# When should I stop training my plants?

> Stop training cannabis by technique. Do the last topping at least 7–10 days before the flip to 12/12. Finish hard LST bending and supercropping by flower week 2–3, when stems lignify at the end of the stretch. Keep tucking under a net for about the first 2 weeks of stretch. After that, only gentle guiding and support.

- Canonical: https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/answers/when-to-stop-training.html
- Topic: Training · Type: How-to
- Evidence: Grower practice · Status: Draft: awaiting expert review
- Full article: [LST: low-stress training](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/training/lst.md)
- Also asked as: When should I stop LST in flower? | Can I train during the stretch? | What is the last day to top before flowering? | Can I LST in flower? | When to stop supercropping
- Updated: 2026-10-31 · Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/), attribute "GenetixBay Knowledge Base (genetixbay.com/knowledge)"

## Short answer

Stop each kind of training at its own point. Top for the last time at least 7–10 days before the flip. Finish hard [LST](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/lst.md) bending and [supercropping](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/supercropping.md) by flower week 2–3, when the [stretch](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/stretch.md) ends and stems stiffen. Keep tucking under a net for about the first 2 weeks of stretch, then only gentle guiding. *Grower practice*.

## Why

Training builds an [even canopy](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/even-canopy.md), and an even canopy puts more [bud sites](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/bud-site.md) in good light. Yield follows light [2], and shaded lower buds carry lower, less uniform [cannabinoids](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/cannabinoid.md) [1].

Topping is the slowest to recover from: 3–7 days before visible regrowth. Done in flower, that recovery comes out of bud-building time.

The stretch is the last chance to shape the plant. Stems and [internodes](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/internode.md) elongate fastest roughly 5–10 days into short days [3], so most height gain happens in the first 2–3 weeks after the flip.

Remember the flip isn't day 1 of flower. The first 10–14 days after [12/12](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/12-12.md) are a transition, and that's exactly the window when bending and tucking still work.

By week 3 stems have lignified. Woody stems crease or snap when bent, and the plant is now spending its energy on flowers, not on regrowing.

## The numbers

| Technique | Last done | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Topping, [FIM](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/fim.md) | 7–10+ days before the flip | Never in flower |
| Hard LST bending | Flower week 2–3 | Gentle guiding after |
| Supercropping | First 2 weeks of flower | Green stems only |
| [SCROG](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/scrog.md) tucking | About the first 10–14 days of stretch | Then let [tops](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/top-shelf.md) grow up |
| [Lollipopping](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/lollipopping.md) | Flip to about day 21 | Lower third only |
| Leaf tucking | Any time | Tuck, don't pluck |
| Support (stakes, [trellis](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/trellis.md)) | Any time | Heavy [colas](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/cola.md) need it in late flower |

## What to do

1. Plan back from the flip date: last top 7–10 days earlier.
2. Keep LST ties moving every 2–4 days through veg and early stretch.
3. Tuck shoots under the net for the first 2 weeks after the flip.
4. Supercrop any runaway tops before week 3.
5. From week 3, only support, tuck leaves and adjust gently.

## Common mistakes

- Topping after the flip.
- Starting hard bends in week 4 and snapping woody branches.
- Forgetting ties as stems thicken in flower.
- Stripping leaves instead of tucking them.

## Related

- Full article: [LST: low-stress training](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/training/lst.md)
- Answers: [recovery after topping](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/answers/recovery-after-topping.md) · [plant too tall for the tent](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/answers/plant-too-tall-for-tent.md) · [when to flip](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/answers/when-to-flip-to-flower.md)
- Training: [topping](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/training/topping.md) · [supercropping](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/training/hst-supercropping.md)
- Terms: [tucking](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/tucking.md)

## Follow-up questions

**Can I LST in flower?** Yes, you can keep LST going into early flower, but stop hard bending by mid-stretch, around flower week 2–3, when stems turn woody. During the stretch, tuck tops under a net or steer them gently instead of forcing sharp bends. Later, bending woody stems risks creasing or snapping; if one creases, tape it and it usually heals.

**Can I top in flower?** Don't top in flower. The plant needs 3–7 days before visible regrowth after topping, and in flower that recovery comes straight out of bud-building time. Do the last top at least 7–10 days before switching to 12/12 so the new tops are growing strongly at the flip. If a plant is too tall in flower, supercrop or bend it instead.

**Can I supercrop during the stretch?** Yes, supercropping works well in the first two weeks of flower, while stems are still green and the stretch is pushing tall tops toward the light. Pick a pliable section 5–15 cm below the tip, soften it gently and bend it over. After about week 3, stems are woody and more likely to snap, so switch to support stakes or a trellis.

## Sources

1. Danziger N, Bernstein N, 2021. Shape matters: plant architecture affects chemical uniformity in large-size medical cannabis plants. Plants 10(9):1834. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8468686/
2. Rodriguez-Morrison V, Llewellyn D, Zheng Y, 2021. Cannabis yield, potency, and leaf photosynthesis respond differently to increasing light levels in an indoor environment. Frontiers in Plant Science 12:646020. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.646020
3. Alter H, Sade Y, Sood A, et al. 2024. Inflorescence development in female cannabis plants is mediated by photoperiod and gibberellin. Horticulture Research 11(11):uhae245. https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhae245