Quote Originally Posted by effektz
I would definitely avoid cutting fan leaves during flowering. Your plants pull nutes from the leaves and cutting them will affect that.

I suggest tying groups of leaves together so light can make it down to the lower part of the plant, and your baby can still pull nutes from those leaves.
About halfway into flower start cutting the shade leaves as they yellow. Do not tie leaves together. Only the top one will get light anyway. And if mold forms it will be in the leaf bunches. As the plant matures the leaves have served their purpose. Remove them.

If you are working with a leafy strain, get in there and cut half of them off. It won't hurt them and will make room for buds.