i trim while the plant is still in the dirt i grow 12/12 start to finish i just find it easier to have the plant on a base and spin it to trim instead of trying to hold it and trim, then hang the whole plant upside down in my area if you cut the buds off the main stem they dry over night to where the stem breaks, ive had 3 grows do this before i realized hanging the whole plant would slow the drying time.