Removing Branches and Pinching

High_Haze

High_Haze

Well-Known Member
Alright different tokes for different folks, yea I have heard it before. Just want some feedback from experienced growers, not the newbies who are on their first grow and do whatever the internet says is "cool". I got nothing but love just looking for an informed opinion.

Removing bottom branches outdoors
The pro removal people claim removing the bottom branches of the plant (where the popcorn buds grow) allows more energy to be devoted to the upper bud sites where the bigger flowers are. In turn this slightly increase the size of the top and mid flowers. The general opinion seems to agree that this results in a slightly lower yield, but less popcorn buds. Obviously beneficial indoors where the light cant reach the bottom, but outdoors the sun is significantly stronger and can still penetrate to the bottom branches. Do you remove the lower branch sites when growing outdoors? Why or why not? I have seen and been a part of grows that go both ways, and each time my fellow growers swear by their method (surprise)lol. Anyways I haven't removed the lower branches outdoors because I believe if the plant is healthy the branches should remain. Thoughts?

Pinching
I just visited my uncle's outdoor grow and he is a big fan of "pinching" the stems. Apparently the idea is the pinched sites create stronger stems and ultimately increase yield and flower size. Again from the view of nature knows best, why would you have to damage a plant to get it to grow more?

If anyone uses either of these methods I would love to hear your views.

Each one teach one, spread the knowledge and pass it to the left ;)
 
Dr. Treez84

Dr. Treez84

Well-Known Member
Last year where I was living my neighbors swore by lollipoping, however I was by my self and just couldn't keep up with it.
Well we ended up with a .4 pound per plant average better then them.

But they got hit with russet mites pretty bad. And they had a lot more nice complete nugs instead popcorn like us.

Seems to be either higher yield or nicer nugs from what I've seen.

Sent from my HTC6500LVW using Rollitup mobile app
 
FresnoFarmer

FresnoFarmer

Well-Known Member
I dont believe the super cropping makes buds bigger crap. But I do use super cropping to create more budsites. Supercropping can make your plant bush out like crazy and will add strength to the stems.

Removing sucker branches creates better air flow, and sometimes those sucker branches will just sag anyways and be all spindly not producing much of any good bud.

I prune the lowers and innards LIGHTLY on my large plants. Helps prevent mold in an area that gets high humidity or tule fog.
 
veggiegardener

veggiegardener

Well-Known Member
The 'pinching' is usually called 'supercropping'. It can be beneficial, but Low Stress Training(LST) is preferable, but requires training earlier. I let my plants get 3 feet tall in one gallon pots. When I plant them into the ground, I tilt each plant toward the North, giving the plant a greater footprint. I try to tie the primary stem level with the ground. You can continue to LST to keep the plant lower and broader, bending individual branches down and away from the main stem. More square feets equals more buds.

Cannabis has only one drawback in its growth pattern. I goes for height, first. This is due to being cultivated in tightly packed fields in most of the world, for thousands of years. It adapts easily to the methods I mention. I believe Cannabis sativa is the 'smartest' plant on Earth.
 
High_Haze

High_Haze

Well-Known Member
Dr. Treez84 said:
Last year where I was living my neighbors swore by lollipoping, however I was by my self and just couldn't keep up with it.
Well we ended up with a .4 pound per plant average better then them.

But they got hit with russet mites pretty bad. And they had a lot more nice complete nugs instead popcorn like us.

Seems to be either higher yield or nicer nugs from what I've seen.

Sent from my HTC6500LVW using Rollitup mobile app
Click to expand...
Very interesting thanks for sharing man

FresnoFarmer said:
I dont believe the super cropping makes buds bigger crap. But I do use super cropping to create more budsites. Supercropping can make your plant bush out like crazy and will add strength to the stems.

Removing sucker branches creates better air flow, and sometimes those sucker branches will just sag anyways and be all spindly not producing much of any good bud.

I prune the lowers and innards LIGHTLY on my large plants. Helps prevent mold in an area that gets high humidity or tule fog.
Click to expand...

Yea I have heard for the air flow and mold/pests. I get pretty good airflow and I am in a desert climate so not much humidity. Lady bugs are usually enough to keep the pests away.

My uncle pinches on all the stems. However some people I have talked to only do the main top. What is your preference?

