Tips on how to make thicker branches

cannn

Well-Known Member
Look, removing your healthy leaves to make more room for light makes about as much sense as
removing root clusters to make more room in the container to grow more roots, =bonehead. you are doing it wrong, read a book, words, let them heal http://catnews.org/FREE Pot Books/
I think it can make sense if those healthy leaves are shading a potential new branch, or your in flower and theyre causing part of your bud to be underdeveloped. You know why popcorn looks like shit? Cause it never got much light. I agree theres no good in going crazy with defoliation but theres a spot here and there i believe its beneficial. Especially if you really pack up your grow area or grow bushes.
 

chemphlegm

Well-Known Member
I think it can make sense if those healthy leaves are shading a potential new branch, or your in flower and theyre causing part of your bud to be underdeveloped. You know why popcorn looks like shit? Cause it never got much light. I agree theres no good in going crazy with defoliation but theres a spot here and there i believe its beneficial. Especially if you really pack up your grow area or grow bushes.
I'll remove an occasional leaf or two during flower but never with the thought of it blocking light. Usually a space
restriction, ill leaf etc. I grow under 1000 watt hps and finish under 600 mh. I only see popcorn buds in the area lower
than my light penetration. the remaining buds, even the ones shaded from light all their life are fist size wonders until I
bust them up. covered by a leaf or not if the budding site is below usable light level it wont matter, a small under developed bud will result. Every bud beneath my light penetration point has always tested lower thc indoors. Outdoors is a different story, those giant leaves are like pistons in an engine and shiva's light shines to the ground. buds are huge all the way down even with no leaf removal.
I see the jig, but if it works out better for a grower to remove leaves I say go for it of course, who am I to give a phuck
 

Stealthstyle

Well-Known Member
What about lollypopping in scrogs? Im new to scrogs so asking maybe a stupid question.
Also one thing im thinking i could e worried about in a scrog is mould etc with too many leaves all touching eachother, just below the canopy.
I didnt lolly pop which some recomend.
 

Serva

Well-Known Member
Take a look at growweedeasy, they have good tutorials. I think you misunderstood the terms - lollipopping and defoliation, it's not the same. In my opinion lollipopping is just time wasting, you only have to lollipop, if you have done a mistake before. Correct training and defoliation is the key to scrogging! And the timing is the most important. Thats why so many people will tell you, don't pull off leaves, it will reduce your yield. The point is, with correct timing, it will INCREASE your yield! But it's not only about light, improved airflow is also important. The timing though will need alot of experiences. Every strain has some different grow speed, bud development, and so on...
 

cannn

Well-Known Member
I'll remove an occasional leaf or two during flower but never with the thought of it blocking light. Usually a space
restriction, ill leaf etc. I grow under 1000 watt hps and finish under 600 mh. I only see popcorn buds in the area lower
than my light penetration. the remaining buds, even the ones shaded from light all their life are fist size wonders until I
bust them up. covered by a leaf or not if the budding site is below usable light level it wont matter, a small under developed bud will result. Every bud beneath my light penetration point has always tested lower thc indoors. Outdoors is a different story, those giant leaves are like pistons in an engine and shiva's light shines to the ground. buds are huge all the way down even with no leaf removal.
I see the jig, but if it works out better for a grower to remove leaves I say go for it of course, who am I to give a phuck
To each his own i suppose. Im not the most experienced and ill admit ive never done side by side testing on this. Just seperate grows i treated differently. Not that i pull many leaves anyway. Never had the heart to really defoliate my plants lol
bongsmilie
 

Tangerine_

Well-Known Member
Removing healthy leaves is only beneficial if you need improved airflow and/or scrogging. As stated, timing and technique is extremely important.
Other than that let the leaves do their job.

As far as thicker stems/branching - other than what has already been mentioned - you could try Mammoth P.

Additions to your regime may not be the answer you're looking for but this stuff does indeed work.

I gave the sample bottles a try and was so impressed with results I bought the 500ml bottle. Plants treated with 1ml/gal were noticeably bigger. Had nice thick stems/branches and yield improved.
Its a bit pricey but worth it IMO.
They may still have the trial offer available on the website.
The sample pack I received contained 2 60ml and 1 250ml bottles packaged in a neat little box with a pack of rolling papers, stickers, and a chart.
 

Cx2H

Well-Known Member
An added fan to move the branches a bit will start strengthening them up. Like cx2h said silicates are supposed to help but ive never used them. Even giving the branches the occasional slightly violent shake can certainly help. Nearly every movement the stem makes leaves small non visible fractures causing the stem to thicken up a bit in response. Ive started using tomato cages for supports and this seems to be a good solution if you cant get those stems to harden up enough. Whats your setup like?
Bro, I used silica for years. It makes fat stalks and leaf sets. I use that sheet on my lawn, bushes, landscape etc. It's fuxing great but too much will make your sheet brittle(hard to do).

I don't have any because I need 50lbs of agsil to make 7.8% concentration. The bag will last year's and make hundreds of bottles, cost 50$. Botanicare is like 3% @16$ a bottle.

Better than sandy loam media and garden people love some sandy loam.


Fans are a given.
 
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Cx2H

Well-Known Member
Fux what some are saying. Ever had a plant in veg flowering at the bottom cause it's dark as a jungle in the plants interior in midday veg light? Some people don't grow that big..

You got to open that sheet up. What's the point of lst, Scrog, hst etc...? Even canopy only? Light coverage..
 
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chemphlegm

Well-Known Member
Fux what some are saying. Ever had a plant in veg flowering at the bottom cause it's dark as a jungle in the plants interior in midday veg light? Some people don't grow that big..

