How to Do Low Stress Training (LST): Tie-Down 4-Step Method
Introduction
Low Stress Training (LST) is a category of gentle plant-shaping methods. In practice, most growers use the term “LST” to refer specifically to the tie-down method. This approach bends and secures branches to form an even canopy, enhances light distribution, and increases yields by up to 30% without damaging the plant.
Why Focus on Tie-Down?
Because it’s the most common, beginner-friendly, and low-risk form of LST. It works for both autoflowers and photoperiods, requires no cutting, and helps you control plant height while maximizing light penetration.
If you’d like to explore other gentle training methods like SCROG or leaf tucking, see our Complete LST Overview Guide, but for this article, we’ll use “LST” to mean tie-down training.
What Is the LST (Tie-Down) Method?
The tie-down method is the most popular form of Low Stress Training. Instead of cutting or damaging the plant, you gently bend the main stem and branches, then secure them in place so the canopy grows wide and even instead of tall and uneven.
This works because cannabis plants naturally exhibit apical dominance — a growth habit where the main stem suppresses side branches via a hormone called auxin. By bending down the dominant stem, you effectively shift hormonal signals, encouraging lateral growth and the development of multiple main colas. Read more about this mechanism in the scientific study “Apical Dominance and Shoot Branching” (2006) by Dun et al.
Key benefits of LST:
- ✅ No permanent damage to the plant.
- ✅ Works on autoflowers and photoperiods.
- ✅ Maximizes light exposure to all bud sites.
- ✅ Controls plant height in small grow spaces.
- ✅ Boosts yields without extending the grow cycle.
Tools You’ll Need for Tie-Down LST
You don’t need fancy gear to start low-stress training, just the right tools to make the job easy, safe, and repeatable. Here’s what we recommend:
- Soft Plant Ties: Gentle on stems, easy to adjust as the plant grows.
- Coated Garden Wire: Holds its shape and resists rust, perfect for longer bends.
- Plant Clips: Great for securing branches without damaging them.
- Garden Stakes: Keep ties anchored in fabric pots or soil.
- Sharp Scissors or Pruners: For trimming leaves or cutting ties cleanly.
- Optional: Anchor Hooks or Clips: Useful if growing in hydro or DWC systems.
💡 Pro Tip: Avoid using plain string, twist ties, or anything that can cut into the stem. Damage here can slow growth or open the door to disease.
Step-by-Step Tie-Down LST
Step 1: Start in the Vegetative Phase
Begin Low Stress Training when your cannabis plant has 3–5 nodes and the stems are still flexible. This is usually between days 14–21 from sprout for most strains. Starting early allows the plant to recover quickly and respond with healthy, vigorous growth.
💡 Pro Tip: For autoflowers, start as soon as the 3rd node forms, they have a shorter veg phase, so timing is key.
Step 2: Bend the Main Stem
Gently curve the main stem away from the center of the pot and secure it to the rim using a soft plant tie or coated wire. Move slowly to avoid snapping the stem, and keep a small gap between the tie and stem to prevent cutting into the plant.
💡 Pro Tip: Bend after watering, hydrated stems are more flexible and less likely to snap.
Step 3: Bend Side Branches
Once the main stem is secured, guide the tallest side branches outward in a star-like pattern around the pot. This opens the canopy so light can reach lower bud sites, encouraging multiple tops instead of one dominant cola.
💡 Pro Tip: Train branches evenly in all directions to balance plant growth and prevent leaning toward one side.
Step 4: Adjust Regularly
As your plant grows, check ties every few days to make sure they’re not too tight. Loosen or reposition them to guide new shoots outward and maintain an even canopy. Continue adjustments until early flowering, when stems harden, and training should stop.
💡 Pro Tip: Use reusable soft ties, as they’re easier to adjust and gentle on stems over weeks of training.
When to Stop LST
You should stop Low Stress Training around week 2–3 of the flowering stretch, when the plant has completed most of its vertical growth and stems start to harden. Continuing to bend branches at this stage can cause unnecessary stress, slow bud development, or even snap mature stems. Once you stop, let the plant focus all its energy on producing dense, resin-rich flowers instead of repairing bends.
💡 Pro Tip: Switch from bending to simple support. Use plant stakes or a trellis to hold heavy buds upright without stressing the plant further.
Best Strains for LST (Recommended by Hypno Seeds)
- Blue Dream – Vigorous Sativa-dominant growth, naturally long branches, responds very well to tie-down, and has a high ceiling for yield improvement with LST.
- Mimosa – Strong lateral branching and quick veg growth make it easy to train early. Maintains flexibility longer than many other high-THC sativas.
- Super Boof – Extremely branchy and resilient structure, perfect for aggressive tie-down patterns without snapping. Consistent indoor and outdoor performance.
FAQ
Q: When should I start Low Stress Training?
Start LST when your cannabis plant has 3–5 nodes and flexible stems, usually 14–21 days from sprout for autoflowers and slightly later for photoperiod plants.
Q: How do I tie down a cannabis plant for LST?
Gently bend the main stem sideways, secure it loosely with a soft tie to the edge of the pot, then repeat with the tallest side branches so the canopy is flat and even.
Q: When should I stop Low Stress Training?
Stop LST around week 2–3 of the flowering stretch to avoid stressing mature stems and slowing bud growth.
Q: Does LST increase yield?
Yes. By opening the canopy, LST allows more light and airflow to reach bud sites, which can significantly increase yield compared to untrained plants.
Q: Can I LST autoflowers?
Yes, but start early (day 14–21) and train gently, autoflowers have a shorter veg phase and recover less from late or aggressive bending.
