Which should get more light - Budsites or Fan Leaves

[Tokudai]

I recently got into a discussion with one of my partners on this subject and we disagree. What do you guys think?

Heres my take - Leaves are like solar panels. They change angle to catch the light most efficiently, in order to convert the light energy to a form the plant can use. The fan leaves are the largest converters of this energy on the plant. Most, if not all, fruits and veggies do not depend on direct light to the fruit for development/ripening - just the canopy of leaves (think fruit trees). Would a rose still bloom if you covered the flower in a lightproof bag to make it dark, but left the leaves uncovered to collect light? I believe so, but have not tried

Her take - The structure of a cannabis flower is different than most other fruits or flowers. Leaves are intertwined and comprise a lot of the flower itself. By tucking away fan leaves or unshading bud sites, you are actually exposing more surface area of leaf to the direct light than the fan leaves provide, thus allowing more "conversion" to take place.


What do you think?

Tokudai Reviewed by Tokudai on 04-17-2007. Which should get more light - Budsites or Fan Leaves I recently got into a discussion with one of my partners on this subject and we disagree. What do you guys think? Heres my take - Leaves are like solar panels. They change angle to catch the light most efficiently, in order to convert the light energy to a form the plant can use. The fan leaves are the largest converters of this energy on the plant. Most, if not all, fruits and veggies do not depend on direct light to the fruit for development/ripening - just the canopy of leaves (think Rating: 5

[Markass]

eh..both is important..I haven't grown enough flowers to comment much on it, but myself believe it's important to get sufficient light to the bud sites without big fan leaves blocking the light, however still making sure you're getting light to the leaves, because I do agree that they perform photosynthesis and convert a lot of light to energy..Really hard for anyone to be correct I think..but I voted bud sites...my primary focus is the bud sites, and the leaves directly on those bud sites..the fan leaves on them..those leaves are probably making nice good energy for their corresponding bud sites..however, I can tell you that buds that get more light on them do grow bigger...I'm going through this right at this moment actually..I'm kinda stoned so I don't know how much sense this really makes..

[Weedhound]

I go with budsites as well but I don't have any scientific argument for it....am going with what I have always heard.

One interesting note which may make no sense at all: If the fan leaves need the light more how come the budsites not exposed to lighting don't grow as well even though the fan leaves connected to them get plenty of lighting since they seem to be the largest (usually budsites more toward the bottom of plant with the super-sized fan leaves)

[RonnieRay]

I think its more important to get strong light to the fan leaves and lower leaves during the earlier stages of growth, when they naturally were more exposed. Then during the later stages of flowering, its more important to get strong light to the bud sites and smaller leaves around and within. I think this is the reason that in nature the top of the plant where the sun light hits the strongest is where most of the biggest tightest buds develop.

[stinkyattic]

I actually voted fan leaves.
But there should be a third option...
Maximize the canopy of the individual plant... like a high canopy-to-biomass ratio...

[Weedhound]

Sorry guys I'm sticking with budsites...I've never heard or read anywhere to make sure your fan leaves get the most light possible at the expense of the buds....except here.

[Weedhound]

Oh one ps as well for whatever it is worth. I have read Jorge Cervantes recomends pulling all large fan leaves off twenty days from harvest then 10 days from harves pull the rest of the leaves (except trim of course). Fan leaves aint going to get too much light that way.... Says he does with this with his own grows.