fan leafs, trim or not?

Trimming lower branches and undergrowth that won't get light is not defoliation.
Yes if you have limited penetration you can lollipop your plants but it is best to leave as much total growth as possible this includes fan leaves.
So yes to trimming before flower depending on the strain you might want to trim a few weeks before flowering. Some strains need time to bounce back!
Bless,
DZ

I've made the mistake of trimming too much, all I can say is don't do it lol

This isn't about trimming lower branches and defoliating. He asked is it ok to take some big fan leaves to open up the plant for more light and growth.
The masses say no. A few explain and say yes. My 2 cents is take them when they stop growing off the main stalk. Or if below 12 inches from the top of the plant and only if covering enough. But the one guy was right, they become inefficient about the time they get full size. It's a slow degradation from there. At that point it's not feeding the plant, th plant is supporting it..

Cannasutraorganics said:

This isn't about trimming lower branches and defoliating. He asked is it ok to take some big fan leaves to open up the plant for more light and growth.
The masses say no. A few explain and say yes. My 2 cents is take them when they stop growing off the main stalk. Or if below 12 inches from the top of the plant and only if covering enough. But the one guy was right, they become inefficient about the time they get full size. It's a slow degradation from there. At that point it's not feeding the plant, th plant is supporting it..

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True, but even fully-developed fan leaves can act as a buffer if you screw the pooch on something. If you have a deficiency the plant can "eat" the fan leaves if it needs to. And on the opposite, if you throw too much go-go juice in the mix, the leaves will help absorb the excess and take a good bit of the hit before it starts screwing up your new growth and sugar leaves/buds.

Just my experience.

TheYokel said:

True, but even fully-developed fan leaves can act as a buffer if you screw the pooch on something. If you have a deficiency the plant can "eat" the fan leaves if it needs to. And on the opposite, if you throw too much go-go juice in the mix, the leaves will help absorb the excess and take a good bit of the hit before it starts screwing up your new growth and sugar leaves/buds.

Just my experience.

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In the context of most growers fuk up more then they get it right, yes your right. If you add silica to your nutes you can do way more fuk ups with way less problems. So if useing silica, cut the fn leaves.

Sorry about the profanity. I'm stoned and trying to be funny. And not just funny looking..
Plus I cut lots of leaves. But don't do what I do. It only works for me. Very top secret..

And for the,lollipoppers and defoliators, I'm not against you, I'm one of you, he just wasn't asking about that. I'm ADHD enough. Don't need every post going off topic on here.
Now back to the show......

I reiterate, I'm very very stoned. Trimming Sunset Sherbet and smoked way to much, if that's possible.

Growing outdoors is a whole different beast. I spent 17 years growing outdoors in Tennessee. In my experience, plants just don't grow as many leaves indoors.

I used to veg my clones over the winter in my garage to plant outside in April. And in 3 months of veg indoors they would put on 1/4 of the leaves they would as soon as being taken outdoors.

Outdoors you can do a lot more pruning and manicuring. Depending on the strain, if you are indoors, your plant might only have 10-20 fan leaves on it to begin with.

yokel you are right there is no comparison from indoor and outdoor. there is no competing with the sun

I trim fan leaves and trim a lot close to harvest. I think it shocks the plant ind it's a damn site easier come trimming time

my rooted clones normally only veg for a week or 2 before flowering.. so a 6 inch plant day 1 of flower is 3 feet or more at harvest..so i should trim all but the top 3 nodes before flowering wright?? should i trim them just after they root, or a day or 2 before 12/12?? i also want to try topping a couple plants, in that case if i top it just after its rooted and veg it for 2 weeks, will that be enough time to recover from the topping and will it still end up around 3 feet or will the topping reduce the stretch in flower??? all tip apreaciated!!

if u guys want check out my current gow, Chemist77 pic journal...let me know what tips you may have for my next run..ty