Originally Posted by mared juwan

It is critical to know the plant's growth traits before doing something like this. I have grown strains where the top cola will explode when the bottom branches are removed. I've also grown strains that require you to preserve as many budsites as you can through flower. These are the small yielders like Bubba Kush that won't form colas. Instead you get a golf ball size nug at each budsite. Lollipopping this strain would destroy the yield. So I strongly recommend growing out the strain normally to find out what it does before doing any extreme pruning. The exception is if you have an overcrowding situation. If you are so tight on space that an entire lower branch is 100% shaded then it is best to lose it.

Originally Posted by Fred Flintstoner

I am always open to new ideas, opinions, and information. Can you explain what makes you feel this way? What is it that makes you feel that this method is a bad move?

Thanks bro!

Originally Posted by Uncle Ben

It's called botany, like I said. With every new crop of newbies comes this issue.

As posted at CW->

>Is it a good idea to remove fan leaves that block light to the lower branches or will this take energy away from the flowering?
>

Uncle Ben:
Rottytown and Joey gave a solid explanation that is botanically based. Leaves are the lifeblood of the plant... with a caveat - they have to be functional and productive. If those leaves are healthy and green and receiving good decent light, "leave" 'em alone. If they are yellow or prone to fungus attack, they can be safely removed without detriment to the plant's health as they are contributing little if any value regarding food production - and this is The Key. If they are quite low on the plant and not receiving much light, then mother nature has a way of first taking the goodies from the leaf and it's petiole (removing stored food reserves/metabolites) and dropping the leaves anyway - moot point, eh?

>Even though I've tied the branches down horizontally, many branches are now shaded by large fan leaves.
>

Don't worry about shading branches, worry about shading leaves. Lower branches will always be shaded if your main light source is overhead. Add side lighting or use highly efficient side reflecting panels to alleviate this situation to a degree.

BTW, notice how large fan leaves are? Ever wondered why? It's because they are the most efficient food producing unit for the plant. It's your call (while understanding their function) regarding what to do with them at any given point in time.

>The lights have been on 12/12 for about 3 weeks and the plants are flowering if this helps.
>

I grow the most amount of foliage going into 12/12 as possible. While folks are doing the 15-30-15 thingie, I'm providing plenty of N to support foliage production. In general, lot's of foliage=lot's of flowers. Once sexed and the stretch is over, then you need to back off the N and increase the P and K with a blend like Peter's Blossom Booster, an excellent blend from an old pro who I hit on once in a while. Call Jack up, he's a great resource - http://www.jrpeters.com/moreblooms.html

Bottom line? It is your call to determine what is most important to the plant during flowering - large, efficient fan leaves or small, ineffective bud leaves. Choose carefully regarding targeting fan leaves for removal or tucking them away, as their exposure to quality light is The Key.

Good luck,
Uncle Ben

As posted at cann.com->

Thunderbunny:

In his book "marijuana botany" Robert Connell Clarke states that:

Leafing is one of the most misunderstood techniques of drug cannabis cultivation.

He states that there are 3 common beliefs:

1.) large shade leaves draw energy from the flowering plant and by removing the large fan leaves surplus energy will be available and larger floral clusters will be formed,

2.) Some feel that the inhibitors of flowering , synthesized in the fan leaves during the long noninductive days of summer, may be stored in the older leaves that were formed during the noninductive photoperiod. Possibly, if these inhibitor-laden leaves are removed, the plant will proceed to flower more quickly when the shorter days of fall trigger flowering

3.)Large fan leaves shade the inner portions of the plant, and small, atrophied, interior floral clusters may begin to develop if they receive more light.

Few, if any, of the theories behind leafing have any validity.

The large fan leaves have a definite function in the growth and development of cannabis. Large leaves serve as photosynthetic factories for the production of sugars and other necessary growth substances. They do create shade, but at the same time thay are collecting valuable solar energy and producing foods that will be used during the floral development of the plant. Premature removal of the fan leaves may cause stunting because the potential for photosynthesis is reduced.

Most cannabis plants begin to lose their larger leaves when they enter the flowering stage and this trend continues on until senescence (death of the plant) He also states that removing large amounts of fan leaves will also interfere with the metabolic balance of the plant. Leaf removal may also cause SEX REVERSAL resulting from a metabolic imbalance

He goes on to say that cannabis grows largest when provided with plentiful nutrients, sunlight, and water, and left alone to grow and mature naturally. It must be remembered that any alteration of the natural life cycle of cannabis will affect productivity.

This book has served me very well in my 12+ years of growing--I would have to side with RC on this one--those sunleaves are there for a reason--they dont grow just for show--leave them on there and let that plant grow naturally

Good Luck,
Thunderbunny

Originally Posted by Leftyy2k4

Lollipopping does not involve removing fan leaves.

You remove lower bud sites. Forcing the plants energy into the upper bud sites.

Pruning is done to many plants to form bigger flowers. This is what lollipopping is. Forcing the plant to focus its energy into the main cola instead of small side buds.

Not removing fan leaves. One should never remove fan leaves.

Originally Posted by Leftyy2k4

Lollipopping does not involve removing fan leaves.

You remove lower bud sites. Forcing the plants energy into the upper bud sites.

Pruning is done to many plants to form bigger flowers. This is what lollipopping is. Forcing the plant to focus its energy into the main cola instead of small side buds.

Not removing fan leaves. One should never remove fan leaves.

Originally Posted by del66666

hi guys, why not try ultra skunk, no need to lollipop cause it grows mainly 1 cola