Super cropping: high performance growing technique

One of growers’ main goals is to make the most out of their crop, therefore, they are always looking for the best growing methods to obtain big, dense and resinous buds. The super cropping technique submits the plant to positive stress by breaking some branches in order to improve plants’ performance.

What is the super cropping technique?

Also known as High Stress Training (HST), super cropping consists of increasing a plant’s growth and productivity by subjecting it to high levels of stress. The idea is to break the most developed branches and bend them to increase buds’ light intake by reducing shadows. This way, the yield increases.

Super cropping is quite a delicate procedure. It is a more suitable option for experienced growers with great knowledge on cannabis plants.This technique can be applied to boost the growing phase or to increase the yield during the flowering period. Although super cropping sounds scary, all growers can learn to perform it properly.

To do super cropping correctly, you need to break the branches’ fibers partially, just enough for them to bend comfortably without breaking them completely, as otherwise the plant might not recover fully.

This technique is very beneficial for the crop: It strengthens plants’ immune system towards pathogens and external stressful factors and it also increases trichomes and yield production between 10-20%.

When to super crop

This method can stress the plant a fair bit, thus it’s important to know when is the right moment to do it, making sure the plant will recover fully and provide the expected results. 

As already mentioned, super cropping is suitable for both phases of marijuana plants. However, if the grower doesn’t have much experience, our recommendation is to start using it only during the growth period. It will be easier for the plant to recover from possible mistakes and they won’t affect the yield.

To use this stress-controlled technique during the growth period, the plant needs to be minimally developed to be able to bear it and recover easily. General guidelines suggest waiting between two weeks and one month, until the plant is at least 30 cm. You can also opt to wait a little longer, until 3-7 days before the start of the flowering period, to apply this method for the first time.

Take into account that if waiting too long, the plant will center all of its energies into the buds’ growth, instead of on its own heftiness. This is the reason why it needs to be done during the first month of growth. 

During the first two weeks of flowering, the plant will experience an abrupt expansion, which is a great moment to do super cropping for the first or second time. After the first node, the plant is ready to recover from fiber breakage, although some growers prefer breaking the fibers after the third node. As your experience with this technique increases, you’ll be able to apply the technique on different moments and see the results.

How to do super cropping

Before deciding on this technique, you need to learn about this procedure and apply it with patience and care to not damage the plant beyond repair.

Necessary tools

• Plastic clamps or strings to tie  the plants properly

• Bamboo sticks

• Masking tape

• Gloves

Applying the technique

First of all, the grower needs to choose a branch to start with. It’s best to choose a mature one, making sure that the structure is soft enough. Hold the branch with your thumb and index finger, 7 cm from the tip and bend it towards where you want it to grow.

The main goal is to break the inside fibers without altering the external ones. Avoid applying this technique on the first 2 or 3 nearest nodes to the tip of the plant.

Once the branch is bent properly, tie it with a plastic clamp or string and use a bamboo stick if necessary, to make sure it stays at the right inclination angle. Done properly, the affected area will recover very fast, forming small calluses where the breakage took place. These calluses will be very handy to hold the buds during the flowering period.

Probably you’ll have to apply the super cropping technique to the same branch more than once as the stems have a tendency to return to their natural shape.

If by any chance the branch breaks too much, use masking tape to facilitate healing. Don’t leave it on any longer than 10 days. 

Considerations to take into account before using this technique

Not all plants are suitable for super cropping. It’s essential that the plants are strong and properly nourished to be able to withstand the stress produced by this technique in order to recover successfully. This method shall not be applied to sick plants.

It’s important to apply this technique during the growth phase during the learning process, as this way, the plant will have enough time to recover from any possible mistakes without affecting the yield. As the grower’s experience increases, it will be easier to perform super cropping during the flowering period without risking the crop. 

Always tie the branch by the stem, not by the bud, as this could weaken it. 

The response will also be different depending on the grown cannabis seed, as they all have different tolerance levels and yield capabilities. 

The super cropping technique increases growth pattern and yield production on cannabis plants. However, in order to make the most out of the crop, an expert grower will manage to combine this method with other stress-controlled techniques, such as main-lining or LST and obtain even greater results.