What is High Stress Training? (Explained)

What is High-Stress Training (HST)?

High-Stress Training (HST) is a growing technique used to train plants to grow in a specific shape or direction. It involves putting the plants under stress by bending, pruning, tying, or defoliating them. This stress stimulates the plant to grow more branches and leaves, leading to a more bushy and compact plant.

HST is commonly used in indoor growing environments where space is limited and the plants need to be grown in a specific way to fit the available space. HST is also used to increase the yield of bushy plants by allowing them to grow more branches and leaves, leading to more buds or fruits.

HST is a simple and effective technique that can be used by both indoor growers and outdoor growers to achieve the desired growth pattern. However, it is important to note that HST should be done with care as overstressing the plant can lead to damage or even death.

What Are The Different Forms Of HST?

High-Stress Training (HST) is a technique used by cannabis cultivators to increase the yield and potency of their plants. There are several different forms of HST that are used to stress the plant and force it to produce more branches and colas.

1. Topping
2. Fimming
3. LST (Low-Stress Training)
4. Defoliation
5. Supercropping

Each form of HST has its own benefits and drawbacks, and the best method for a particular cultivator will depend on their specific goals and growing conditions.

Benefits of HST for Cannabis

There are several benefits to using HST, including:

1. Increased Yields: HST increases the number of branches and colas produced by the plant, resulting in a larger surface area for bud production and ultimately, a larger yield.
2. Improved Potency: By directing energy into the buds and colas, HST can lead to an increase in potency levels, making the buds more potent and flavorful.
3. Increased Light Penetration: By manipulating the growth pattern of the plant, HST can increase the amount of light that reaches the lower branches and colas, leading to an overall improvement in the quality of the buds.
4. Better Air Circulation: HST creates more space between the branches and colas, improving air circulation and reducing the risk of mold and other issues.
5. Increased Resilience: By exposing the plant to stress in a controlled manner, HST can help the plant become more resilient and better able to withstand any levels of stress in the future.

Overall, HST is a useful technique for cannabis cultivators who want to maximize their harvest and improve the potency of their plants.

The risks associated with HST

While HST can provide many benefits, there are also risks associated with this technique that cultivators should be aware of:

1. Over-Stressing the Plant: Over-stressing the untrained plant by applying too much pressure or bending the branches too far can cause permanent damage or even death.
2. Increased Risk of Pests and Diseases: By manipulating the growth pattern of the plant, HST can create new hiding places for pests and diseases, increasing the risk of infestation.
3. Reduced Resilience: While HST can increase the resilience of the plant, over-stressing can have the opposite effect, making the plant more vulnerable to stress in the future.
4. Increased Maintenance: HST requires careful monitoring and observation of the entire plants, and cultivators must be prepared to spend more time and effort maintaining their plants.
5. Reduced Yields: In some cases, HST can actually reduce yields if not executed properly. Over-stressing can cause the untrained plant to go into shock and produce popcorn buds or fewer branches and colas.

When should you start High-Stress Training?

The best time to start HST is during the vegetative stage, when the plant is still young and has a lot of energy.

Starting HST too early, when the plant is still a seedling, can cause permanent damage and limit its vertical growth potential. On the other hand, starting HST too late, when the plant is already in the flowering phase, can result in reduced yields and reduced potency levels.

During the vegetative phase, the plant has a lot of energy and resources available to respond to stress and produce more branches and colas. This is the ideal time to start HST, as the plant will be able to recover from the stress quickly and continue to grow and develop.

Can I HST My Plants During Flower?

Yes, you can HST your plants during the flowering stage, but it is generally recommended to start HST during the vegetation phase for the best results. HST during the flowering time can lead to reduced yields and reduced potency levels, as the plant will already be directing energy into its buds and colas.

If you do choose to HST your outdoor plants during the flowering phase, it is important to be careful and avoid over-stressing the plant. This can cause permanent damage or even death. It is also important to monitor the plant carefully and make adjustments as needed to ensure that it is not over-stressed.

Different Techniques For High Stress Training Plants

There are several different forms of HST, including Topping, Fimming, Low-Stress Training (LST), Defoliation, and Supercropping. Each form of HST involves manipulating the growth pattern of the plant to increase the number of branches and colas produced, and to direct energy into the buds and colas.

Topping – The Easiest High Stress Training Technique

Topping is one of the simplest and most commonly used techniques for High-Stress Training (HST) of cannabis plants. Topping involves cutting off the main stem of the plant, forcing it to grow two new branches in its place. This increases the number of colas produced by the plant, resulting in a larger surface area for bud production and ultimately, a larger yield.

Topping is easy to perform and requires minimal equipment. Simply use a clean, sharp blade to cut off the main stem, just above a node (the point where the leaves emerge from the stem). It is important to cut the stem cleanly and avoid damaging the surrounding branches or leaves.

Topping is a great starting point for cultivators who are new to HST, as it is a simple and effective technique that can provide noticeable results with minimal effort.

