Removing large fan leaves during flowering: a good idea or not?

[Misterbeans]

There are so many variables to yield. I can’t attribute one factor in any one result. Some plants like pruning. Some don’t.

There are entire threads and discussions on this subject on 420.

I chose this one method because it was chosen for me. My plant lost leaves on its own. Others use what works for them.

I totally agree, with all the hybrids it's all in the strain some may need it or may not need it and can or can not handle it. So I think it all depends on the plant and how it looks.

 

[Winkis7688]

So if my buds don't need light then why would I lolli pop? If i wee to grow that same plant outside the bottom would do much better. My conclusion is light reaching each section of the plant will provide bigger in that section where it get lights. I try to leave as many leaves as i can while removing those in the way. Id say beginning of flowering or a bit earlier lolli pop n remove a couple of leaves. 3/4 weeks in to flowering after most the stretching is done I remove 20/30% of fan leaves.

Platinum kush breath remix 1st few days into flowering. Going to do more lollipoping Very excited about this strain.

 

[Greenleef]

Ive noticed when removing lower leaves and the small larfy buds from each branch , the buds on the upper half grow bigger . The small tiny nugs take up nutes /energy . So removing them sends that extra energy to the top . I am still experimenting but so far all my top nugs get bigger and much more dense . Kyle kushman explains this better .

 

[FatBeaverBuds]

I defol and pull problem leaves throughout my grows in veg & flower.

Budsites need light period. Unless you want popcorn. Powerful lights with deep canopy penetration are ideal.

If your light is weak or you are growing a thick jungle then STRATEGIC leaf pulling can help produce more useable nugs down low.

Something to ponder....could you shroud a budsite in real darkness with it's respective fan & sugar leafs exposed to the light and expect it to grow smokable bud? I say nay nay.

 

[Havocsm1]

I defol a lot. Mainly for light penetration. I don't go crazy. I get the biggest oldest fan leaves. I also lollipop. I leave most of them on. I think if you take too much off you may hurt the plant. But if you take too little off you'll get a lot of popcorn. Also if you have vigorous healthy plants a haircut shouldn't bother them at all. Here's the extent of my trimming:

 

[530patio]

Roseman nails it as does Cervantes 'Bible'. Again, the only exception would be, if in the third or forth week of flowering, there were inordinately large fans really blocking light, then maybe they could be removed. It would be preferable to simply move them without clipping. If, after careful planning, it's determined that a leaf should go, try not to remove more than one fan per plant. As for removing lower ones, don't. It's been explained, roughly, as the proximity of the leaves corresponding to that area of the plant. In other words, those fans attached to the cola feed it. The lower fans tend to feed the roots. Of course, they all are important during the flowering cycle as the plant begins to use starches/sugars for fuel.

Good info! Thx for sharing

 

[530patio]

I trimmed more indoor for lighting purposes as of course it doesn’t change but outside movement of light generally hits much more of the plant and seems to do good with not as much pruning

 

[Cannacris]

I always remove leafs. Only calculated moves though. There are more pros then cons no matter what anyone says. Air flow, light penetration, makes less places for bugs to hide and molds to spread. Just be mindful when you do remove any because you can cause unnecessary stress. ( like too young or when the plant is in pre flower) thats my honest opinion

 

[Botanical Bondage]

My Bubba OG and Granddaddy Purple plants are 40 days into flower. I'm seeing lots of nice buds on all the branches. One thing that is happening, is that the many large fan leaves coming off the plant frequently lay over top of buds, thus putting them in partial shade.

One of my local "experts" says that the large fan leaves should be removed to get the buds in full light, and the little leaves that are directly connected to the buds are the leaves that need full light because THEY are the ones that fuel bud growth.

It kind of makes sense, but this genius has been wrong about growing these plants before.

Any thoughts on this?

Ignore him. The plant will pick what leaves she keeps. If one isnt serving her whe will drain and drop it.

Defoliating reduces yield and shocks th3 plant.

 

[Pisces92]

Okay, I'll leave the leaves alone. Throughout flowering, I've been taking out dead leaves and leaves that had turned fully yellow, but I've left the green leaves alone.

What does it mean when a big leaf turns yellow all over? It's getting ready to fall off on its own?

Honestly my indica plant had a lot of fans leaves turning yellow, so I did a big prune on most of the bigger leaves that turned about 2 weeks ago. And now the buds are growing in pretty good. Just trimmed off a few more of the bigger leaves today and only leaving the smaller ones... I have a bunch of nice sized buds coming in on literally EVERY stem that I've trimmed from. You just have to be careful. Use actually pruning scissors, use a chop stick or something similar to poke whole in the soil for irrigation purposes, and do a decent watering and you should be good. I also use Fox Farms Big Bloom each time I do a big trim.

 

[Steven Payne]

I'm between 4-5 weeks of flowering. I've found the fan leaves served their purpose after two or three weeks after cutting off nitrogen once it vegged as much as it would do. I was glad because fish emulsion stinks like a migraine. Once I introduced an organic diet of phosphorus in the form of bat guano and worm castings, the fan leaves began to overshadow the flowering phase. Instead of a harsh plucking, I've just pay attention to when they start to turn heavy near the node.

 

[Steven Payne]

Sorry for the huge file. I'm stoned.