Pruning during mid-late flower (fan leaves AND branches)

[Crispy Bacon]

obviously there is a ton of threads on pruning during flower already but I haven't seen much of anything on pruning during mid-late flower(weeks 4-finish).

The reason I'm asking is because I just lopped a whole bunch of shit off of some of my bigger plants(fan leaves blocking bud sites, fan leaves under canopy, branches with nothing on them) that are about 5 weeks in. I was just wondering how far in and how much some of you have taken off in the past. Wondering if you've seen any ill effects such as hermie flowers and things like that. Maybe flowers not filling out to full potential? loss in potency?

Any info would be great. Ill post some pics here in a minute going to go take some more off. I figure at this point what ever is gonna happen is gonna happen, I've taken A LOT off. It would be a shame if it had a negative impact on the plants, they're coming along so nicely so far.

Thanks guys

 

[Crispy Bacon]

Pic if the table I cut up and the pile of leaves/branches

 

[MedicatedGrow]

Think you linked the wrong picture.

If those are week 4 they seem a little behind no offense.

I have trimmed some popcorn nugs at week 3 with no ill effects havent done anything past that

 

[a mongo frog]

from the angle i see, it looks like u did a great job. i always prune the bottom 3rd off at day 21 or so of flower. been doing that way for the last 7 years.

 

[KushLyle]

If that is the picture after you pruned the fan leaves then you could be doing the right thing allowing the plant to focus on producing better buds. Removing leaves two weeks before harvest is actually advisable in some situations to allow more light or air for the lower buds to benefit. I guess you just have to watch them closely from hereon. Good Luck!

 

[Crispy Bacon]

Think you linked the wrong picture.

If those are week 4 they seem a little behind no offense.

I have trimmed some popcorn nugs at week 3 with no ill effects havent done anything past that

I did post the wrong picture by accident.

What makes you say they look behind for week 4? Theyre actually at day 35. I actually had thought they looked behind and wondered what the reason was but I think they look great. Its hard to tell but the table is 3'x3' and the room is about 6' wide and 8' high. Theres a lot of nugget there

Thanks for the reply though

 

[Crispy Bacon]

from the angle i see, it looks like u did a great job. i always prune the bottom 3rd off at day 21 or so of flower. been doing that way for the last 7 years.

Thanks appreciate it. makes me feel better about doing it lol

 

[Crispy Bacon]

If that is the picture after you pruned the fan leaves then you could be doing the right thing allowing the plant to focus on producing better buds. Removing leaves two weeks before harvest is actually advisable in some situations to allow more light or air for the lower buds to benefit. I guess you just have to watch them closely from hereon. Good Luck!

Ive read elsewhere that the energy isn't actually diverted to the other parts of the plant unless you do it before flowering is initiated. If that is true that would be too bad :/...either way it lets more air and light in and that makes it worth it!

Thanks for chiming in!

 

[Crispy Bacon]

Here are the pics I meant to post originally...


^ That is the accumulation of shit I trimmed off of all 9 plants. Trimmers there for size reference

Here is a picture of under the canopy. Anything left in this picture I left because I was afraid to take anymore off lol

Medicatedgrow, here is a better pic

 

[MedicatedGrow]

The reason I said that is because I cannot really tell from the small picture, and when I squint it doesn't help. I only see little white specks which I assume is pistils and not many of them.
After increasing the size of my browser I can see the top colas look fine, the bottom of course are popcorn nugs and that is all I saw when I originally looked at the picture.

As for all that trim, for 9 plants, I'd say that is a decent amount.
The problem with the question is there are too many variables.
It mainly has to do with the stress induced and the genetics.

It could take 2-3 days off the harvest date with simple trimming and you could possibly have absolutely no ill effects in the end.
I have trimmed a lot of my plants during week 3 of flower max in the past because of seeing very little growth at the low end nodes, I haven't seen anything bad happen but I usually buy only good and known breeder seeds.

Now the only problem I see is the plant possibly going hermi from stress caused, although I don't think it's likely, you have to always expect the worse.

 

[Crispy Bacon]

The reason I said that is because I cannot really tell from the small picture, and when I squint it doesn't help. I only see little white specks which I assume is pistils and not many of them.
After increasing the size of my browser I can see the top colas look fine, the bottom of course are popcorn nugs and that is all I saw when I originally looked at the picture.

