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when to cut fan leaves
- Thread starter FAT MAT
- Start date
When they block light from the the lower budsites, just tuck them behind another branch or tie them down. IMO you never want to just cut fan leaves off as they provide all the energy to your buds. Even when they yellow it is best to leave them until they wither and fall off... they are still alive and providing energy.
What he said. 
G
Guest
I have to offer another opinion. I do agree with pretty much everything said, that is correct about the plant wanting to use up the water and nutrients from the dying leaf. At a certain point though, the leaf is sucking out more than it is putting in (though its shriveling makes it look like its pumping stuff elsewhere). In an indoor situation, its important to make the juices flow 'where they need to be', which is the top of the plant. A lot of people judge it by 50% yellow is the cutoff point of when a leaf is going downhill. I always leave an inch of the fan leave stem attached so that it slowly dries and doesn't put the plant in as much risk for disease and pests. The main problem is pests and mold, don't want either because they are harder to contain than prevent.
Remember that when a leaf becomes shocked (even at the tip), it needs to be trimmed. The tiny cells that are working on energy and water have to then convert to repairing the leaf. I would say thats important to remember about the plant. It wants to be 100% healthy and green but sometimes it can't always be. We trim back every other plant on the planet, why not MJ? I see us picking off stuff from our garden bushes daily when there are problems. We are just scared because its the herb and we don't want to hurt it.
I say take them off, check your ph and nutrients; by far more important. The herb loves nutes, sometimes you gotta give it a little more of what she is asking for (often people overlook mg and ca and just overdose on N and P). Why leaves are coming off is more important than what you do with them. I heard that lollipopping tomatoes made for a higher quality yield (especially with a struggling plant). The plant can't photosynthesize when its yellow, that is reflected by the absence of clorophyll.
I take mine off more indoors than out. Outdoors I pull lightly and if it doesn't give, I don't yank it.
The hps light/floro bulbs are often the deciding factor of where you need what (fan leaves are still vital for nutrient uptake and storage). They are like the semi-trucks on the highway of the plant. Once one gets in the way though, you have to get rid of it unless you want to take risks with pests/mold. As everyone says, to tuck is better than tear. But at a certain point, the leaf needs to come off.
Rosenthal says "never take off a leaf if possible" (seen other's quote this) but that doesn't help you maintain a 100% percent pest free garden.
Remember that when a leaf becomes shocked (even at the tip), it needs to be trimmed. The tiny cells that are working on energy and water have to then convert to repairing the leaf. I would say thats important to remember about the plant. It wants to be 100% healthy and green but sometimes it can't always be. We trim back every other plant on the planet, why not MJ? I see us picking off stuff from our garden bushes daily when there are problems. We are just scared because its the herb and we don't want to hurt it.
I say take them off, check your ph and nutrients; by far more important. The herb loves nutes, sometimes you gotta give it a little more of what she is asking for (often people overlook mg and ca and just overdose on N and P). Why leaves are coming off is more important than what you do with them. I heard that lollipopping tomatoes made for a higher quality yield (especially with a struggling plant). The plant can't photosynthesize when its yellow, that is reflected by the absence of clorophyll.
I take mine off more indoors than out. Outdoors I pull lightly and if it doesn't give, I don't yank it.
The hps light/floro bulbs are often the deciding factor of where you need what (fan leaves are still vital for nutrient uptake and storage). They are like the semi-trucks on the highway of the plant. Once one gets in the way though, you have to get rid of it unless you want to take risks with pests/mold. As everyone says, to tuck is better than tear. But at a certain point, the leaf needs to come off.
Rosenthal says "never take off a leaf if possible" (seen other's quote this) but that doesn't help you maintain a 100% percent pest free garden.
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D
dongle69
ExcelAtIt said:
I was just reading Ask Ed and he said most definitely remove fan leaves that are blocking light to bud sights.
I removed the blocking leaves on my current grow via advice on another thread (almost done now) and it made a big difference.
I used to leave everything on.
Never again!
SlowCalaToker
Member
dongle69 said:
Ed has definitely changed his opinion on some issues from what he used to think. I guess with his interviewing the best growers, taking their results and different ideas and trying them in his own grow has caused some outright reversals from his previous advice of the years past. The bad thing about Ed having such an open mind and willingness to admit when his old advice may not have been accurate is that there is a lot of conflicting information that is out there from him.
Always check the date of your source and look for the most recent data before executing anything on your own plants.
Incidentally, I am pretty sure that the most recent advice from Ed and Jorge is the afforementioned "tuck and hide" method where you only cut what you can't tuck out of the line of light to the budsites.
D
dongle69
SlowCalaToker said:
I have learned my own lesson.
I try things myself to see how they work.
Tucking for me only works for about a day, then the leaves are back.
The results I got this round from outright removing fan leaves has left me so impressed I just may try anything.
I no longer care what Ed or Jorge say.