If I were to prune the lowers should I remove one or two a day and give a few days to heal or will the girls be fine with one chop session? (very healthy plants)

One love
 
High_Haze

High_Haze

Well-Known Member
veggiegardener said:
The 'pinching' is usually called 'supercropping'. It can be beneficial, but Low Stress Training(LST) is preferable, but requires training earlier. I let my plants get 3 feet tall in one gallon pots. When I plant them into the ground, I tilt each plant toward the North, giving the plant a greater footprint. I try to tie the primary stem level with the ground. You can continue to LST to keep the plant lower and broader, bending individual branches down and away from the main stem. More square feets equals more buds.

Cannabis has only one drawback in its growth pattern. I goes for height, first. This is due to being cultivated in tightly packed fields in most of the world, for thousands of years. It adapts easily to the methods I mention. I believe Cannabis sativa is the 'smartest' plant on Earth.
Click to expand...
Yea I am familiar with the term but people now days like to use "supercropping" as one large umbrella for multiple different things including topping and LST so I like to be specific lol. I am a big fan of LST and have used it to grow some awesome plants. I agree 100% that cannabis is one of the most intelligent plants on the earth.
 
FresnoFarmer

FresnoFarmer

Well-Known Member
I pinch the main stems and the beefiest side branches that come from them after the initial pinches. I usually top very early, so I have lots of mains and beefy side branches to pinch.
 
FresnoFarmer

FresnoFarmer

Well-Known Member
I dont remove much at all. Just the really spindly saggers. I would do maybe 3-5 on one day and let it recover for a few days. You dont want to stress and/or stunt the plants. I know a coupe of the OG's on here (Garden Boss and DoubleJJ) do it, but dik how mcuh at a time.
 
bud nugbong

bud nugbong

Well-Known Member
mmm I agree with fres about removing the lower tiny branches. I like to just take out a handful at a time, Im scared it will stress them out. ..Last year I left all the lower branches and I was regretting it at harvest time. It sucks trimming up all those little popcorn buds for such a little amount. eventually I just stopped cutting them, just took the top colas and left the rest. (I had a good year)

as far as pinching I only do it when I want a plant to stay short. at home ill do it usually just once and get the Y split. I leave some in the pots for the year and they will tip over if they get too tall on me... Out in the jungle I want them getting as tall as possible for more sun.
 
mr sunshine

mr sunshine

Well-Known Member
FresnoFarmer said:
I dont remove much at all. Just the really spindly saggers. I would do maybe 3-5 on one day and let it recover for a few days. You dont want to stress and/or stunt the plants. I know a coupe of the OG's on here (Garden Boss and DoubleJJ) do it, but dik how mcuh at a time.
Click to expand...
Gb was like cut that shit off bro!! So i did mine a few days ago I cut off a grip...they sagged at night but we're cool by the next day.. they bounce back fast.. I was a little scared cuz after I pruned them I got high and forgot so I went out to spray some bt a few hours later.. When I finished I started tripping I was thinking what if it was a bad idea to spray the open wound with bt!! But no it all worked out great!!20140719_173002.jpg
If gb tells me I should cut branches..those mutherfuckers get cut!!
 
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gR33nDav3l0l

gR33nDav3l0l

Well-Known Member
I remove the lower branches and, often enough, bud sites because I can keep a better track of the upper parts. In the past I've experienced bug issues, specially in the lower parts of the more bushy plants. I don't dispose of all popcorn though.

I also pinch and bend, sometimes break, stems to get 'em thicker. I tie them down a lot too :eyesmoke:
 
verbal719

verbal719

Well-Known Member
What's up Garden Boss, I like your moves. I like your style. Those bushes are finesse. As for the questions, I super crop but for bud sites like Fresno said. I have not been able to tell the difference in bud size between pinching and not pinched. But definitely more growth. I trim the bottoms but just to keep the dirt off the leaves that would get wet. Plus you get those little leaves that are about the size of nickels and quarters. I just pinch those off or take them with a razor blade. Gives the branches that nice "high and tight" look. But also, I have just left those on and still had huge yields.

My dad is old school and believes in good dirt and water. I did that the first couple years. No nutes. No teas. None. I grew 7 or 8 footers, huge dense buds and A+ quality. Ya with just water, decent dirt and Colorado sun.

Also, about LST. I had a few clones that I didn't harden off and those bitches just would not grow but did not die. So finely I was just like f it. I bent those little things over. All of their 4 inches parallel to the dirt. And wouldn't you know it, they took off. So I kept them down till they were about 8 inches long and the branches started growing up to about 5 inches...then I took the tie down off and let them grow. They are nice little bushes now and I am very happy. I will probably do this from now on moving forward. Tied down for a week or 2 then let them grow regular. You get the exact look as if you topped while seedlings.
 
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