Basementboy: Tje22 is right about the varying opinions. Cervantes is against it in his book, but he's lighting with high intensity discharge lighting that illuminates the plants all the way down to the bucket. I've asked our instructors about this and one said that if the lower leaves are showing some kind of distress; browning and wrinkling from lack of light, then it's okay to remove them but if they're green and appear healthy to leave them be. I haven't had any problems following their advice. Lets see what the others say. HSA