Help please

I have a concern. This is going to be my first time growing vertically. I plan on having four plants grown regularly with a 400 watt hps in the middle. My concern is that, What would be the best way to deal with those lower smaller branches? Should I leave them? I imagine they wont get much light. Maybe I should trim them? Train the plants to each grow only 1 cola?

heres a picture I drew. Obviously I cant draw in 3d...but the plants/ pots will be in a circle around the light. I worry that the lower branches will be useless...therefore...whats the best way/time for me to trim these?

You can maximize a 400 watt vertical grow by keeping everything low in the first place and all you need to do is simply trim away any sucker branches in veg or just before the transition into flowering . Most strains will develop nothing but wispy weed underneath a canopy but some strains, usually Kush Dom will produce worth while buds all the way to the soil line . With a vertical I would not cut the lowers myself

Don't trim aything, the lower buds will be 10 times bigger than the usual popcorn. Then again I grow sog so I dont't have tons of fan leaves or big plants. If your plants are bigger than than the light spread from your bulb, throw another bulb in there to maximise coverage. Also, if ya keepin em small ya can easy get 8 palnts in.

Don't forget, stretch is your friend with vertical, more light penetration. Use ya hps in normal way initially and keep it at a distance (2ft +) to encourage stretch, at about 10-12 days post flip chuck em into vertical setup and trim nothing. Good luck mate, get it right and you will never look back.

Also I take my clones for next batch from bottom of the plant just as I flip.

thanks for all the advice guys! I appreciate it. You guys have any pics of your vert grows, so I can get a better idea? Thanks!

????????????????????????