Trimming Fan Leaves

I am a die hard SCROG grower and I also believe in the removal of large fan leaves. The most efficient growth on a plant comes from the smaller, new leaves. I consistently remove all large fan leaves that shade any actual buds. And when i say I remove them, I cut them off with abandon. I am always after 10+ ounces per plant and have found that the only way to do this every time is to remove the Larger fan leaves and allow light penetration directly to the buds. I am solely after efficency and understand why one would leave the large fan leaves otherwise. I have found them to be more of a problem then a solution in scrogging. I know this is in direct contrast to the standard rules of growing outside but, inside, in a SCROG, it works, and it works much better then leaving them on the plant. Just speaking from what i have seen and experienced though. It is possible that i am doing something wrong elsewhere that causes this phenomenon.

I was under the impression that scrog (I know you tie a screen to the top of your bucket, right?)B'pads...my impression was that you had plant under screen, then placed buds up through screen, to get light, thus allowing you to leave fans leaves under the screen to perform their function.

and, I agree...I am not preaching for anyone to change anything that works for them. I just try to teach solid proven/published grow methods.

P.s. B'pads methods of fan leave removal is similar to the way commercial tomato growers strip the vine of Big Sucker leaves. peace

yes, i will concede for scrog and sog, removal of some fan leaves is necessary. i was only speaking from a standard grow point of view.

I should say i also agree with m.g.

Standard growing should not have fan leaves removed.

Latewood: My goal when I SCROG is to have almost no foilage under the screen at all when budding. If done correctly and the canopy is tall enough, almost no light will penetrate through the screen and all of those fan leaves will die anyway. That is a perfect world and a lb per plant, i usually did not attain this lofty goal and only averaged about 3/4lbs per plant this way.

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Originally Posted by Bachelorpads

I should say i also agree with m.g.

Standard growing should not have fan leaves removed.

Latewood: My goal when I SCROG is to have almost no foilage under the screen at all when budding. If done correctly and the canopy is tall enough, almost no light will penetrate through the screen and all of those fan leaves will die anyway. That is a perfect world and a lb per plant, i usually did not attain this lofty goal and only averaged about 3/4lbs per plant this way.

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A standard is born. ....This may be a first!

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Originally Posted by Bachelorpads

Standard growing should not have fan leaves removed. .

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I absolutely agree.

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Originally Posted by Bachelorpads

Latewood: My goal when I SCROG is to have almost no foilage under the screen at all when budding. If done correctly and the canopy is tall enough, almost no light will penetrate through the screen and all of those fan leaves will die anyway. .

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So the prupose of removing fan leaves in SOG/SCROG is simply to have better air circulation and fewer places for pests to hid beneath the canopy.
Now THAT makes sense.
It has nothing to do with "removing leaves so more light hits the bud sites", or whatever .

the whole idea of FAN LEAVES IS JUST A MYTH!

they are just leaves.

there is no biological or botanical reason to even call them fan leaves!

leave the leaves! let them be.

So when (growing stage) should one trim and where to trim (bottom or top)? Just any big ol' leaf?

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Originally Posted by tekneeqs

So when (growing stage) should one trim and where to trim (bottom or top)? Just any big ol' leaf?

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I'm wondering the same thing, too. I read the rest of the thread (2nd page) hoping to find more information but it's people arguing :wtf: haha

I want to try both ways (leaving the leaves, trimming the leaves) but what is the proper way going about doing this? I just want to see what kind of results I will get and compare the two.

There's a reason that people are arguing. Some of them were posting absolute bull-caca. Don't trim fan leaves!!!!!There is no 'correct' way to trim fan leaves. It's not a correct technique.
The ONLY time you want to remove fan leaves is in a hydro system where you need access to the drip apparatus and/or air flow around the low stem. In that case, you remove anything up the first 3-4 inches of the stalk, that isn't getting light anyway, to prevent fungus.

Discrediting someone's information doesn't have to be arguing.

I guess I'll keep all my leaves intact! Thjanks

I'm goin with stinky and not trimming anymore leaves. I was ?misinformed? maybe? and was trimming some, but some little voice said stop, so I did, but this topic has helped confirm my thinking not to touch them.

I have to say if you don't try and experiment nothing will ever change. For all the people who can't change and won't well don't tell other people not to. There are many people out there that strip the fan leaves off with great sucess. Go and have a look at International Cannagraphic Magazine Forums - My Perpetual SOG Cabinets are Finally Finished!
It might change some of your minds out there. Lets all be honest we all want the same thing from our plants.

Well this is my first post and I want to tell you all thank you for the info im working on getting my medical card ive been told I will qualifi no problem but cash is an issue and ive been trying to get my own ladies going so thank you for all your info and Please keep it coming.

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Originally Posted by sheist

I kno that when u harvest, u gotta trim the fan leaves n all that..

what if you were to trim the fan leaves during flower?? wouldnt the stran focus the energy into the shoots??

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What takes energy from the top bud is side branches. I trimmed all fan leaves from every side branch. Although it did not kill it, it is like a dwarf compared to her twin sister. The only bad thing about fan leaves is they block light to your side branch buds. constantly arrange fan leaves to keep light on the side branch intersections.

