canopy.

This is achieved by bending shoots away from the main stem once they’ve grown above the canopy level. Beginners should take some time to plan their desired shape before they start training their healthy plants to avoid any situations that could have been avoided with enough foresight.

On top of this, as accidents can happen, even experienced growers may sometimes end up snapping quality branches while bending them into place, but fear not as many times these mistakes can be salvaged without affecting total yields too much if handled carefully and with patience.

Where And When To LST

LST (Low Stress Training) is a great technique for any cannabis grower, whether you are growing cannabis indoors or outdoors. Indoors, it can be used to increase yields and increase direct light penetration throughout the canopy. However, outdoor growers haven’t been forgotten about when it comes to LST either!

In colder climates such as the UK and other parts of Northern Europe, outdoor LST can make all the difference if you want to increase your superior yield during the summer season without having to rely on long days of sunshine. Not only will this help ensure bigger buds come harvest time, but having a neat and low profile canopy may also bring some additional bonus of deterring unwanted attention on your crop.

For this reason, it is best to begin training with LST as soon as your plants have established themselves in their home environment so that they have plenty of time to get used to any form of manipulation.

What About LST And Autoflowers?

Autoflowers are becoming increasingly popular for indoor growers due to their quick turn-around and need for minimal intervention. With this in mind, many gardeners are wondering if it is possible to use low-stress training (LST) with these weed plants.

The answer is a resounding yes! Autoflower seeds may not require any changes to the light cycle for flowering, but there are still many benefits that LST techniques can provide them. When executed correctly, LST can help optimize the light exposure on your plants and ultimately boost yields.

Gone are the days of traditional auto-flowering strains being unable to properly handle high-stress training methods like topping and defoliation. Newer generations of autos have been bred specifically to be more resistant, allowing you to maximize your yields through LST with complete confidence.

To reap maximum benefit from your auto-flowering ladies, consider adding some low-stress training into the mix! Through proper pruning, repositioning, and tucking of branches, you will be sure to maximize your yield and reach true gardening nirvana!

More: Lighting Schedules for Autoflowering Cannabis.

Top Cannabis Strains Suitable For LST Training

Low-stress training (LST) is a technique that cannabis growers use to manipulate the shape of their cannabis plants and larger yields. This technique uses string, tape, and other tools to bend stems without causing significant strain or damage.

The flexibility of younger plants makes them easy candidates for LST, and the technique can be applied to almost any strain or genetics. However, many pro-growers prefer to use sativa or sativa-dominant strains due to their stretcher form, which makes them easier and more flexible to manipulate.

This relative flexibility allows better chances of success when it comes to influencing yield as well as controlling and encouraging specific growth patterns.

Amnesia Haze

Amnesia Haze is a popular marijuana strain with a long, rich history. It was the result of crossing several cannabis genetics from Haze varieties that were cultivated in Holland. Breeders created many hybrids by crossing an old-school Haze to create the well-known Amnesia Haze strain that became famous for its potency and impressive yields. With 70% sativa genetics and 30% Indica, this strain provides an uplifting high that targets both body and mind.

Strawberry Cough

Strawberry Cough is a legendary Sativa strain that has become renowned for its sweet, strawberry-tinged smoke and high THC levels. This hybrid provides both social and energetic highs. Growing Strawberry Cough yourself is a breeze due to its sativa genetics, allowing you to apply LST practices when harvesting your crop in as little as nine weeks.

It's no wonder people keep coming back to Strawberry Cough strain; not only does it provide a relaxed and stress-busting experience, but it also tastes great and is easy to cultivate! The feminized seeds make it super simple for even the most beginner-level gardeners as well. All these factors combined make Strawberry Cough an absolute must for any connoisseur looking for an enjoyable smoking experience and a quick-growing period.

Low Stress Training Cannabis For Heavier Yields

For those looking to maximize their yields from cannabis cultivation, low-stress training (LST) can be a great way to increase flowering sites on your plants and get the most out of each individual. This method is simple to employ, often involving bending and weaving stems to promote uniform growth throughout the entire plant structure.

Additionally, it is much easier for plants to adjust to and adapt to LST than more drastic methods such as topping or pruning. For new growers looking to incorporate this technique, Quebec's cannabis seeds are bred specifically for good results with LST, making them an ideal choice.