The Low-Stress Technique for Outdoor Auto-flowering Weed Plants

When it comes to growing auto-flowering cannabis plants outdoors in 2025, there are several ways to ensure you get a good yield. Growing in large pots, receiving plenty of sunshine, and using nutrients are all beneficial, but have you ever heard of using the LST method on autos to increase yields? In this article, I explain what LST means, the benefits associated with it, what you will need, when the right time to start training your autos is, as well as my top tips to consider.

What is LST?

The low-stress technique is a way of training cannabis plants that involves tying down the plants. Hence, they produce a uniform and bushy growth structure. Cannabis is an apical dominant plant, meaning it makes one main central cola with side branches.

To trick the plants into growing differently, you tie down the tallest part of the plant, and in some cases, the side branches, to allow the axillary shoots to grow tall and become dominant crown shoots. Below is a list of the benefits associated with using the LST method on autos.

The Benefits of Using the LST Technique for Autos

• The plants become more bushy and wide, taking on a dense appearance.
• Yields will be significantly increased, producing a high volume of uniform buds.
• Plant height can be reduced, making it optimal for growers with limited space.
• LST is easy to do and only requires gardening wire and a sturdy pot.
• A grower can change the height and width of the plant without high levels of stress.

When Is the Right Time to Start Training Autos?

The first thing you should know is that autos have a much shorter vegetation period compared to photoperiod cannabis plants. You will have a 4-5 week window to complete all your plant training; however, please note that the first two weeks of growth from germination will be the seedling stage, which lasts approximately 14 days. You will have the opportunity to perform the low-stress training technique on autos from day 15 up to day 30 before they start flowering.

AutoSeeds recommends that you do most of your LST for autos during the first 4 weeks of the plant’s life cycle. But don’t do it too often, either. It’s recommended to implement low-stress training for auto-flowering plants once during the first four weeks and never during flowering.

What Tools and Equipment Are Needed?

The best thing about LST is the fact that you only need a healthy cannabis plant and some gardening wire. The thicker the wire, the better. Once the wire is set in place, you do not need to do much more. The only other task required is to make a hole in the side of the pot to allow the wire to feed through. Ensure that the wire being used has sufficient slack to prevent it from potentially snapping the stem.

• A healthy auto-flowering plant (3-4 weeks old)
• Gardening wire
• A sturdy plastic pot
• A pair of scissors to make a hole in the pot.

Will LST Cause Autos Stress?

Compared to topping and super cropping, as the name suggests, this technique is low-stress, making it ideally suited for autos that are often sensitive to high amounts of stress. Tying your plants down will not only give the plants plenty of time to recover and grow back quickly, but it will also prevent stunting or slow growth compared to other training methods that typically require a recovery period of 5-7 days, as autos have a much shorter life cycle.

My 3 Top Tips for Using the Low-Stress Technique on Your Autos

Stems can easily break.

There is nothing worse than preparing to tie the top part of the plant down and accidentally snapping the top part of the stem. This can happen easily if the plant is not strong enough to bend downwards or if too much force is used. My tip here is to be extra careful and use your fingers to find out exactly how much you can slowly bend the plant down to a horizontal position to determine if your auto can be tied down.

Use a thick gardening wire.

A thin wire can work just as well as a thick wire; however, a thin wire can end up cutting through the stem over time. At first, you may notice the wire growing through the stem, and before you know it, the tied stem becomes weak and may become severed. My tip here is to use a thick wire to prevent slicing of the stem and to make manoeuvring the wire as easy as possible.

Only use healthy plants.

If you notice that your auto-flowering plant is suffering from poor health and is not as robust as you would like it to be, consider reconsidering the use of the LST technique. Healthy plants will have the best chances of being bent downwards without concern for a fatal stem snap and will also adapt to being tied down. My tip here is not to use weak, malnourished and small-sized plants for the LST technique outdoors.

Final Thoughts on the LST Method for Autos

LST is an excellent way to open up a cannabis plant’s growth structure and help increase yields. You do not need to spend a lot of money to obtain the necessary tools and equipment. The most crucial factor is ensuring that you use a strong and healthy plant that is 21-28 days old.

If you snap the top of the plant, cut away the broken part and allow the plant to regrow. It may take some practice before you learn which plants work best for low-stress training. However, the benefits associated are well worth it!

Feature photo: This grower uses a thick wire to tie their auto plant down. Photo credit: Stoney Tark.