I'll be ready to harvest my top branches in about 2 weeks, but my lower branches are not quite ready. If I harvest the top budded branches first and then wait for a couple of weeks for the lower ones to develop more, will the lower budds be ok?

Just wondering when you cut the top budds off will that effect the plant and the lower budds may not grow as much?

Thanks.

That's fine dude, you can harvest the tops, continue to flower to allow the lower buds to ripen. I ran into this same problem, and this is what I think I am going to do next grow, eliminate all lower (sucker) buds on the lowest 1/3rd of the plant.
Sucker buds, because they suck the plants energy away from the more important upper buds. By doing so you'll allow the plant to focus it's energy where it counts.
Another benefit of this method is that I can harvest my plant all at once, rather than spending the money to keep the room & light going 2 more weeks on what will end up being not so much weed at all really. Than I can start another grow asap, rather than wasting time on such a small amount.
But just like you are doing, I had to see for myself first. lol
Peace

Thanks Video, I should bought a few cfl's and clamped them on somewhere so the lower branches would get light, but my area is so small I only have room for 1 400hps. Yep, I'll just wait and see how the lowers react once the tops of have been harvest.

Yeap you can do that.

Theo, I have a 400 also, and it just seemed to me, to be such a waste to run the lights for the additional 2 weeks for those small buds. I know & understand you have to see for yourself. lol I know I did too.
But those lower buds suck the plants energy away from the more important upper buds. When you cut them off early on, the plant stays focus'd on the upper buds, making em bigger and fatter.
You also get to harvest in one day, rather than waiting those 2 weeks. Allowing you to effectively start a new grow, 2 weeks earlier.
I'm just trying to be more productive.
I know some people probably wont agree with me on this, but it is my opinion.
Another tip I was taught recently, off subject now, is when your buds are growing, the center starts out green, than turns white, when they do turn white, snip off the tip, and it'll grow back much bigger, increasing your yeild.
Peace

video, your method would really only apply if your growing for quality not quantity right? or are you saying that by not wasting 2 weeks and starting a fresh grow right away you are in fact producing more in the END?

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No buddy, I am talking quantity, weight, yeild. The 2 weeks spent trying to mature those small buds in my opinion isnt worth the time, or effort, when instead you could be starting a whole new grow. So yes I am saying you'll be producing more in the end.
Peace

VM, when you say snip off the tip, can you elaborate? Are you saying remove the entire bud or snip the tip of the actual bud and if so, how much of the tip of the bud? Did you try this yourself on your grow? Just seems dangerous messing the bud.

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I grow only tomatoes and for my personal use. Any inference otherwise from my posts is completely false.

Current grow: http://www.rollitup.org/grow-journal...rly-misty.html

My 1st grow: http://www.rollitup.org/newbie-centr...h-me-luck.html

I have not done this yet, however, it was passed on to me by a very reliable source of info. I have relied on this source for some time.

As mentioned above, pruning the "sucker" buds from beneath the canopy is designed to preserve energy for the buds receiving the best quality light.

When you cut the grow tip of a vegging plant, hormone is distributed down the plant so the the lateral branches below the cut grow more vigorously while the wound heals. Same thing happens when you snip the tips off the buds at a bout 3-4 weeks into the cycle. The buds below begin to develop more quickly and once the wound has healed, the bud that was "tipped" starts getting ENORMOUS in girth. You don't have to cut much off, just enough that the tip of the bud is green instead of white.
The best tip I can give you on pruning is don't go crazy. Over pruning is a known trigger for hermie expression.

When I remove the buds below the canopy I do it all at once, then leave the plants alone.

When I both "snip" & "tip", I start by tipping the colas a few at a time as soon as I can identify a bud. Snip a few, wait a couple days, snip a few more... Once the canopy has formed (about a month into the cycle), I'll go back through and remove all the tiny buds that aren't getting direct light.
Result: fat, dense buds and colas.

Interesting. Thanks.

__________________
I grow only tomatoes and for my personal use. Any inference otherwise from my posts is completely false.

Current grow: http://www.rollitup.org/grow-journal...rly-misty.html

My 1st grow: http://www.rollitup.org/newbie-centr...h-me-luck.html