Shade Leaves Fan Leaves Question

[bobhead]

First of all, are fan and shade leaves the same thing?

I've read massive debates on pruning fan leaves. I'm assuming they are referring to the upper fan leaves. And many of them talk about trimming all of them.

I'm concerned about the lower fan leaves. These are safe to prune right?
I would leave the upper half of the plant untouched.

My lower fan leaves are massive! The size of my hand. And the stem of the leaf is so freaking long! I can hardly get in and water them. I think this was caused by having the light to close, because the nodes are super compact.
Probably the B-1 too, the foliage went ape shit over it.


Thanks

bobhead Reviewed by bobhead on 10-10-2010. Shade Leaves Fan Leaves Question First of all, are fan and shade leaves the same thing? I've read massive debates on pruning fan leaves. I'm assuming they are referring to the upper fan leaves. And many of them talk about trimming all of them. I'm concerned about the lower fan leaves. These are safe to prune right? I would leave the upper half of the plant untouched. My lower fan leaves are massive! The size of my hand. And the stem of the leaf is so freaking long! I can hardly get in and water them. I think this Rating: 5

[headshake]

First of all, are fan and shade leaves the same thing?

I've read massive debates on pruning fan leaves. I'm assuming they are referring to the upper fan leaves. And many of them talk about trimming all of them.

I'm concerned about the lower fan leaves. These are safe to prune right?
I would leave the upper half of the plant untouched.

My lower fan leaves are massive! The size of my hand. And the stem of the leaf is so freaking long! I can hardly get in and water them. I think this was caused by having the light to close, because the nodes are super compact.
Probably the B-1 too, the foliage went ape shit over it.


Thanks

there is no definitive answer to this debate. some people do, some don't. some strains might love it, some may not. removing them, or too many at once could cause stress and possibly a hermie. i'm not saying it's probable, but it is possible.

the best you can do is try it for yourself.


-shake

[WashougalWonder]

When in doubt think about how things would be in nature.

Nature allows the leaves (yes, sun, fan leaves are same) to die off as the plant grows and shades the bottom part of the plant. This starts with yellowing of the sun leaf.

I don't bother to trim them off. I feel they are the main source of photosynthesis for the plant. When they are no longer needed or they don't get enough light due to plant shading itself, they die off.

[mikeyman]

i remove any leave that cover buds.you can even cut them in half to expose buds to sun.Some say thin out the bottom leaves

[bobhead]

I hear it's known as lollipopping. If I strip away just the lower fan leaves, the top half will have a crap load of fan leaves still.

I'll prune some on 1 plant, tuck the leaves on another, and then leave one intact.
This is my first grow by the way.

[headshake]

I hear it's known as lollipopping. If I strip away just the lower fan leaves, the top half will have a crap load of fan leaves still.

I'll prune some on 1 plant, tuck the leaves on another, and then leave one intact.
This is my first grow by the way.

lollipopping is when you remove all growth from the bottom of the plant, not just the fan leaves. if your plants are over 2-1/2 feet tall, the bottom won't receive much light....even from a 1000W HID. so if you remove all the lower growth it allows the plant to put it's energies and food stores into use where it most counts.


-shake

[mikeyman]

also some say thin out the inner leaves that don't get sun.Seems to work decent i just did it and had some luck

[mikeyman]

also some say thin out the inner leaves that don't get sun.Seems to work decent i just did it and had some luck.Ed rosenthol likes this thinning and trimming bottom leaves