As the orginal poster said,,
Method 1: Pull off a LOT of the large fan leaves during veg. and early flower to allow light to penetrate the canopy. I have several plants in flower like this and they seem to be doing well, but at some point they stopped producing fan leaves and dont have many. I know some people use the fan leaves as a sign of maturation (when they turn yellow and drop) and it seems to me that the plant may use them to collect light.
Method 2: Dont touch them. Ever. Until harvest. This produces a much denser canopy and looks great (I have a few in veg like this right now) but there is no way any light is getting past the top of the canopy.
well,,,,,
I trim when needs,, 50% damage,,
I think you should apply which ever to your setup,, i.e, are you using cfl's??? if so method one maybe the answer, just there penatrating power isnt so good.
what Im going to try this harvest( dec 1st) pruning fan leaves and that about a week before harvest. I have cfl's, this may give them the light to make the lower bud a bit bigger, anyhow see how it goes.
Take it easy...