Editor's note: This article has been reviewed and updated for accuracy in 2026. How do people get their cannabis plants to grow like bonsai trees? We've all seen those pictures of seas of green, with massive colas poking up through trellis netting in someone's grow room. How do they pull it off? What's the secret? If you want to get the biggest harvest in your growing career, you can benefit from Low-Stress Training (LST) on your plants. LST is like a bonsai method specifically introduced for growing cannabis. With LST practices, you get the most out of your plants, with no wasted lower branches that have nothing but a few popcorn nugs. Image if you could grow your trees into monsters, with 16-main colas, instead of one? Let's unpack everything you need to know about low-stress training for your cannabis plants. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ga284IJlpNU What is Low-Stress Training (LST) for Cannabis Plants? Low-stress training (LST) is a growing method employed by cannabis farmers. Using an LST approach to growing increases yield dramatically by manipulating the shape and size of the plants. LST methods have origins in the ancient botanical practice of espalier. Espalier involves the pruning or cultivation of plants to help them grow along a trellis or another 2D structure. The ancient Egyptians are the first known LST practitioners, using it to train fig trees to grow al