Removal of unproductive growth debate

I just wanna hear different peoples opinions on the removal of unproductive growth from plants as far as when to remove it and if you even remove it at all. Basically I'm just talking about removing random small shoots that don't get much light and wouldn't produce much at all for buds and don't grow well enough to use as a clone. Some say don't remove anything, some say remove it so your plants aren't wasting energy trying to grow weak branches.

Please reply with your thoughts on the subject, thanks!

I trim....

After about 15-20 days of FL is when I do a final trim of the lower branches that won't do as well.... Plus, I hate trimming poorly grown light fluffy popcorn buds.... I try to keep em cola'd up....

CGI::::::

I think I agree there, I have a plant that has a nice full canopy of tops that nearly perfectly catches all the light. So I've been thinking everything else under that is removeable. All the shoots down there grow all weird and stretched out trying to juke their way into a hole for some light but never make it..

Sort of like a pre-miami reggie bush.. you know its trying... but you know its not going anywhere.

I always trim the lower branches and about everything else under the canopy.. I also use 2' x 4' rolling carts with a trellis the same size somewhere between 26 - 40" above the cart base. These carts support either 2 plants in #5 containers or a single plant in a #7.. most everything under the trellis gets trimmed off. In addition to focusing energy in the canopy, this method also allows excellent air flow underneath and helps reduce issues with powdery mildew and such.

Peace,

Farmer Rich

im the same i remove bottom 3rd of the plant,i use most for clones in the next run..
i usually do mine 2 weeks b4 i flower it gives them time to recover from the shock of being rapped..

Here's a picture to show you how it works out for me. Regarding when I trim, usually when I repot and start vegging in one of my trellis carts and again 1-2 weeks into flower.

Peace,

Farmer Rich

FarmerRich, I like your setup. Thats awesome, I wouldn't mind seeing some more pics of your grows. If only I could have that sort of setup. What sort of lights are you using? Looks as though you're vegging and flowering in the same place? Do you wheel the flowering plants into darkness at night?

Another thing I'd like to explore is... when is it too EARLY to remove unwanted growth? Or does it not matter? I suppose I'd guess that its never too early because in order to determine growth is unwanted your plant is already matured enough to have a nice full canopy.

Other thing I've been thinking about... Is it better to remove everything unwanted all at once? For example should you wait until you're near flowering, and remove everything in one session? Or would it be better to remove little bits of it here and there as your plant developes that growth? That way you could chop it early as soon as you see the growth, so energy won't be wasted over time by growing it out, only to remove it later. However the difference in the two scenerios is that cutting everything all at the same time causes greater stress over a short period of time, where removing as you go causes smaller amounts of stress, but spread out over time?

Hopefully I worded that all the way I wanted to... just random stuff I debate with myself and can justify going either way. So I am wondering what more experienced people have come up with for results.

Thanks again everyone

I cut fan leaves off all through flower and feed them to my bearded dragon : ]

No way.. I've never thought of that. I have a bearded dragon named Wayne. I've toyed with the idea of letting him live in my grow room since the climate in there is probably even better than the 50g terrarium that I keep him in, but I never thought about feeding him those leaves. I'm going to research that a bit more and see if there is anything hazardous about using fan leaves for food, and if they provide the proper vitamins and minerals that he needs to live a healthy life. His favorite salad is mustard greens right now, and he is obsessed with strawberries or anything that is red/orange. He will attack the red button on my xbox 360 controller if I let him get near it. So when the buds start to turn orange I'd have to make sure he doesn't completely devour my crops haha.

How long have you been feeding him fan leaves? And do you give them to him for a treat or sub that in as his whole meal or what? I am curious about this, sounds very interesting and wayne might just love it.

Must be a happy dragon!

Hey Minnesnowta,

Thanks! A lot of tweaking over the last 5 years or so has gotten me here... After starting in a homebuilt growbox in my garage, I now have 2 rooms that I built in a building separate from my house. Not huge, but enough room to have separate veg and flower rooms. Using the carts you see in the picture, once done vegging I simply move them into the flower room. The flower room holds 4 carts giving me 32 square feet of trellis space. For lighting in flower, I have 3 x 600 HPS with medium adujust-a-wings + 2 x 4' T-5 panels that hold 8 tubes each with one on either end of the room. This is working really well.. As far as method, nothing but soilless mix and Advanced Nutrients. If you're curious a cart typically produces 8-10 oz after drying.. I have had up to 14 oz off of sativa dominant G-13 Haze. My goal is to try and harvest 2 carts every month..

Here's a couple of more pictures.. The strains in the pictures are G13 Haze (in week 12 very close to harvest) and Critical+ (at weeks 6, 3, 2 respectively).

Wow, we've really deviated from the original topic! :jointsmile:

Peace,

Farmer Rich

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Whats the purpose of the wire I see on the carts? ?? Also what is your system for mite control??

I'm guessing by wire, you're asking about the screen on top. Its to spread the branches out to allow for more light to hit all around the side shoots and lower buds. Makes everything easier from trimming, mold control, air flow, easier to identify and fix problems, and general yield increases. Sort of similar to a SCROG, but not quite as intense on the branching.

That's correct, the wire is the trellis. I vary the height depending how a plant behaves. For container size if it's 1 plant I use a#7 pot, with 2 I use #5's (black pro-can). I always start by topping the plant and taking a few lower branches for clones and to start pushing the energy to the top. Usually takes about 8 weeks of veg for the size plants I like including 2 week for the cuts to root. Once they're in flower about 7-12 days I take all the non essential growth from under the trellis.

I take any branches or bud sites that won't make it above the screen. I do not trim any leaves. The nutrients stored get used by the plant later. They are the first to yellow. I leave them until they fall of their own accord.