Psssst...

This thread is from 2006.

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Originally Posted by Michael420

Psssst...

This thread is from 2006.

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What are you saying? Its Outdated or Just making a point?

I agree with Low. This is an old thread but the issue is not resolved. You have some folks saying they trim successfully while there are others who are saying don't trim ever. I trim the leaves on most of my plants. I trim lots of leaves on the Purple Kush and don't trim any leaves from the Pineapple while I trim just some from the Sour Diesel. The PK is thick and bushy and tends to mold even in dry conditions whereas the Pineapple has very thin leaves that let in all the light necessary. It depends on more than your feeling on the subject. It depends on the thickness of the particular strain and how much moisture in room humidity, dew, rain or whatever will be in the environment. Extra bushy plants like Gods Gift, PK, White Kush and such usually benefit from thinning the leaves. I will try to document some trimming this year.

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Originally Posted by rudy2010

I agree with Low. This is an old thread but the issue is not resolved. You have some folks saying they trim successfully while there are others who are saying don't trim ever. I trim the leaves on most of my plants. I trim lots of leaves on the Purple Kush and don't trim any leaves from the Pineapple while I trim just some from the Sour Diesel. The PK is thick and bushy and tends to mold even in dry conditions whereas the Pineapple has very thin leaves that let in all the light necessary. It depends on more than your feeling on the subject. It depends on the thickness of the particular strain and how much moisture in room humidity, dew, rain or whatever will be in the environment. Extra bushy plants like Gods Gift, PK, White Kush and such usually benefit from thinning the leaves. I will try to document some trimming this year.

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Funny this thread came back up, just got done trimming fan leaves here...actually I'm harvesting a plant from the top on down in phases 4/a re-veg project. Hopefully this site stays around long enough to finish the discussion, as it appears the server was down for many days.

Glad you mentioned the server. I have been getting tons of server busy try again messages lately too.

I usually trim the fan, sun, sugar leaves too especially when they completely block the light from getting to the lower part of the plant. I trim lots of the popcorn buds off as well. I do outdoor so no harvest til fall but hope to post pics along the way.

Sounds good Rudy, look forward to the pics as summer progresses. I tend to trim fan leaves as well, particularly as they begin to age and lose their ability to produce. And I always seem to get at least one dwarf-like plant no matter what the strain when I grow 6 or more. Those have to get trimmed or the bottom half of the plant produces no bud.

:thumbsup:

sometimes i like to cut my plants in half and run iver them with a train :wtf:


CHOO CHOO!!!

LOL. Must be big plants if you need a train to trim them. Whatever works for you.

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Originally Posted by rudy2010

LOL. Must be big plants if you need a train to trim them. Whatever works for you.

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I'll assume this your attempt at humor...lol.

Hope all is well R,

Biz

I was making an attempt at humor. It is not always that easy. I definitely try to difuse any anger I see.

It seems like there is a wide range of opinions on this subject. I do what I feel I have to do for my plants. Anything that molds is a total loss for me. I only need to trim the thickest plants. That still seems to be a no no for some but it is a requirement for me.

Each grower needs to handle the situation as it pertains to their particular plants.

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Originally Posted by rudy2010

I was making an attempt at humor. It is not always that easy. I definitely try to difuse any anger I see.

It seems like there is a wide range of opinions on this subject. I do what I feel I have to do for my plants. Anything that molds is a total loss for me. I only need to trim the thickest plants. That still seems to be a no no for some but it is a requirement for me.

Each grower needs to handle the situation as it pertains to their particular plants.

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As well as the environmental conditions surrounding them(finishing above sentence). We don't have mold problems here(unless you're allergic to air born spores, lol). I know it can be a huge problem for outdoor growers in western Canada south into California during the Fall. I've seen the usual emergency mold postings here in late Summer etc. Some even construct temporary shelters, I know I would if it meant saving a harvest.

True. Each situation differs greatly. Especially outdoors. You can't control nature but you can mostly keep it and yourself from ruining your plants.

is it OK to cut the fan leaves in the last two weeks of flowering?

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Originally Posted by rudy2010

True. Each situation differs greatly. Especially outdoors. You can't control nature but you can mostly keep it and yourself from ruining your plants.

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The more I grow, the more I realize we only need good soil, lots of sun, and a bit of common sense.

Have a great weekend!

what happens when you have to trim the fan leaves? this is only my second grow, and of course I'm making mistakes...I over fed them and it browned the hell out of the leaves and I had to cut or trim them...will they grow more leaves???

seldomBlue - it is OK to trim the leaves at any point that they need to be trimmed. I trim more near the end when it is more obvious which leaves need trimming. I trim mainly to let sunlight and air get to the lower parts of the plants. Any dead or dying leaves as well.

rcpilot - You have to trim any dead or dying leaves or they will help attract spider mites. The plant should generate plenty of healthy leaves when the nutrients are back in balance.

I trim all the fan leaves in half almost when I clone to create more room.......however I am having some trouble (trial and error) in exactly where to take my clipping off my mama.......just below a node....or just after. Ive killed like a dozen trying to learn this.....but am getting better I think. Experts, just before or after the node?

Sorry this is old....