LST (Low-Stress Training)
Definition: Low-stress training (LST) is the practice of gently bending and tying down cannabis stems so the plant grows wider instead of taller, without cutting or breaking any tissue. By leveling the canopy, LST exposes more bud sites to direct light and keeps plants within the height limits of a tent or a hidden outdoor spot.
How LST (Low-Stress Training) works
Plants grow toward light, and the highest shoot usually wins. When you bend the main stem sideways, the side branches that were shaded suddenly face upward and start racing to become tops themselves. Done steadily over several weeks, this turns a single-spire plant into a flat table of colas.
How to do it
- Start early: begin at 3 to 4 nodes, when stems are green and flexible.
- Bend, don’t snap: ease the main stem over to roughly 90 degrees and anchor it with soft plant ties or rubber-coated garden wire.
- Anchor points: drill small holes in the pot rim or use stakes; fabric pots let you clip ties straight to the edge.
- Adjust often: check every 2 to 3 days, because new growth turns back toward the light within a day or two.
Why it’s popular
LST causes almost no recovery time, which makes it the go-to method for autoflowers that can’t afford a week of stalled growth. It also works alongside topping on photoperiod plants, spreading the new leaders apart so they share light evenly.
You can keep tucking and tying through the first 2 to 3 weeks of flower, while the plant is still in its flowering stretch. After that, stems turn woody and buds get heavy, so further bending risks damage. A well-trained plant under a 2 x 2 ft light can fill the footprint with six or more tops at the same height.