Pruning question

I've been having trouble with the search but anyway, I'm thinking of pruning my plant and in the Grow FAQ, it says "I start by pruning a leaf from each node in a staircase pattern, as soon as the first 5 bladed leaf appears."
It says that this will increase the yield, but i don't really understand what to do. Could someone explain more specifically?

-Alex

i am a newbie my self , but i have pruned my plant and was successfull. i pruned the bottom 8 at the nodes. but only because i had enough to do so . two or 4 may be enough for u. the best advice i can give u is if using hps do not trim above the top 30 cm if using clf's keep the light 2 cm obove the plant this will make it thicker and u can trim up to the top 20 cm.

I just don't understand what it means by a "staircase pattern". What does that mean?

-Alex

if there is one thing i have learned from my first grow is not to read into things too much the staircase pattern prob means start from the bottom and work your way up. the purpose of pruning is at the bottom is that the light only penetrates the top x amount of inchs of the plant depending on your light and wattage, and there for you plant is not wasting energy and food on these leaves. pruning the top means u lose the big middle bud but the plant will fill out instead. try a web site call weed farmers they allso have some good information. ps use the cuts for clones