Keep leaves or cut leaves?

[ManishWayz]

Ok, I see that there is a lot of discussion about whether or not to leave the fan leaves on or to cut them off. Some say “don’t cut them,you wouldn’t cut your finger off” but then some say “It’s cool to cut, it allows more light to plant”. So what is really the right way or the wrong way? Can anyone truly say show and or prove that there is a negative effect to cutting off the leaves? Can anyone truly say show and or prove that there is more positive effect to leaving the leaves? Well all I can say is from my own personal grows, and learning as I go, I have been cutting off all of the big fan leaves after the plant has started showing flowers.

I have had this thought in mind; if we cut the leaf tips when cloning to force growth to other parts of the plant then wouldn’t the same thing apply when cutting off the whole leaf!?... Wouldn’t it force the nutrients to focus on the rest of the living parts of the plant and for new plant growth to start?

With all of my images posted and still getting good yields with me cutting the leaves off (or nuking my plant as some say) can any prove that it is truly wrong to cut then off?... Really let’s sound off and post your results.

First Harvest (11-19-2010) "1-150 Watt HPS"



Second Harvest (05-14-2012) "2-150 Watt HPS"


Third Harvest (08-10-2012) "600 Watt HPS"

 

[alley.walker]

Dude!
I think that the fan leaves only serve one single purpose. Increasing the stalk. This is why they have a tendency to die while flowering. Whilst, leaves smaller and adjacent to the buds are for just that.. BUDS!! .. But another thing I noticed.. With your increase of lighting, you had to back them off. The yield did go up.. But percentage wise? I guess it's not how big it is, it's how you use it!!! Hehe

 

[Scrotie Mcboogerballs]

My brother in law came over and trimmed off all my fan leaves yesterday. I'm going to be flowering in about a week and he swears by this method. He's pretty seasoned so i'm interested for sure.

 

[ManishWayz]

View attachment 2294172
(06/28/2012)

View attachment 2294173
(08/08/2012)

As you can see I cut all my fan leaves (big leaves) off.

 

[Scrotie Mcboogerballs]

nope. canoot see. links bad.

 

[TicKle]

yield is based upon a whole load of factors, ie, root's, temerature, lighting, air, LEAF health, LEAF mass, nutrient's, nutrient levels, i could go on.
makes me laugh how ignorant to the basic facts some people are...you keep taking them leaves, and you keep telling yourself this increases yield...

MORE LEAF = MORE PHOTOSYNTHESIS...........SIMPLES.[h=1][/h]

 

[charface]

Think of them as solar panels. Not unplug them from what you are using them for and I bet your pool gets very cold.

 

[mysunnyboy]

Dude!
I think that the fan leaves only serve one single purpose. Increasing the stalk. This is why they have a tendency to die while flowering. Whilst, leaves smaller and adjacent to the buds are for just that.. BUDS!! .. But another thing I noticed.. With your increase of lighting, you had to back them off. The yield did go up.. But percentage wise? I guess it's not how big it is, it's how you use it!!! Hehe

i'm saving this for a future sig

fan leaves do not block light, they absorb it, they are the solar panels for the plant. please don't cut them. and the reason they die during flowering is because the plant is taking nutrients from those fan leaves. the serve a tremendous purpose. but what do i know, i only grow 40g colas.

 

[Scrotie Mcboogerballs]

Like I siad, it's already happened and I am very interested to see the results. I completely understand both sides of the argument. That's why I was so excepting towards the hair cut.

 

[ManishWayz]

View attachment 2294172
(06/28/2012)

View attachment 2294173
(08/08/2012)

As you can see I cut all my fan leaves (big leaves) off.

* Fixed images *

 

[ManishWayz]

View attachment 2294197


yield is based upon a whole load of factors, ie, root's, temerature, lighting, air, LEAF health, LEAF mass, nutrient's, nutrient levels, i could go on.
makes me laugh how ignorant to the basic facts some people are...you keep taking them leaves, and you keep telling yourself this increases yield...

MORE LEAF = MORE PHOTOSYNTHESIS...........SIMPLES.

Well I've proved that to be wrong...

 

[alley.walker]

i'm saving this for a future sig

fan leaves do not block light, they absorb it, they are the solar panels for the plant. please don't cut them. and the reason they die during flowering is because the plant is taking nutrients from those fan leaves. the serve a tremendous purpose. but what do i know, i only grow 40g colas.

View attachment 2294205

Oh shit my gut hurts!! Nice wet!
I just germinate and grow the fuckers!! You want to scrape the walls for a few more grams.. HAVE IT!!!!

 

[mysunnyboy]

what do you mean "scrape the walls for a few more grams"?

 

[hotrodharley]

My brother in law came over and trimmed off all my fan leaves yesterday. I'm going to be flowering in about a week and he swears by this method. He's pretty seasoned so i'm interested for sure.

He shouldn't have. Too soon. Your yield would have been far higher to have waited, if at all, to selectively remove older dying ones. If at all.

 

[TicKle]

Oh shit my gut hurts!! Nice wet!
I just germinate and grow the fuckers!! You want to scrape the walls for a few more grams.. HAVE IT!!!!

A FEW MORE GRAMS.....

my last seed yielded 16.5 ounce, not a leaf was took, none went yellow, and the smoke was/is sweet
https://www.rollitup.org/grow-journals/543220-og-kush-airpot-test-grow.html

 

[hotrodharley]

A FEW MORE GRAMS.....

my last seed yielded 16.5 ounce, not a leaf was took, none went yellow, and the smoke was/is sweet
https://www.rollitup.org/grow-journals/543220-og-kush-airpot-test-grow.html

View attachment 2294242View attachment 2294244

No doubt some can coax bud size near end-of-life by trimming these leaves. However it is also usual for bud quality to suffer. Weak odor/taste, alfalfa-burn smoke etc. Been guerrilla growing since 1964. Indoors just a while but the same rules apply as to hours of light needed (not supplied by us fiends) and they bend to manipulation in a variety of ways. Topping, fimming, LST - many more. I use hooks and weights. Lightweight wire hooks with washers added until the branch yields to horizontal in flower stage. By doing so buds further in can be illuminated. I get a lot of bud this way.

I never trim a leaf. I may flex one behind a budding side branch but I leave it on her always.

Damned nice plants, sir. Well done.

 

[mysunnyboy]

A FEW MORE GRAMS.....

my last seed yielded 16.5 ounce, not a leaf was took, none went yellow, and the smoke was/is sweet
https://www.rollitup.org/grow-journals/543220-og-kush-airpot-test-grow.html

View attachment 2294242View attachment 2294244

very nice

 

[greenogro]

Im not seasoned in this by any sort but cutting the leaves seems unatural. Maybe you already answered this but have you tried doing a side by side grow comparison? Im 4weeks into my grow and I might try one of my girls leaf-less to help with your research.* Btw, Still cant see the pics.


*assuming more than 1 out the five bag seeds i planted are female.

 

[Villa]

Now I'm no grow guru but I try to do things as close to what mother nature would do as possable. Last I knew mother nature didn't have a pair of scissors. Them leaves are there for a purpose.

I don't even cut anything to clone them and I have 100% clone success,

 

[tip top toker]

Canabis has been growing wild for thousands of years, with fan leaves. It has grown these fan leaves for a fairly good reason. If all your fan leaves are dying during flowering this is not because it has no need for them, it's because you're not taking proper care of it. Look at near any plant or tree, they have leaves and have them for a reason. The function of leaves was one of the most important yet basic things we were taught in biology when we were about 12 years old. Ya know, photosynthesis and all that lot.