Main-lining / Manifold step by step
When your tent ceiling is closer than you’d like and you dream of flat, chunky colas without a spiderweb of netting, manifold (aka main-lining) gets it done. It’s not magic, it’s order: symmetry, repeatable cuts, and a bit of patience. In return you get an even canopy, easier side lighting, and fewer fixes in flower. Best part? This hack costs pocket change — a few soft ties, clean shears, and two extra weeks of veg.
When it’s worth it — and when to skip
Do it if:
You run a low tent (60–160 cm) or a lamp with a strong hotspot and want to flatten the canopy.
You prefer 8–12 even colas instead of one spear and lots of popcorn.
You grow from seed (opposite, symmetrical nodes = perfect material).
You can add +7–14 days of veg for better geometry and easy control.
Think twice if:
You run autoflowers: possible, but very early only (around the 3rd node) — risk of slowdown or tiny plants.
You start from clones: they often have alternate (asymmetrical) phyllotaxy. Manifold is doable, symmetry is harder.
You’re time-pressed or light-limited — each round of cuts is micro-stress; give 3–7 days to breathe.
“Healthy build” assumptions (climate, light, feed)
Veg PPFD: aim 350–500 µmol/m²/s, and for 48 h after a cut drop to the lower end (≈300–380 µmol) so plants breathe, not buckle.
Veg DLI:20–30 mol/m²/day; don’t blast the ceiling while wounds are healing.
VPD:0.9–1.2 kPa (comfort). Fresh cuts heal faster at RH 60–65%.
Feeding: for 3–5 days post-cut reduce EC by ~10–15%, then return to baseline. Silica and Ca/Mg help stiffen tissues.
Gear & chill budget
Shears/pruners + isopropyl wipes — €12–25.
Soft plant ties (silicone/foam) — €5–10.
Coated wire / training clips — €5–8.
Pegs/anchor points for the rim or pot — €3–6.
Your whole manifold kit stays under €40 and lasts many runs.
Cut scheme — classic manifold (Nugbuckets)
Start: seed-grown, healthy plant at 5–6 nodes. Pot 11–15 L in 60–80 cm tents; 18–20 L in 100–120 cm.
Stage 1 — Head down to node 3
Let the plant reach node 5–6.
Top above node 3 (main stem ends at node #3).
Remove nodes 1 & 2 completely (laterals + fans from those nodes).
Leave only the two shoots at node 3 — these are your two “arms.”
Support the main stem, spread arms left/right, and tie to the pot rim.
Goal: perfect left/right symmetry, no vertical leader.
Recovery: 4–7 days.
Stage 2 — From 2 arms to 4 colas
When each arm grows ~3 nodes, top each arm above its 1st side branch to create 2 tips per arm (total 4 mains).
Strip spare laterals below; keep enough fan leaves for photosynthesis.
Level all four tips with soft ties.
Recovery: 3–6 days.
Stage 3 — From 4 to 8 colas (sweet spot)
Top each of the 4 tips once more to 2 ⇒ 8 symmetrical tops.
Clean the interior: remove inward-facing growth, keep outward-facing (better air/light).
Arrange an 8-cola ring — all same height.
Recovery: 3–6 days.
You can push to 16 colas, but it costs ~1 extra week of veg and needs more light to fill the larger perimeter. In 60–80 cm tents 8 is gold.
Week-by-week (photoperiod, from seed)
Week 1–2: seedling/young veg; LST only, no cuts.
Week 3: plant at 5–6 nodes → Stage 1 (top to node 3, clear nodes 1–2).
Week 4:Stage 2 (2 → 4), light tying.
Week 5:Stage 3 (4 → 8), clean the center.
Week 6:“fill the ring” — final tweaks, height parity.
Week 7: if tops are level and pot is root-filled, flip 12/12.
Win: even flowers, easier leaf-top temperature control, fewer lamp tweaks.
Manifold without a scrog — keeping it even
Give each top a “parking spot” on the rim. Skip nets — use ties and anchor holes/pegs.
If one top runs 2–3 cm ahead, move its anchor point and adjust angle — don’t snap.
Smart defol: remove leaves only when they shade nodes; keep the outside “solar panels.”
Common mistakes (and how to avoid them)
Cutting too early/too late
Too early (general 2nd–3rd node): plant is too small, growth stalls.
Too late (woody stem): harder to set arms, higher break risk.
Gold spot:node 5–6, top above node 3.
Dirty tools
Every cut is a door for pathogens. Alcohol before/after and between plants saves runs.
Harsh bends instead of angles
Soft arcs > sharp kinks. If it cracks — tape + splint (stick); heals in days.
Over-stripping
After each stage leave enough “panels” to feed the frame. Hungry plants don’t rebound fast.
Flipping before full perimeter
If the ring isn’t closed, you’ll light the floor. Wait 5–7 days rather than waste photons.
Too hard light post-top
Give 48 h gentler PPFD, then ramp back. After surgery, start with a jog, not a sprint.
Cultivars & pots — how many colas “per meter”?
60×60 cm, 11–15 L:8 colas = sweet spot.
80×80 cm, 15–20 L:8–12 colas, depends on power and fixture spread.
100×100 cm, 18–25 L:12–16 colas if your bar LED is even and flower PPFD ≈ 700–850 µmol/m²/s.
Sativas like 12 colas; indicas often pack 8 strong better.
Mini after-care: fast recovery
Watering: wait until the pot is clearly lighter — fresh wounds dislike a soggy pillow.
Add-ons (optional):
Silica 30–50 ppm — stiffer tissues, fewer breaks.
Aloe/kelp micro-dose — gentler stress.
Mycorrhizae at next transplant — faster arm pumping.
What about autos?
Possible, but early & minimalist: top above node 3 by day ~14–18 from sprout (environment-dependent).
Instead of full manifold, do 1× top + gentle LST (4–6 even tops).
If the auto is already showing pre-flowers — skip cuts, stick to LST.
Quick cheat: symptom → action
Top leaves taco, tips bleaching: too close/too strong. +5 cm distance or –10–15% power for 48 h.
One arm leads: move anchor, slow the fast one, let the slow catch up.
Crack while bending:tape + splint, don’t panic; 5–7 days and it’s sealed.
Why manifold “delivers” without a scrog
Because symmetry = predictability. Instead of fighting a jungle, you build an octopus: each arm grows outward, your lamp more easily lights the ring evenly, and you keep distance & leaf temp in check. Practically, that’s fewer fires to fight in flower week 5–7 — more time to… admire.
Three-sentence wrap
Manifold is the plan for a flat canopy: top above node 3, clean 1–2, split 2→4→8 tips, patient leveling. Give cuts time, keep PPFD & VPD comfy, leave scrogs to purists. For under €40, you turn a plant into a round project ready for fat, even colas.
