cutting fan leaves

[shiloh]

Hello all - My plant is starting to grow bushy with a lot of big fan leaves (see picture) my question to you is should I start cutting the fan leaves out to promote the tree to grow taller, the branch to grow bigger and to unblock the light to reach the bottom branches..what the purpose of cutting the leaves..does it make any different? should I just leave it alone and let it grow bushy....my goal is to grow 3 -4 oz per plant...how can i get there?

currently i use:

1000 hps light (18-6)
GH 3part
Hygrozyme
growth excel
superthrive
foxfarm soil
B-52 fertilizers booster (dont have it yet, but im picking it up today)

[DOUGAL25]

Hello all - My plant is starting to grow bushy with a lot of big fan leaves (see picture) my question to you is should I start cutting the fan leaves out to promote the tree to grow taller, the branch to grow bigger and to unblock the light to reach the bottom branches..what the purpose of cutting the leaves..does it make any different? should I just leave it alone and let it grow bushy....


Fan leaves are responsible for generating the energy for the plant to grow. I don't see how cutting these would make the plant grow taller/thicker...

Some people do cut some fan leaves to allow light to penetrate deeper. I think tucking the fan leaves out of the way is more effective - you get light to penetrate, but you still have the fan leaves available for energy production.


my goal is to grow 3 -4 oz per plant...how can i get there?

You could putz around with LST, Topping, and FIM to help reach your goal...mainly vegetative growth techniques
:stoned:

[headshake]

i know someone who cuts all of their fan leaves at like 10 days into flowering and then again at like day 45 of flowering. he get's amazing results.

the best thing i can tell you is to try one and not another. that way you can find out what works for you and your situation.

most will advise that you don't cut them though.


-shake

[DOUGAL25]

i know someone who cuts all of their fan leaves at like 10 days into flowering and then again at like day 45 of flowering. he get's amazing results.

Interesting....I'm tempted to try this just to see, I'm about 3-4 weeks out from day 10 of flowering - going to have to decide by then.
:stoned:

[eastbaygordo]

There are as many opinions as there are growers but I like the idea if bending the top buds over but not breaking them and letting other tips fight to be apical bud. Too bad I learned it late in the cycle, I did it mostly to not be obtrusive to the neighbors, it still helped other flowers get fatter. The one I broke off actually looks the best so your mileage will vary.

[BrockSampson]

but I like the idea if bending the top buds over but not breaking them and letting other tips fight to be apical bud. .

I bent the top bud on one of my flo, and the under-nugs shot up and around it,
end result looked like a tasty tasty crown cola

[headshake]

Interesting....I'm tempted to try this just to see, I'm about 3-4 weeks out from day 10 of flowering - going to have to decide by then.
:stoned:

how many ladies do you have going dougal?

-shake

[DOUGAL25]

1 feminized Moby Dick -- going the topping route as of now
:stoned:

[headshake]

i'd hate to see you ruin your lady. the guy that i "know" who uses this method has his strain dialed in. he know's it won't hermie from experience. ok won't is a bad word there. knows that it won't easily hermie.

so you might want to wait 'til you have a few more ladies to play with. just my $.02.


-shake

[Ziggy Stardust]

dont trim anything off...just remember ...everyone thinks they know how to grow.....but YOUR the only one growing. you need instructional material...read cervantes. 14.95 at most book stores....go from opinions (remember the opinion thing and assholes) to facts

MMIDP in Los Angeles CA

[headshake]

dont trim anything off...just remember ...everyone thinks they know how to grow.....but YOUR the only one growing. you need instructional material...read cervantes. 14.95 at most book stores....go from opinions (remember the opinion thing and assholes) to facts

MMIDP in Los Angeles CA

just because it's written in some book doesn't make it fact. and just because it's a comfort to think you know something, how do things ever evolve if no one ever varies, if no one ever pushes the envelope.

while jorge cervantes is obviously well respected and knowledgeable, he by no means is the know all, end all gospel.

i've seen trimming off fan leaves work! so it's not an opinion. it's also not for everyone.


-shake

[Ziggy Stardust]

see...everyone has one.