You got to open that sheet up. What's the point of lst, Scrog, hst etc...? Even canopy only? Light coverage..
if flowers are budding at the bottom of the plant this means the light being used is insufficient to grow that style/size of plant and is incapable of proper light penetration. With a poor light I would choose to grow/weave a scrog and lollipop beneath for air flow, or get better lighting
 

cannn

Well-Known Member
if flowers are budding at the bottom of the plant this means the light being used is insufficient to grow that style/size of plant and is incapable of proper light penetration. With a poor light I would choose to grow/weave a scrog and lollipop beneath for air flow, or get better lighting
personally ime if you grow a large enough bush there will be shaded bottoms you should trim up. im not the best at scrog and have gotten much better yields switching to regular training with some mainlining. but i know scrog can be amazing in the right hands. also i grow under a 400 watt so i dont have the penetration of a 1k
 

chemphlegm

Well-Known Member
Take a look at growweedeasy, they have good tutorials. I think you misunderstood the terms - lollipopping and defoliation, it's not the same. In my opinion lollipopping is just time wasting, you only have to lollipop, if you have done a mistake before. ..
I grow in five gallon pails. Before initiating flower I skirt them up for a few reasons.
I dont like splashing while watering is one, the mud is a bummer on those little popcorn buds. A watering wand is my only watering option. Removing lower growth increases my air flow, allows me a better visual in the room, makes easement for watering, keeps fertilizer applications in the dirt/off the larf.
My fingers are twisted up and trimming an be challenging. Most of this larf is not desired by me or mine so I skirt to the light penetration point and suffer none. My trimming is often just a few snips on a bouquet of colas with only a few fan leaves to be cut. This makes lollipopping very useful for me as a time and finger saver. Everybody's situation may require a different approach to be the "right" grow habit personally adapted.

peace
 

Cx2H

Well-Known Member
if flowers are budding at the bottom of the plant this means the light being used is insufficient to grow that style/size of plant and is incapable of proper light penetration. With a poor light I would choose to grow/weave a scrog and lollipop beneath for air flow, or get better lighting
'Insufficient lighting' *giggles* I don't lollipop mother's. Clone zone
 

chemphlegm

Well-Known Member
personally ime if you grow a large enough bush there will be shaded bottoms you should trim up. im not the best at scrog and have gotten much better yields switching to regular training with some mainlining. but i know scrog can be amazing in the right hands. also i grow under a 400 watt so i dont have the penetration of a 1k
I loved my 400 watt when I grew in my office space. I didnt have the head space I do now so I hear what you're saying.
I settled on short topped multicola plants for my win, with four or six colas about 15 inches long under my 400. I didnt consider that
defoliation or allowing more light. I did it to make the best of my space, yields air flow and light. I find it redundant to grow below light penetration. My meter is truth
 

cannn

Well-Known Member
I grow in five gallon pails. Before initiating flower I skirt them up for a few reasons.
I dont like splashing while watering is one, the mud is a bummer on those little popcorn buds. A watering wand is my only watering option. Removing lower growth increases my air flow, allows me a better visual in the room, makes easement for watering, keeps fertilizer applications in the dirt/off the larf.
My fingers are twisted up and trimming an be challenging. Most of this larf is not desired by me or mine so I skirt to the light penetration point and suffer none. My trimming is often just a few snips on a bouquet of colas with only a few fan leaves to be cut. This makes lollipopping very useful for me as a time and finger saver. Everybody's situation may require a different approach to be the "right" grow habit personally adapted.

peace
Yeah i use 5 gallon buckets, and i get the bottom cleaned up usually a week before flowering. i understand the trimming issue. a little pile of popcorn takes as long as the rest of the fucking harvest. i usually just make bho or butter with it or something without trimming if theres much
 

yo_Dyldo

Well-Known Member
People think I’m retarded for pulling leaves but maybe if you do some research or do your own side by side testing you’ll know that on certain plants may get too bushy and cover all the bottom growth. Yes the leaves are the solar panels of the plant but when the leaves that are covering light coming from the top and even the sides with side lights shining on them thats a problem. Especially when theyre even blocking wind from the bottom growth. Ive had plenty of grows and have tried out so many different training methods and with the same seeds growing side by side i trimmed some leaves off and the other did nothing. The one i pulled the leaves off of made the canopy reach right up to the top with all the others and is get stronged aswell. The one i didnt pick anything off of the bottom growth is still shaded under the leaves and growing slow and are scrawny. you guys can think what you want but ive had more yeild and less popcorn buds with this method and some topping
 

cannn

Well-Known Member
People think I’m retarded for pulling leaves but maybe if you do some research or do your own side by side testing you’ll know that on certain plants may get too bushy and cover all the bottom growth. Yes the leaves are the solar panels of the plant but when the leaves that are covering light coming from the top and even the sides with side lights shining on them thats a problem. Especially when theyre even blocking wind from the bottom growth. Ive had plenty of grows and have tried out so many different training methods and with the same seeds growing side by side i trimmed some leaves off and the other did nothing. The one i pulled the leaves off of made the canopy reach right up to the top with all the others and is get stronged aswell. The one i didnt pick anything off of the bottom growth is still shaded under the leaves and growing slow and are scrawny. you guys can think what you want but ive had more yeild and less popcorn buds with this method and some topping
I completely agree. I think most of the ppl here are on your side on this one. especially those bushy indicas which is most of what ive grown
 

yo_Dyldo

Well-Known Member
I completely agree. I think most of the ppl here are on your side on this one. especially those bushy indicas which is most of what ive grown
Thanks for agreeing! Yeah it’s definitely a problem on those big bushy indicas sometimes. I’m growing a couple indicas and some sativas right now and the indicas leaves are just so huge
 
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