How to “Train” Plants for Better Growth
When you bring home a baby plant for the first time, all kinds of hopes and dreams arise. You may see its full, lush potential in the future, but it will take a little preparation to achieve it . Plant “training”, also known as breeding, is the care and strengthening of plants. Certain techniques (wire, mesh and pruning) can shape your plants for better flowering and optimal growth.
However, some methods are simpler than others, and if you’re just starting out, it can be difficult to know which one to try. These beginner techniques will help you (and your plants) move in the right direction.
How to start a low stress workout with indoor plants
One of the easiest ways to start plant training is with low stress training (LST). This method begins when the plant is very young and flexible and (as the name suggests) has less of an impact on the plant – and on yourself. LST involves bending and fixing the plant as it begins to grow. This process separates the leaves and leaf groups, opening them up to distribute sunlight more evenly. You will need ties made specifically for the plants , or use soft, fuzzy pipe cleaners to gently lock in the new direction of the stem bend.
Gardening site Safer Brand suggests punching holes in a plant pot to secure ties, or using small fishing weights as anchors. Whatever you use, it should be flexible so you can continue to move and bend the plant as needed, but try to avoid metal or hard plastic that can cut into the stems of the plant. Once you have the materials ready, the technique is simple but subtle. The Safer Guard technique includes a hook and loop:
Starting with the outermost branches, bend each stem down from the center of the plant. An easy way to do this [is] in the form of a hook with a tie and a loop around the stem so that it doesn’t break the limbs or leaves. Use the hook to gradually, gently pull the stem down.
A similar form of LST is the wiring commonly used on bonsai trees. Wiring involves using lightweight flexible wiring to bend the plant into your chosen shape. It is used in bonsai art to create the iconic horizontal branches and shapes of small trees.
How to teach plants “without technology”
Training plants with the LST technique requires a certain level of attention. You must continue to bend the new shoot to keep the leaf pattern open so that the light is evenly distributed and creates thicker, denser plants. The no-technique method is another low-stress method in which you only need to bend the main stem of the plant. This is a great technique for beginners because it is almost an easy option. Observing the plant, of course, is necessary, but other stems do not need to be bent.
How to use the green screen teaching method
While lack of technique and low-stress training allow the shape of plants to be manipulated, the “green screen” or ” scrOG ” uses a network that promotes upward growth. Nets are usually made of rope , plastic or metal and guide the plant upward rather than inward or to the side. The net consists of PVC or metal tubes around the plant and above the stems; as soon as the stems begin to reach the fence, they are pulled or woven into a net.
The California Lightworks manufacturer’s website recommends that manufacturers take the “outermost branch” and pull it out. Then thread the branch in and out through the net. Once this branch is braided, move on to the next stem. Work your way in, stem by stem, until all branches are braided horizontally across the entire screen. ” As growth reaches the web, it will continue to grow as high as you like. This method is used when the plant is young to stimulate upward growth before the stems or sticks become stiff or grow inward.
What it looks like to train high stress plants
Other relatively simple, but slightly more strenuous forms of plant training include tops , where you remove the tops of the stems as they grow. Cutting off the tops signals the plant to sprout more in order to catch the sun, allowing for fuller growth. This process takes longer and is stressful for the plant, but your plant will grow much fuller if you do it in moderation. Topping is similar to pruning , in which you cut the leaves and sometimes the stems to give the plant its shape and promote its growth.
Finally, thinning involves planting a few seeds and removing weaker plants as they grow in order for the strongest to survive. Thinning is stressful for the plants (and yourself, as you are essentially killing them), but it creates strong, healthy plants with better bud growth.