[F1SEEDS]

hi guys:)

yes taking main leaves off a flowering plant can work but there is a fine line with to much leaves and too little .
removing leaves will stress if not stop all growth in ur plant as some one said before they are the engines of u plant..... better leave it to the professionals


another approach is if the leaf is not damaged leave it on.... but if it is 50%yellow/damaged remove it.


peace and love geeman

[Rusty Trichome]

...just remember ...everyone thinks they know how to grow.....but YOUR the only one growing. you need instructional material...read cervantes. 14.95 at most book stores If all you are searching for is the basics then reading a book might be for you. (printed how many years ago...?) But no...one does not "need" to go buy any book or video. They are available free on the web.
For example:
Greg Green - The Cannabis Grow Bible (4th Edition) (http://www.scribd.com/doc/2936985/Greg-Green-The-Cannabis-Grow-Bible-4th-Edition)
Marijuana Growing Guide Free Library (http://www.greenmanspage.com/guides/)
POT-TV: Marijuana Man Grow Show (http://www.pot-tv.net/archive/series/pottvseries-34-30.html)

Regardless...you can get much better/up-to-date info here.

Plus, with a book...can you write-in your questions or observations, and have the author reply overnight? Can they troubleshoot your problems for you? Can they recommend the latest in nutrient systems or lighting to best fit your situation...?

For every leaf you trim, you have wasted that much energy potential. (photosynthesis and nutrient storage) One isn't so bad, but with every leaf you pluck, there is a significant proportion of the total leaf area now gone.

Pluck the leaf, and it's associated bud stunts.

[headshake]

If all you are searching for is the basics then reading a book might be for you. (printed how many years ago...?) But no...one does not "need" to go buy any book or video. They are available free on the web.
For example:
Greg Green - The Cannabis Grow Bible (4th Edition) (http://www.scribd.com/doc/2936985/Greg-Green-The-Cannabis-Grow-Bible-4th-Edition)
Marijuana Growing Guide Free Library (http://www.greenmanspage.com/guides/)
POT-TV: Marijuana Man Grow Show (http://www.pot-tv.net/archive/series/pottvseries-34-30.html)

Regardless...you can get much better/up-to-date info here.

Plus, with a book...can you write-in your questions or observations, and have the author reply overnight? Can they troubleshoot your problems for you? Can they recommend the latest in nutrient systems or lighting to best fit your situation...?

For every leaf you trim, you have wasted that much energy potential. (photosynthesis and nutrient storage) One isn't so bad, but with every leaf you pluck, there is a significant proportion of the total leaf area now gone.

Pluck the leaf, and it's associated bud stunts.

i'm not arguing with you rusty, but i've read that the leaves coming from the buds themselves should be sufficient for bud growth once you trim all the fans off. there will be a delay as the plant deals with the leaves being removed and then the plant will pick back up.

the method this is being used in is a SOG. cuttings, when they become clones with a hearty root system are placed in beds of perlite/vermiculite. the fans are cut off at 25 days and 45 days into flower.

the results are all bud avg about 15G/plant when dry.

again, i'm not condoning it, just some things i've been reading up on. once i have some more space i'll start playing around with it.


-shake

your thoughts?

[Rusty Trichome]

Headshake: Just from my observations, removing fans (in flower) makes the plant more susceptible to stress, becomes a missing component that regulates heat and moisture, the nutrients are no longer locally available and must be constantly re-supplied to make up for the loss, there's time lost healing wounds...and how much is lost in overall yield? Have you done a side-by-side? (curious, not accusatory ;) )

Other than removing leaves because of something you've sprayed on 'em and it's killing the plant, I can't see removing the healthy fans on purpose.

In veg, as long as you give ample time for recovery prior to switching to 12/12, tiz almost an anything goes deal. From fimming to topping, to high-stress bending and scrogging. Once 12/12, best to let 'em do their thing.

[headshake]

Headshake: Just from my observations, removing fans (in flower) makes the plant more susceptible to stress, becomes a missing component that regulates heat and moisture, the nutrients are no longer locally available and must be constantly re-supplied to make up for the loss, there's time lost healing wounds...and how much is lost in overall yield? Have you done a side-by-side? (curious, not accusatory ;) )

Other than removing leaves because of something you've sprayed on 'em and it's killing the plant, I can't see removing the healthy fans on purpose.

In veg, as long as you give ample time for recovery prior to switching to 12/12, tiz almost an anything goes deal. From fimming to topping, to high-stress bending and scrogging. Once 12/12, best to let 'em do their thing.

i hear ya rusty. i have not done a side-by-side yet. this is all things i've seen/read. i was merely reporting what worked for someone that i know.

i'm moving next week and will have much more room to work with. i will do a side-by-side.

along with the molasses test with weezard. and i hope to pick up the UVB testing as well. man i don't know what to do with all the room i'm gonna have! not to mention, i'm getting a pH meter thanks to Merry Prankster! my wife decided to get me a TDS meter as well.

i also hope to be upgrading my lighting in the very near future as well.

thanks for the info/feedback. as always, you are one of the members that i harbor the utmost respect for!


-shake