THC Living Plant Atlas system

Nodes & Branching

Node and phytomer anatomy, axillary-bud establishment and release, apical dominance, phyllotaxy, developmental transitions, pruning plasticity, topping, FIM, LST, mainlining, SCROG, and branch biomechanics.

10 structured lessons7 learning goals15 indexed topics

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Connected biology

This system does not work alone.

Branch architecture changes how leaves and flowers occupy light, airflow, support, and transport pathways.

Follow the connection

Stem & Vascular SystemStem anatomy, support, xylem, phloem, vascular cambium, secondary growth, transport, source-sink allocation, internodal spacing, hydraulics, damage response, and recovery.LeavesLeaf tissue anatomy, morphogenesis, leaflet complexity, photosynthesis, stomata, transpiration, leaf age, energy balance, inspection, and observation-first symptom interpretation.FlowersFemale flower anatomy, condensed inflorescence architecture, reproductive phytomers, floral meristems, bracts, ovary and ovule, stigmas, photoperiod-driven shoot-apex reorganization, pollination, maturation, senescence, trichome development, and disease-risk inspection.Environment OverlayCoupled whole-plant environment overlay for PPFD, DLI, photoperiod, CO2, temperature, humidity, VPD, airflow, leaf energy balance, canopy light acclimation, water, root-zone supply, nutrients, pH, EC, and interacting limitations.

Developmental context

VegetativeTransitionFlowering

Measure or record with it

Node count
Internode length
Branch angle
Canopy height
Recovery after training

Architecture mode

Natural

The main shoot remains dominant while axillary branches develop according to genotype and environment.

Watch forInternode length, branch angle, light distribution, and vigor.

Training principleJudge the resulting light distribution, airflow, recovery, and branch structure—not the technique name by itself.

Learning objectives

What this system should teach

01Locate nodes, internodes, axillary buds, stipules, and branch origins

02Understand apical dominance as an interacting shoot-branching system rather than a one-hormone switch

03Separate axillary bud establishment from later bud activation and sustained branch outgrowth

04Track phyllotaxy and node-associated developmental changes without treating one node number as universal

05Predict pruning responses cautiously using genotype, timing, plant scale, and environment

06Compare major canopy-training approaches

07Interpret branch attachment as a loaded mechanical structure rather than using angle alone

Visual curriculum

Nodes & Branching lesson sequence

Each lesson is structured around a visual reference so the Atlas can replace dry text-first learning with observation and diagrams.

Lesson 01

Node anatomy

Locate the leaf attachment, axillary bud, branch origin, stipules when present, and adjoining internodes at a cannabis node, recognizing the node as a repeated phytomer junction rather than a simple mark on the stem.

Open visual lessonNode anatomy and phytomer close-up

Lesson 02

Apical dominance

Understand how the active shoot apex can suppress lateral bud outgrowth through systemic signaling and resource relationships, and why removing or repositioning the apex can change branching without guaranteeing one fixed response.

Open visual lessonApical dominance multi-signal flow diagram

Lesson 03

Topping & FIM

Compare removal points and the resulting redistribution of active shoot growth while separating established pruning evidence from grower-specific FIM terminology and avoiding claims that every genotype will branch identically.

Open visual lessonCut-location and expected-response comparison

Lesson 04

LST & directional growth

See how branch orientation, gravitropic and phototropic response, light exposure, and mechanical support can redistribute canopy height while preserving tissue continuity.

Open visual lessonLST before-and-after canopy and branch-orientation map

Lesson 05

Mainlining & SCROG

Compare structured branch selection with screen-based canopy distribution as different ways to organize growing points, light exposure, and support rather than as universally superior yield formulas.

Open visual lessonTraining-system architecture comparison

Lesson 06

Branch angle & mechanical support

Treat branches as loaded structures by connecting attachment geometry, diameter, leverage, tissue condition, supported mass, movement, and external support instead of using angle alone as a strength score; general branch-junction biomechanics are used conceptually where Cannabis-specific strength measurements are unavailable.

Open visual lessonBranch-junction load, leverage, and support force diagram

Lesson 07

Axillary bud activation

Separate the presence of an axillary meristem or bud from later bud release and elongation, then connect sustained branch outgrowth to developmental signaling, light, assimilate availability, sink competition, and the state of neighboring shoots.

Open visual lessonDormant-to-active axillary bud developmental sequence

Lesson 08

Hormones, sugars & bud outgrowth

Use general flowering-plant evidence to connect auxin transport in the main stem with cytokinin, strigolactone, sugars, light, and bud-local signaling, emphasizing that modern apical-dominance models integrate multiple interacting mechanisms rather than one direct hormone switch.

Open visual lessonNode-centered auxin, cytokinin, strigolactone, sugar, and light interaction map

Lesson 09

Phyllotaxy & developmental nodes

Follow documented Cannabis changes in axillary structures, stipules, bracts, solitary flowers, and opposite-to-alternate phyllotaxy across development while treating the published node numbers as genotype- and condition-specific observations rather than a universal Cannabis clock.

Open visual lessonCannabis node and phyllotaxy developmental reference strip

Lesson 10

Pruning response & architectural plasticity

Compare Cannabis responses observed after apical cutting, branch removal, and repeated pruning to show how shoot architecture can reorganize, while keeping genotype, timing, plant size, environment, and study-specific yield outcomes visible instead of turning one experiment into a universal recipe.

Open visual lessonCannabis pruning-treatment architecture and response matrix

Reference index

Topics connected to this system

Node anatomyInternodesAxillary budsBud activationApical dominanceHormone and sugar signalingPhyllotaxyDevelopmental nodesPruning responseToppingFIMLSTMainliningSCROGBranch biomechanics

Whole-plant context

Return to the connected Atlas

Whole-plant explorerSee this system in the plant map and lifecycle.Study dashboardResume lessons, mastery, paths, and review.Practice hubApply system knowledge to comparisons and diagnostic reasoning.Observation notebookRecord real plant observations and measurements.

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