Topping, or any other type of High Stress type of plant modification is going to make the plant do exactly what it does naturally when harmed; it's going to send massive amounts of "healing" hormones to the harmed spots and slow it's own growth while the walls of the stem are healed, strengthened and no more healing is needed. Depending on the amount of tops you take in ratio to the entire mass of the plant, that healing could take longer or less time than others have experienced.
I disagree with the Green Guy on that. To me, topping a plant at the same time you switch its lighting regimen will only slow the plant down. I think topping should be done before switching to flowering lighting and nutrients and the plant should have plenty of time to heal completely before being put into flower.
This will give the plant it's best chance at being 100% and lessen the amount of work the plant has to do to alter itself to a flowering mode.
JMHO however. This like everything else is thought of in many, many ways be lots of people. You have to try a method you think is right and see how it works for you.
The best growers in the world have tweaked their growing techniques a bunch of times.
My advice? Do all your topping before the last two weeks prior to flowering. You can start when the plant has 3 nodes. The most I've ever topped was with each plant having 32 tops. It filled the room very well, but took much longer than if I had not topped.
For a continuous grow, your yearly weight will probably be close to being the same as long as you put enough "one top" plants in it. The one massive cola will look way better than the 900 smaller tops you'll get if you go top crazy.
Man, I am so high....sorry if I was rambling. Broke out some one year old AI and bonged it up. It's still good!
