Example of the FIM technique

[piccolo]

When growing indoor plants you will inevitably be confronted with the ultimate question… To top or not to top?

If you decide to top your plants I highly recommend you use the FIM technique. This is where you cut (I use scissors) the top growth/node about 70% down rather than cutting the entire top off. With some practice you will soon be able to constantly get 4 tops rather than two every time you top your plants. This works on all new growth sites where the main top node is producing new growth.

Here is an example of a successful FIM

[Grohio]

The few times i tried it i could not get uniform results like you. Are you cutting the top 30 percent or do you mean you are cutting the top 70 percent and leaving the bottom 30 percent. The latter is what it looks like to me.

[piccolo]

That is correct lol I said it backwards. Cut off the top 70%

[Grohio]

Well, I would say you did it perfectly! Does it seem to slow the growth anymore then a normal topping?

[piccolo]

Not at all. I FIM’d this one last night! As long as you use sharp, clean, small pair of shears you should be able to make a clean cut.

[piccolo]

And thanks!!

[Sasquatch]

Appreciate the clarity and the pics @piccolo , your straight-forward explanation of this will give me the confidence to try the same! Thanks brother!

[piccolo]

Thanks man glad I could help

[TreeTop]

Nice job piccolo, add some pics as new growth comes in if you can.

[Beerus]

Oh hey piccolo, didnt realize you were in here.

[ChronicMcBudz]

Thanks for posting this. I was just wondering a couple nights ago if people still did this. I remember back in the OG 1.0 days people were getting upwards of 8 tops out of a single FIM. The writeup is still in the growfaq here, but to my knowledge the original pics were lost.

[piccolo]

That’s correct! I’ve got 6 tops before but usually just 4. I remember posting about this back in the day on the original OG. I think the first time I ever did this was about 20 yrs ago. I feel like if you’re going to top might as well get more bang for your buck!! Thanks for looking and much love!

[corey]

Boy am I glad I read this. I was gonna do some topping today but something came up. Thanks @piccolo

[Canofbusjoe]

Thanks for the reminder
I used to do this all the time had great success with my thumb nail and forefinger… Not sure why I stopped

[ChronicMcBudz]

Just saw we do have a version of the original FIM FAQ with pics.

What is the FIM technique?

Some growers are now using the "FIM technique" as a way to get more growing shoots per each time you top. The strategy involves cutting off 90% of the growing shoot and leaving 10% intact. From that 10%, up to 8 more branches can emerge. This is useful for those growing SCROG style or those wanting lots of clones from a mother plant. [image] Diagram A shows the tradional method of topping: cutting the whole node off cleanly, to induce the stalk to split into two. But diagram B indicates to mak…

[piccolo]

bringing back memories!!

[resinates_well]

I’d like to see follow up pics. It seems as if FIM often results in the new tops being different lengths and some new leaves having short leaflets (not a full fingered leaf). Ive seen FIM work and thanks for this thread. Though most of the time I find the new growth disfigured.

[piccolo]

That def does happen and in fact I messed up a couple myself on this round. I’ll post pics of both the ones that were perfect and the ones that got cut to close and messed up one or both of the tops.

[nefrella]

@piccolo are you always going to get 4 tops? Provided you get the cut in the right place?

[piccolo]

No you can get up to 8. I’ve gotten as many as 6 tops, but usually I get 3-4.