Lollipopping during flower?

[DanTheReggaeFan]

Anybody got any thoughts on lollipopping during flower? I did do it before I flipped them but didn't go as drastic as I should have and now after the stretch it looks like there's going to be a lot of popcorn at the bottom. It's been 2 weeks since flip and they seem to have stopped stretching and are now putting out white hairs. Is it safe to do it again now? I also want to give them a light defoliation because it's a bit crowded in the tent if it's safe to do it? I know lollipopping and defoliating can be contentious topics but any advice is appreciated. I'll get some pics up either tonight or tomorrow so you can see what I mean.

 

[Sunshineinabag]

Could always just harvest branches as they become ripe

 

[Big D]

You can lolly pop and defoliate now but not at the same time. Take the branches and let them recover and then begin to take off leaves.

 

[Fiddynut]

Greetings Dan.
I lollipop my girls 21 days after the flip to 12\12. By then the stretch is over and I can see what's not going to be anything but shaggy larf anyway. I use to be hesitant to cut on them too much but a good lollipoping of 1\3-1\2 way up makes them so much easier to trim and the tops get nice and fat.

 

[TychoMonolyth]

I've seen some radical defoliation during flowering with outstanding results. Still, I'm hesitant about it.

 

[Nannymouse]

Maybe sometimes it depends on the strain/pheno. I've read about some plants being so sensitive that any messing with them will make them go hermie. Not usually, tho, i would think. And maybe those would have gone hermie, anyway.

Some people think that any manipulation will set the plant back. Eh, i dunno. If i were ever to have a larfy one, i wouldn't hesitate to start taking out bottom leaves, and any that are shading stuff below, but probably wouldn't do that all at one time.

Isn't experimenting what you do with 'extras', males?

 

[PolyChucker]

I have been experimenting with cutting off fan leaves from the main stem - the big ones only.
24 hr light first month 18 hr 2nd month until preflowers then cutoff the large fan leaves.
recently I did notice that I had 27 plants in the closet, once 9 of them showed gender I deleaf all - then next week only 3 more plants show gender.. seems like they need to reach sexual maturity before taking off leaves unless they are very leafy - seems to stall development.
so then in flower - cutting leaves off will slow them a couple days - but if you want to do 2 leaves a week and slowly work them, there will be less stall from the damage, and maybe a growth boost from stress.
my friend has super vigorous plants and he prunes them often - aggressive plants will take this as a challenge and be stimulated to grow - weaker plants will be hurt and delayed for a couple days

 

[St. Phatty]

If it's not worth manicuring ...

 

[DanTheReggaeFan]

Could always just harvest branches as they become ripe

I'd like to do that but unfortunately my flower tent is also my drying space so that's not really an option. Oh and thanks for replying so much I think you've replied to literally all the questions I've posted recently. I keep meaning to reply to them but I have a short attention span and forget but thanks for all the advice I appreciate it.

 

[DanTheReggaeFan]

You can lolly pop and defoliate now but not at the same time. Take the branches and let them recover and then begin to take off leaves.

Thanks. I was thinking to lollipop tomorrow and defoliate either Sunday or Monday

 

[DanTheReggaeFan]

Greetings Dan.
I lollipop my girls 21 days after the flip to 12\12. By then the stretch is over and I can see what's not going to be anything but shaggy larf anyway. I use to be hesitant to cut on them too much but a good lollipoping of 1\3-1\2 way up makes them so much easier to trim and the tops get nice and fat.

Thanks. Do you think 15 days would be too soon? I'm pretty sure they've stopped stretching now.

 

[DanTheReggaeFan]

I've seen some radical defoliation during flowering with outstanding results. Still, I'm hesitant about it.

Yeah me too

 

[DanTheReggaeFan]

Maybe sometimes it depends on the strain/pheno. I've read about some plants being so sensitive that any messing with them will make them go hermie. Not usually, tho, i would think. And maybe those would have gone hermie, anyway.

Some people think that any manipulation will set the plant back. Eh, i dunno. If i were ever to have a larfy one, i wouldn't hesitate to start taking out bottom leaves, and any that are shading stuff below, but probably wouldn't do that all at one time.

Isn't experimenting what you do with 'extras', males?

That's what I was wondering about. These are all new strains for me so I'm not sure how sensitive they are. Also 2 of them have cookies genetics in them and I've heard they can be prone to herming

 

[DanTheReggaeFan]

I have been experimenting with cutting off fan leaves from the main stem - the big ones only.
24 hr light first month 18 hr 2nd month until preflowers then cutoff the large fan leaves.
recently I did notice that I had 27 plants in the closet, once 9 of them showed gender I deleaf all - then next week only 3 more plants show gender.. seems like they need to reach sexual maturity before taking off leaves unless they are very leafy - seems to stall development.
so then in flower - cutting leaves off will slow them a couple days - but if you want to do 2 leaves a week and slowly work them, there will be less stall from the damage, and maybe a growth boost from stress.
my friend has super vigorous plants and he prunes them often - aggressive plants will take this as a challenge and be stimulated to grow - weaker plants will be hurt and delayed for a couple days

These are already 2 weeks in flower. They did get defoliated in veg though.

 

[DanTheReggaeFan]

If it's not worth manicuring ...

Gotcha

 

[DanTheReggaeFan]

I took some pics today so you can see what they're like

Strawberry Eclair #1

Strawberry Eclair #2

Crumbled Lime

Purple Punch x Gelato #33 #1

Purple Punch x Gelato #33 #3

There's more pics and different angles in my journal if anyone wants to have a look. Tbh I've basically been talking to myself in there lol

 

[Sunshineinabag]

I love this site dan

 

[PolyChucker]

They look very healthy but crowded. I would prune them a lot, spread the branches apart. I’ve had good luck with making a ring out of coat hanger, and pushing down the middle of the plant to open up the middle

 

[Fiddynut]

Thanks. Do you think 15 days would be too soon? I'm pretty sure they've stopped stretching now.

Greetings Dan.
Id guess that as soon as they stop stretching and you can tell what doesn't look like its ever going to develop into anything good would be the right time.
Good luck and I hope you have a great harvest!

 

[DanTheReggaeFan]

Thanks for all the advice guys. I got around to doing it today but I might have gone a bit too far. Anyone got any thoughts?

Strawberry Eclair #1

Strawberry Eclair #2

Crumbled Lime

Purple Punch x Gelato #33 #1 (forgot to do a before pic)

Purple Punch x Gelato #33 #3