Mastering the Outdoor Pre Flower Transition with Low Stress Training
The setup
Our grower is running a Purple Pomegranate photoperiod outdoors in a massive 30 to 40 gallon container of coco. We caught them on a cool, damp morning: 56 degrees Fahrenheit and 94 percent humidity, but mostly sunny. The plant is 56 days old and is right on the edge of its bloom phase.
When you grow in giant pots outdoors, managing the canopy shape is everything. Without training, these plants turn into tall, Christmas tree shaped giants that shade out their own lower branches. This grower wanted a wide, flat bush to maximize every bit of direct sunlight.
Why it worked
This is a textbook win. Instead of hacking away at the main stem with high stress topping, the grower used low stress training (LST). They gently bent the main branches down and secured them to the container rim. This simple move broke apical dominance, telling the plant to send growth hormones to the side branches instead of just the main top.
The result is a perfectly flat, table-like canopy where every single growing tip receives equal sunlight. The leaves show a flawless forest green color and excellent turgor, meaning they are fully hydrated and standing proud. Tiny white hair-like structures, called pistils, are just starting to emerge at the nodes, confirming she is transitioning smoothly into the pre-flower stage.
How to replicate it
- Start training early: Begin bending branches when they are still young and pliable, using soft plant ties secured to the pot rim.
- Space out the branches: Pull shoots outward from the center to open up the middle of the plant to light and fresh air.
- Let the medium dry: In large pots, let the top 3 inches of the medium dry out completely before watering again to keep oxygen flowing to the roots.
- Taper the nitrogen: As those first pistils appear, start transitioning from high-nitrogen grow nutrients to bloom formulas richer in phosphorus and potassium.
- Tuck, don't cut: At this stage, tuck large fan leaves underneath the growing tips rather than cutting them off, preserving the plant's energy factories.
Keep it going
- Watch the weather: Cool, humid mornings slow down water uptake, so adjust your watering schedule and let the pot dry out longer.
- Monitor the stretch: Plants can double in size during the pre-flower stretch, so ensure your tie-downs are secure and won't cut into expanding stems.
- Check runoff pH: Keep your watering pH around 6.0-6.3 in coco to prevent nutrient lockout as the plant's feeding demands change.
- Stop high-stress training: Do not top or FIM once the plant starts showing pistils, as this stunts growth when the plant needs to focus on building flowers.
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