Mephisto Genetics do you ever defoliate dominant cola fans?

[lunarman]

I’ll give u the quick answer follow your gut and cut. As soon as something in u says cut do it. It’s the fear of harming that says no but once u do you’ll see why. I don’t do much last but I do tons of leaf manipulations pony-tailing, leaf tucking and plucking. Orange diesel grows some Huge fat fans pluck what’s needed she won’t feel a thing

The OD sure is healthy and strong. I'm sure you're right, she won't even notice. But i do! You're right, I fear harming the plants. Need to get used to a different mentality. And I will take another picture in a day or two and we'll see what it looks like.

Off to the the tent with my armor slippers and scissors!

 

[Mizzo81]

The OD sure is healthy and strong. I'm sure you're right, she won't even notice. But i do! You're right, I fear harming the plants. Need to get used to a different mentality. And I will take another picture in a day or two and we'll see what it looks like.

Off to the the tent with my armor slippers and scissors!

The lowers will thank u later. And you’ll thank them when u pack whatever it is u pack and enjoy.

 

[Mizzo81]

Mine r coming down very soon like this weekend when I can get some help physical limitations suck.

 

[Dichoti]

I'll clip off anything that's blocking light. Not all at once though. 3-4 at a time, every 2-3 days.

 

[Statgator]

You are getting a lot of advice and it all seems to be in agreement. I'm going to offer you a counter view.

1) Plants can handle stress. Some like it. So don't be afraid.
2) I don't believe that plants like to be messed with slowly, and repeatedly. I say if you are going to introduce stress just do it and get it over with. The plant will perform better once it recovers.
3) Tucking leaves is a much better approach.
4) Other than in rare circumstances, it is always best to keep as many fans on the plant as possible. The total top surface area of all leaves is the limit to which a plant can convert nutrients into sugar. Lower the surface area, lower the conversion rate. Buds do not themselves produce photosynthesis. Just leaves.
5) Experience tells me that these branches that "green" gardeners tend to concern themselves with are typically branches that would be pruned in a stage not to far from the stage folks start asking questions like should I get rid of these fan leaves. In other words the right answer is typically prune the branch. Not always though and there is the magic that makes an experienced gardener.

Good luck and good job on asking questions.

 

[lunarman]

You are getting a lot of advice and it all seems to be in agreement. I'm going to offer you a counter view.

1) Plants can handle stress. Some like it. So don't be afraid.
2) I don't believe that plants like to be messed with slowly, and repeatedly. I say if you are going to introduce stress just do it and get it over with. The plant will perform better once it recovers.
3) Tucking leaves is a much better approach.
4) Other than in rare circumstances, it is always best to keep as many fans on the plant as possible. The total top surface area of all leaves is the limit to which a plant can convert nutrients into sugar. Lower the surface area, lower the conversion rate. Buds do not themselves produce photosynthesis. Just leaves.
5) Experience tells me that these branches that "green" gardeners tend to concern themselves with are typically branches that would be pruned in a stage not to far from the stage folks start asking questions like should I get rid of these fan leaves. In other words the right answer is typically prune the branch. Not always though and there is the magic that makes an experienced gardener.

Good luck and good job on asking questions.

Thank you! that part about buds don't do photosynthesis only leaves do is something I was wondering about but didn't ask the question yet. I just cut leaves off the main cola to expose bud sites beneath the fans. If the bud sites don't need light, then I just did something that was really unnecessary, right? I've read many posts that say expose the bud sites, its in my head like muscle memory now.

 

[Vapo]

Ultimately...the decision is yours and yours alone....all I can do is advise what I would do......

 

[lunarman]

Ultimately...the decision is yours and yours alone....all I can do is advise what I would do......

I think this subject is something that should be a no doubter proven by data from testing. That's what I'd like to see. That way there is no debating it or making it a gut instinct decision. Either cutting top fans is good, or its not. Not sure how one would test it. Maybe with clones in a controlled test where one room has top fans cut to expose bud sites, and the other room is natural with leaf tucking. And then you weigh the harvest and test the THC. Or maybe there are to many complex factors involved and you cant test it. I probably should have cut fans off one OD and not the other just to see if there is a difference at the end.

 

[Mizzo81]

Thank you! that part about buds don't do photosynthesis only leaves do is something I was wondering about but didn't ask the question yet. I just cut leaves off the main cola to expose bud sites beneath the fans. If the bud sites don't need light, then I just did something that was really unnecessary, right? I've read many posts that say expose the bud sites, its in my head like muscle memory now.

Those two big fans being removed allows light to all the little lower leaves that r helping the lower sites reach up. Trust me the lower will result in better production and the top will be just fine. And leaves grow off buds so getting light to the bud sites make sense still. If it didn’t work I wouldn’t do it. Tuck if u can but sometimes they’re so big even tucking them blocks light.

 

[lunarman]

Those two big fans being removed allows light to all the little lower leaves that r helping the lower sites reach up. Trust me the lower will result in better production and the top will be just fine. And leaves grow off buds so getting light to the bud sites make sense still. If it didn’t work I wouldn’t do it. Tuck if u can but sometimes they’re so big even tucking them blocks light.

Getting different ideas and thoughts on this subject, which is great And this make sense Mizzo. Its not the lower bud sites that are getting light, its the lower fans and that drives buds down low. I get that concept.