oooh ok, gotcha. ya i though about doing that ( cutting popcorns away) and good on the fan leaves. btw, it is a true fact the fan leaves having energy to make the buds, is a true statement. it is something i learned in college. the leaves, when undergoing photosynthesis, produce the energy the buds need to grow, since they do not have an abundance of chlorophyll, and cutting an abundance of them off decrease the potential energy the plant has.
also i believe uncle ben has done research on it and that guy knows his stuff. but hey everyone grows differently and grows how it suits them. i wasnt saying your way was wrong, just thought id offer a suggestion.