Trimming larger leaves, Ok or not Ok?

[Postman]

The leaves on top are big and green(thats great) but I want to cut them back so that the important areas get more light. Is it ok to trim a little without killing my girls or causing them undo stress? I know that you can bend them 90 degrees, but I'd like to grow them straight up and tall. Hoping for some expert advice from the masters out there, much apreciated......

Postman Reviewed by Postman on 04-05-2005. Trimming larger leaves, Ok or not Ok? The leaves on top are big and green(thats great) but I want to cut them back so that the important areas get more light. Is it ok to trim a little without killing my girls or causing them undo stress? I know that you can bend them 90 degrees, but I'd like to grow them straight up and tall. Hoping for some expert advice from the masters out there, much apreciated...... Rating: 5

[Garden Knowm]

Would need to see pictures of the plants.. How tall are they...? How bushy are they? and how much light are yuou using? and how close is the nearest plant?

Cutting big fan leaves that are near the top of the plant is NOT recommended just to let more light penetrate to the bottom.. In general, you should keep your plants short so this is not an issue.. or train them to 90 degrees as you mentioned... or

ask ZANDOR about tiered lighting : ) -

you won't kill your ladies by cutting leaves, unless they are in real bad shape... or very very young.. but you will effect growth

[Postman]

Thanks for the reply GK, 8 total, oldest to youngest 16 inches to 12, all in 3 gallon pots pushed close together. 8 total flo tubes, 26,700 lumens, 320 watts. All are very healthy and growing well in fertilized soil mix. 36 days into growth from seed to now. Hope this enough info.....how bad will growth be affected?

[Garden Knowm]

Why do you want to cut the leaves.. ? to expose the buding nodes to light?
First and foremost, you want the fan leaves to get light... I would say flower now and don't cut leaves..

Maybe clone the 16 inch plant so that all your plants are the same size whenyou begin to flower..

pictures?

: )
SMB

[BobBong]

try using string to tye the leaves up.. or down outta the way... they still get light.. and it opens the bottom branches... try forms of LST to also.. you can make things work really well with some string

[Postman]

Really don't want to cut the leaves, but these leaves are huge! The only thing in direct light are these leaves, everything else lives in shade. Maybe this is normal or maybe not, but I think I'll try the advice and use string and see if I can't relocate them instead of cutting. I'm new at this......thanks for the tips.....photos soon to follow.....

[sugarmagnolia]

u could put the flourescants at the bottom of the plant and the top, but if you don't have the supplies (enough lights) or time to do so you can find a different way. This is what I'm doing. a cheap 150 watt incandascent grow light on top for the leaves and photosynthesis, then a flouro on the bottom 40 watts total that makes sure all bud sites are fine. and u don't really need to worry about light penetration as much as u are in veg, but it is good to think ahead. but I would worry if bottom leaves have no light and die.

[Postman]

Thanks for the advice, guys..... will add a few lights and ride it out. Next time, Hps....First time cheap grower, I will learn eventually.....Keep it High....appreciate the Knowledge......

[montyd]

i trim most fan leaves off but i only do this when i switch to 12/12..