As for all that trim, for 9 plants, I'd say that is a decent amount.
The problem with the question is there are too many variables.
It mainly has to do with the stress induced and the genetics.

It could take 2-3 days off the harvest date with simple trimming and you could possibly have absolutely no ill effects in the end.
I have trimmed a lot of my plants during week 3 of flower max in the past because of seeing very little growth at the low end nodes, I haven't seen anything bad happen but I usually buy only good and known breeder seeds.

Now the only problem I see is the plant possibly going hermi from stress caused, although I don't think it's likely, you have to always expect the worse.

Agree with everything you just said

I figured the size of the pic could throw some ppl off

Thanks again for sharing!

 

[Dannysayo]

I got a habit of doing some trimming also. I just do it in smaller amnts over a period of time. I also continue to tie my branches down during flower to better light coverage.

No negative results yet.

Sometimes i try n get a male/hermie for breeding purposes yet fail. I have tried w/ many strains of "og" mixes and many bag seed(reg and exotic)

 

[Crispy Bacon]

I got a habit of doing some trimming also. I just do it in smaller amnts over a period of time. I also continue to tie my branches down during flower to better light coverage.

No negative results yet.

Sometimes i try n get a male/hermie for breeding purposes yet fail. I have tried w/ many strains of "og" mixes and many bag seed(reg and exotic)

Yeah same here
. Never thought id actually want bananas!

 

[AimAim]

Ive read elsewhere that the energy isn't actually diverted to the other parts of the plant unless you do it before flowering is initiated.

I would be very interested in reading that. Can you provide a link or reference?

 

[Crispy Bacon]

may not be able to find the exact one but ill gladly pull some stuff up on the subject


brb going through last nights history

 

[Crispy Bacon]

Reading about hormones and stuff trying to come up with some good info and found this...

"When the plant possesses seven sets of true leaves and the 8th is barely visible in the center of the growth tip, or shoot apical meristem (SAM), the plant has entered the vegetative phase of growth."

Never knew that. Thought as soon as a plant had an established root system it was "in veg"? Seven sets of leaves? shoot thats damn near ready for flower!

 

[Crispy Bacon]

AimAim, still can't find it but based off of what we know about the plants transition to flower, it would be logical that the most advantageous time to prune would be BEFORE the pre-flowerstage(stretch) because this is where rapid growth occurs?

Thats just an educated guess. Even if this is true I still would think energy diversion could occur during flower, just to a lesser degree..

Would love to hear your thoughts on this Aim, and everyone else for that matter!

Im quite curious now

 

[AimAim]

"When the plant possesses seven sets of true leaves and the 8th is barely visible in the center of the growth tip, or shoot apical meristem (SAM), the plant has entered the vegetative phase of growth."

Never knew that.

That's why you gotta take everything you read on the internets with a grain of salt. Personally this makes no sense to me and I think it's incorrect. So what stage of growth is it in while it's growing the vegetation to get to the 8th node? Pre-vegetation or something?

I would guess the author meant flowering stage might begin to show at 8 nodes. In any case it's another incorrect tidbit of bullshit internet "fact" written by some stoner in my opinion.

 

[Crispy Bacon]

Found it!

"As a rule of thumb, its not a good idea to prune after you've transitioned your light cycle. the reason being is it is focusing growing buds in those points as of now, and that energy will now be wasted, when if you pruned a bit earlier, that same energy would have been focused on the buds your keeping.

Being only 10days in though you'll definitely be ok doing it. I don't use clippers or any type of pinching device. Always use like a razor, exacto knife, i use a scalpel. Keep it clean w/ alcohol till they rust then toss em and get a new 1. Hope this helps."

just a quote from a member on another forum. I'd like to see his references, thats for sure

 

[AimAim]

"As a rule of thumb, its not a good idea to prune after you've transitioned your light cycle. the reason being is it is focusing growing buds in those points as of now, and that energy will now be wasted, when if you pruned a bit earlier, that same energy would have been focused on the buds your keeping.

Well I understand this, and agree with it. But your post #8 was in reference to energy (nutrients and photosynthates) not being moved around within the plant. As far as I know plants have the ability to translocate materials within themself at all stages of growth. I don't think that's what this guy is talking about. He's saying don't cut off bud sites after flowering has started because you will lose the energy and growth potential that the plant has already put into growing whatever you trim.

Peace - AIM