SlowCalaToker
Member
dongle69 said:
True dat, experience is ALWAYS the best teacher!
Daemon
Member
^^Agreed.
I'm on my first real grow(without someone else being in control), and I tried tucking on one plant and yanking on the other; I'm 20 days into flower. While there are many, many other variables, the plant that was not clipped seems to be doing much better. Who knows though, some prefer to clip some prefer to tuck(sounds like an S&M show.....
). 
I'm on my first real grow(without someone else being in control), and I tried tucking on one plant and yanking on the other; I'm 20 days into flower. While there are many, many other variables, the plant that was not clipped seems to be doing much better. Who knows though, some prefer to clip some prefer to tuck(sounds like an S&M show.....
). 
FAT MAT
New member
yeah. i have grown outdoors in the past but never cut leaves until they were getting yellow or droopy. this being my first real indoor attempt i have mainly decided to cut only for the light and space factors. im about 3 weeks into flower and they seem to be doing just fine. now i have only cut leaves from the bottom of the plant not the tops. i have a set of 10 clones that i am keeping short in smaller pots but i think i will try half trimmed and half not trimmed next time around. i hope to add some photos soon. thanks again to all the comments and info. cheers.
your talking about a difficult part in cannabis cultivation IMO. Since we talking indoors, i think the cultivation methods will be far diffrent.
Selective pruning as i call it. We all do it to our moms/clones while in veg. Well most of us anyway.
For years I was affraid to take ANYTHING from a plant. For fear of ruining the outcome of the harvest. I've since learned that doing nothing is what in fact cause's the lower yeild.
At first I was affraid to take the plunge, but I had no choice. I was partned up with someone. This person has taught me much in the ways of cannabis.
Before this my plants looked lush with health. Hugh fans allover the place standing out, standing tall. The holly grail(sp?) if you will.
Then he walks in from time to time to have a peek, and just starts ripping them out here, there, and over there. I was shocked! I didn't know if I should rip his lips off or thank him.
To make a long story short, I'm all in favor of selective pruning and wouldn't, couldn't think of it anyother way. But their is so much that needs to be taking into consideration. I truly think an entire book could be written on the subject.
Jus my .02 cents
Selective pruning as i call it. We all do it to our moms/clones while in veg. Well most of us anyway.
For years I was affraid to take ANYTHING from a plant. For fear of ruining the outcome of the harvest. I've since learned that doing nothing is what in fact cause's the lower yeild.
At first I was affraid to take the plunge, but I had no choice. I was partned up with someone. This person has taught me much in the ways of cannabis.
Before this my plants looked lush with health. Hugh fans allover the place standing out, standing tall. The holly grail(sp?) if you will.
Then he walks in from time to time to have a peek, and just starts ripping them out here, there, and over there. I was shocked! I didn't know if I should rip his lips off or thank him.
To make a long story short, I'm all in favor of selective pruning and wouldn't, couldn't think of it anyother way. But their is so much that needs to be taking into consideration. I truly think an entire book could be written on the subject.
Jus my .02 cents
FAT MAT
New member
thats sort of the same way im going about it breeder. im leaving the fan leaves up top. i would say im only taking off the bottom and only 25% of the bottom of all the branchs as well as the main stalk. in my unprofessional opinion i think its better for the plant due to the fact that the main stalk where the branchs pop out does not need the fan leaves. the branch has its own fan leaves that will supply all the energy for the buds. i also think they fan leaves may just be taking up nutes needed for the buds but then again im new at the indoors growing. i have not even grown outdoors in about 6 years. so im at the begining and learning from scratch again.
I hear ya bud. I took some time off myself. Life just gets in the way sometimes. I know all-to-well!
Starting from skretch here too. I don't even have anymore good beans left. All I have at hand are some decent bag beans, and funds are tighter then Bush's ass!
On the other hand I still have all my equipment.... set up and ready to roll once more...hehe.
Back to the subject on hand though.....
The plants are very rezileant(sp?), and can bounce back from abuse like no other in the botanical world. But experiance with many strains will teach you. Thats why place's like this place(IC mag.) are involuable. Exper., and idea's all over the place.
Take a few shots with a camera and discription of the surroundings, and I'm sure many here(myself included), can give ya some advise of what to take off.
your choice...
c ya bud
Starting from skretch here too. I don't even have anymore good beans left. All I have at hand are some decent bag beans, and funds are tighter then Bush's ass!
On the other hand I still have all my equipment.... set up and ready to roll once more...hehe.
Back to the subject on hand though.....
The plants are very rezileant(sp?), and can bounce back from abuse like no other in the botanical world. But experiance with many strains will teach you. Thats why place's like this place(IC mag.) are involuable. Exper., and idea's all over the place.
Take a few shots with a camera and discription of the surroundings, and I'm sure many here(myself included), can give ya some advise of what to take off.
your choice...
c ya bud