How Often To Top

The frequency of topping will depend on the specific goals of the cultivator and the horizontal growth patterns of the plants. Generally, it is recommended to top the plant once, when it is still young and has a lot of energy, and then wait for the new shoots to develop before topping again.

Topping too often can cause the weed plant to become over-stressed and limit its growth potential, while topping too infrequently can limit the benefits of the HST.

Fimming

Fimming is a form of High-Stress Training (HST) that is similar to topping, but involves removing a portion of the main stem instead of cutting it off completely. This forces the weed plant to grow two new shoots, increasing the number of branches and colas produced.

Fimming is performed by carefully cutting off a portion of the main stem, just above a node (the point where the leaves emerge from the stem). It is important to cut the stem cleanly and avoid damaging the surrounding branches or leaves.

Fimming is a more gentle form of HST compared to topping, and can be a good option for cultivators who are concerned about over-stressing their plants. Like all forms of HST, it is important to monitor the outdoor plants carefully and avoid over-stressing them. With careful observation and monitoring, fimming can lead to improved yields and better quality buds.

Low-Stress Training (LST)

Low-Stress Training (LST) is a form of High-Stress Training (HST) that involves bending the branches of the plant to manipulate its growth pattern. This can be done by tying the branches down or tucking them under a weight. LST is a gentle form of HST that can be a good option for cultivators who are concerned about over-stressing their plants.

LST involves bending the branches to create more space between the branches and colas, improving air circulation and reducing the risk of mold and other issues. By directing energy into the lower branches and colas, LST can increase the yield and potency of the plants. One thing to keep in mind with LST is that you always want to maintain a flat canopy, so no one branch is taller than the other.

LST requires careful monitoring and observation of the plants, as over-stressing the branches can cause permanent damage or limit their growth potential. It is important to use gentle pressure when bending the branches, and to adjust the ties or weights as needed to avoid over-stressing the branches.

Defoliation

Defoliation is a form of High-Stress Training (HST) that involves removing leaves from the plant. This forces the plant to direct energy into its buds and colas, increasing the yield and potency of the plants.

Defoliation involves removing a portion of the leaves from the plant, typically the lower leaves, to improve air circulation and reduce the risk of mold and other issues. By removing the leaves, the plant is forced to direct energy into its buds and colas, leading to an increase in potency levels.

Defoliation requires careful monitoring and observation of the plants, as over-defoliating the plant can cause permanent damage or limit its growth potential. It is important to remove only a portion of the leaves, and to avoid removing too many leaves at once.

Super Cropping

Supercropping is a form of High-Stress Training (HST) that involves gently bending the branches and applying pressure to the plant to cause internal damage. This forces the plant to produce more branches and colas as it tries to repair itself.

Supercropping is performed by gently bending the branches and applying pressure to cause internal damage. This damage triggers the plant to produce more branches and colas as it tries to repair itself. By manipulating the growth pattern of the plant, supercropping can increase the yield and potency of the plants.

Supercropping requires careful monitoring and observation of the plants, as over-stressing the branches can cause permanent damage or limit their growth potential. It is important to use gentle pressure when bending the branches, and to adjust the pressure as needed to avoid over-stressing the branches.

Integrating High Stress Training Techniques For A Heavy Harvest

Integrating multiple High-Stress Training (HST) techniques can lead to a heavy harvest and improved potency levels for cannabis cultivators. By combining the benefits of different forms of HST, cultivators can create a custom training program that is tailored to their specific goals and growing conditions.

For example, a cultivator could start with topping to increase the number of branches and colas, followed by LST to improve air circulation and reduce the risk of mold and other issues. Defoliation could then be used to direct energy into the buds and colas, and supercropping could be used to further manipulate the growth pattern of the plant.

Allow Your Plants To Rebound From Stress After HST

It is important to allow your plants to rebound from stress after High-Stress Training (HST). Over-stressing the plant can cause permanent damage or even death, so it is important to monitor the plant carefully and adjust the HST techniques as needed to avoid over-stressing the plant.

After HST, the plant may need time to recover and redirect its energy into growing new branches and colas. This can take several days to a week, depending on the specific HST techniques used and the growth patterns of the plant.

HST and Autoflowering Cannabis Plants

High-Stress Training (HST) can be used on autoflowering cannabis plants, but there are some differences to consider compared to HST on traditional photoperiod strains.

Autoflowering strains typically have a shorter vegetative phase, and they begin to flower automatically, regardless of the light distribution cycle. This means that the window for HST is much smaller, and cultivators must be careful not to over-stress the plant.

In addition, autoflowering strains are typically smaller and more compact than traditional photoperiod strains, which can limit the benefits of HST. However, with careful observation and monitoring, cultivators can still use HST to improve the yield and potency of their autoflowering plants.

In Conclusion

In conclusion, High-Stress Training (HST) is a popular technique used by cannabis cultivators to increase the yield and potency of their plants. There are several different forms of HST, including Topping, Fimming, Low-Stress Training (LST), Defoliation, and Supercropping. Each form of HST involves manipulating the growth pattern of the plant to increase the number of branches and colas produced, and to direct energy into the buds and colas.