Can one plant have more than one cola? It's been Prove many times that it can be done. It's actually very easy and straightforward. By pruning the plant the right way and the right time you can get up to 4 big colas.
Before we get started, what exactly is a cola? Simple. Cola means tail in Spanish, and is the name given to the long buds that the plant produces. Not all plants produce them due to how they are grown, and some produce huge ones. However, if you're growing on a small scale but want to impress yourself and your friends, I'd recommend growing the biggest colas you can.
If you want the biggest colas possible you'll probably do better growing single ones. Some gardeners feel that more cola means more yields, however, and they have a point. There are two methods to get multiple colas - training and trimming. We'll talk about trimming in this article.
What I mean by "trimming" is to pinch off the top of the plant when it's still young. This won't be news to anyone with other gardening experience. In fact, it's common practice with many plants. Fuchsia growers regularly pinch off growing tips to get more blossoms. It also works with different plant varieties. You can encourage bushy, rather than tall, growth.
There are two ways to pinch off this type of plant. You get a slightly different outcome with each technique. Each technique has its fans. You can try both and make up your own mind about which you prefer.
You should let the plant grow until it has5 or 6 sets of branches. The place where these branches leave the main stem are called nodes. They occur on the main stem, and the plant keeps growing up the center by popping out a shoot between the nodes, going upwards.
If you let the plant get a few sets of nodes and then pinch off the center stem just over a node, it will stop growing in the center and instead send out two even sprouts on each side of the pinched off center node. These will then grow as if the plant had two main stems. Each will keep shooting off branches and leaves as they grow, but the two new shoots will be the dominant branches.
You can do this different ways. If you like, you can just keep pinching off any central shoot that you see. You'll get lots of little buds, but no huge colas. Or, you can pinch less. One way will create 2 big colas, and the other will create 4. Either way, you should get some big ones.
The way to get four colas is to wait until you have more good nodes (4-6). You trim the center stem about an inch above the node. The plant will send out two new stems where you pinched it off, as well as two more from the node right below. That's four colas. The other method is to pinch it off lower. Without a node for the second set of stems to sprout you'll restrict the plant to only two new stems. Two stems = two colas.
What happens if you wait until the plant is taller and then pinch the stem at the 10th node? Do you get even more colas? The answer is yes, but the colas are smaller. Small colas aren't worth calling colas. They're buds, and that's all. They still work, mind you, and will perhaps increase overall yield. The thing is that clipping the stem manipulates the plant's hormones. You can't go too far before it stops working. Too much pruning will get lots of small buds, not lots of huge colas.
That's about all there is to it. Clip and wait for Nature to take it's course. Gardeners will argue about which method is best, but it's hard to get a definitive answer. There are really no controlled experiments that I know of. There are lots of variables.Lights, nutrients and strain all have their roles to play. Try to spread the plant out (4 big buds will help here) so that light gets to the lower reaches of it. Whatever you do, remember that it's about having fun, not getting maximum yield. You'll have plenty. And remember to root the main stem that you clip off for the future!
Before we get started, what exactly is a cola? Simple. Cola means tail in Spanish, and is the name given to the long buds that the plant produces. Not all plants produce them due to how they are grown, and some produce huge ones. However, if you're growing on a small scale but want to impress yourself and your friends, I'd recommend growing the biggest colas you can.
If you want the biggest colas possible you'll probably do better growing single ones. Some gardeners feel that more cola means more yields, however, and they have a point. There are two methods to get multiple colas - training and trimming. We'll talk about trimming in this article.
What I mean by "trimming" is to pinch off the top of the plant when it's still young. This won't be news to anyone with other gardening experience. In fact, it's common practice with many plants. Fuchsia growers regularly pinch off growing tips to get more blossoms. It also works with different plant varieties. You can encourage bushy, rather than tall, growth.
There are two ways to pinch off this type of plant. You get a slightly different outcome with each technique. Each technique has its fans. You can try both and make up your own mind about which you prefer.
You should let the plant grow until it has5 or 6 sets of branches. The place where these branches leave the main stem are called nodes. They occur on the main stem, and the plant keeps growing up the center by popping out a shoot between the nodes, going upwards.
If you let the plant get a few sets of nodes and then pinch off the center stem just over a node, it will stop growing in the center and instead send out two even sprouts on each side of the pinched off center node. These will then grow as if the plant had two main stems. Each will keep shooting off branches and leaves as they grow, but the two new shoots will be the dominant branches.
You can do this different ways. If you like, you can just keep pinching off any central shoot that you see. You'll get lots of little buds, but no huge colas. Or, you can pinch less. One way will create 2 big colas, and the other will create 4. Either way, you should get some big ones.
The way to get four colas is to wait until you have more good nodes (4-6). You trim the center stem about an inch above the node. The plant will send out two new stems where you pinched it off, as well as two more from the node right below. That's four colas. The other method is to pinch it off lower. Without a node for the second set of stems to sprout you'll restrict the plant to only two new stems. Two stems = two colas.
What happens if you wait until the plant is taller and then pinch the stem at the 10th node? Do you get even more colas? The answer is yes, but the colas are smaller. Small colas aren't worth calling colas. They're buds, and that's all. They still work, mind you, and will perhaps increase overall yield. The thing is that clipping the stem manipulates the plant's hormones. You can't go too far before it stops working. Too much pruning will get lots of small buds, not lots of huge colas.
That's about all there is to it. Clip and wait for Nature to take it's course. Gardeners will argue about which method is best, but it's hard to get a definitive answer. There are really no controlled experiments that I know of. There are lots of variables.Lights, nutrients and strain all have their roles to play. Try to spread the plant out (4 big buds will help here) so that light gets to the lower reaches of it. Whatever you do, remember that it's about having fun, not getting maximum yield. You'll have plenty. And remember to root the main stem that you clip off for the future!
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