Lower leaves dying, lack of light?

Are the lower leaves that are dying shown pictured just because they aren't receiving enough light? Using a T5 8 Bulb, other plant I have isn't as bushy so hasn't been happening to her, jusssssssssssst wanna make sure.

Thanks




Also some of the leaves you will see are yellow from a mag def a while back.

That's normal, as you said, not enough light penetration.

You could probably prune a lot of that lower shaded stuff off,all the action is up top. Bottom trimming focuses the energy on bud production and helps prevent mildew from growing in the darker areas. Its a matter of preference though.

BustinScales510 said:

You could probably prune a lot of that lower shaded stuff off,all the action is up top. Bottom trimming focuses the energy on bud production and helps prevent mildew from growing in the darker areas. Its a matter of preference though.

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idk which way to go with that, I understand the concept but trimming so much of the leaves will stunt it will it not? Do you know of any credible sites or grow journals to show me? I'm not saying your wrong by any means I just like to know forsure

Many many people do a large defoliation of lower branching right before or a week or two after 12/12 flip. Experience shows an increase in quality upper buds.

Shivaskunk said:

Many many people do a large defoliation of lower branching right before or a week or two after 12/12 flip. Experience shows an increase in quality upper buds.

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So it just increases quality not quantity?

Throughout the flowering cycle I cut off anything below my canopy that isn't getting light. The plant will direct its energy where it is needed most and the parts that get the light need the energy the most. Photosynthesis, flower production, trichome production....they will all be better in the parts that receive the most light during flower. I have used cannalyse to test bottom popcorn nugs at the end of cure and found that the top parts of the plant had the most cannabinoids. This is what I figured in the first place but I tested just to make it solid. I use LST and get rid of all of the bud under my canopy that isn't getting light. This does a few things for me...it allows better air flow, my plants don't waste energy on the little guys at the bottom and so the energy is used in production of flower and trichomes at the tops. Within 48 hours of trimming I usually see an explosion of growth. It has never stunted my plants. Instead of having a few big tops and some popcorn, I end up with a whole lot of medium sized buds and no bs. Trimming doesn't necessarily increase overall yield, just overall quality yield. All top shelf. Check out my grow if you get a chance. Oh and I am in no way saying that I do things the "right" way. To each his own...just a bit of my experience. Good luck and happy growing.

Much appreciated

I run a single cola type of SOG, and I will usually "lollipop" my plants. Right at the beginning of flower I will remove any of the lower growth up about 40% of the plant. This encourages the rest of the plant to turn into one single big ass cola usually. I also will some times remove a hand full of the largest fan leaves, if they are crowded in my tray, allowing better air flow

Thundercat said:

I run a single cola type of SOG, and I will usually "lollipop" my plants. Right at the beginning of flower I will remove any of the lower growth up about 40% of the plant. This encourages the rest of the plant to turn into one single big ass cola usually. I also will some times remove a hand full of the largest fan leaves, if they are crowded in my tray, allowing better air flow

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How much of the plant can you realistically trim at one time without hurting it?

I usually do a couple leaves, and a stem or two a day over a course of a week. I've done large trim backs all at once and that was the only time I've noticed any slow down in growth. Honestly the whole trim vs don't trim is a raging argument within the growing community. So guys absolutely don't believe in trimming anything other then stuff that is dieing off like your currently experiencing. Then others will do large defoliations like Neon said, some times multiple times per crop. I follow a path somewhere in the middle, I feel there are benefits to be had particularly in indoor growing with limited/ controlled conditions. Air flow, and light peneration being the largest of those benefits. If the foliage isn't getting any light then it is living off the rest of the plant in my mind. Not that a plant isn't more then capable of growing more then just the colas, but in our game we usually want the best quality we can get. Focusing the growth towards the parts of the plant that are actively getting light and producing seems logical to me. Its just my 2 cents, I'm not a pro but I've got more then a few years under my belt and have always had great success.

Peace TC

Its strain dependant but I'm with him I. Call it my preflower strip I strip off anything below canopy or sgraggly guys all killer no filler

Some folks also look at it like this - Think of the leaves as energy producers/solar panels because that is what they are. When you start removing them you limit the plants ability to convert sunlight into energy thus reducing vigor and yield. Removing leaves during flowering is akin to removing a spark plug out of your car during a race.

Any green healthy leaf is producing energy for the plant regardless of its location. They do not take energy away from the plant. "Energy" is a it of a misnomer BTW.

The leaves yellowing on the bottom is normal. If the yellowing spreads upwards look at feeding. Generally it's telling you it wants a bit more N.

I'm not advocating either way, to each his own. Just depends on your style. Airflow is important as is light penetration. Good luck with your grow. I'm sure you'll do fine.

Thanks for the input everyone

Fruitbat said:

Some folks also look at it like this - Think of the leaves as energy producers/solar panels because that is what they are. When you start removing them you limit the plants ability to convert sunlight into energy thus reducing vigor and yield. Removing leaves during flowering is akin to removing a spark plug out of your car during a race.

Any green healthy leaf is producing energy for the plant regardless of its location. They do not take energy away from the plant. "Energy" is a it of a misnomer BTW.

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I'm not gonna start a big thing, and this is exactly what I meant when I said that some people are VERY against pruning. But the term energy is not a misnomer, energy is what the plant makes through photosynthesis. Just like we get energy from the food we eat, plants get it from the light, soil, and water that they eat. Using the term energy may be an over simplification of "exactly" what the plant is making, but its a fair term to use. You can call it whatever you want but if you top a plant its will redistribute its "energy" and grow new roots, branches and leaves. Same thing happens if you take a fan leaf off, Ive done it before and the next day a new fan leaf had taken its place.

I also have to disagree with the idea that leaves are producing energy regardless of location. Just like a solar panel if the leaves aren't getting light they aren't producing energy. They will act as storage containers for nutes even if they aren't getting light, and thats why they start to fade out once the plant starts using those stored nutes. I've never seen lower fans get their color back once they have faded though even if you've added nutes. I believe this is because the plant is not bothering to waste energy keeping those old fan leaves alive it isn't using, or trying to bring them back. It sends its efforts towards the newer growth, and continues on with its life.