To Prune or Not to Prune...

I have a small grow going. 1 2x2 HO T5. My Blackberry is around 6" high and thick. I've cut off two main leaves (for lack of a better term) on two of the lower levels (total 4 leaves) so the lower branches can get better light.

What's your opinion on pruning off the main leaves that the branches grow out from?

Btw, I'm 3 weeks into veg... is my plant on the small side?

Now that is said (leave leafs alone) being you are working with t-5s you want to kee her short, so look up super cropping and start applying now. Wait until the limbs start to alternate, instead of straight across and then switch to red bulbs and go 12/12.

no, don't do it. the plant uses those and all leaves for its development. please read and research more. you'll see that is a no no. of course there are some who do it anyway.

Yes, you can prune leafs off. Scroggers do it all the time. Heck, they chop everything off under the screen, all the way to the trunk. I know a scrog is a different situation, but its still chopping off leaves.

I have chopped off about 12 huge fan leafs from my grow below. I am limited in my grow tent, and these leaves were seriously blocking light to lower growth, so off they came, one or 2 a day.These plants sprouted on May 10th, they are 6 weeks old in this pic. Its 2 plants. The growth of them even after the leaves have come off has been amazing. Not because of the leaf trimming, but it hasn't hurt the growth or development. Sorry for the funky light, pic taken with the HPS on. DOH. Peace.

I trim the lower nodes off my plants once they're about 8" tall and showing signs of maturity (my clones show it much faster) in the way of pistil hairs and alternating nodes and usually top as well and let it grow again for 1-2 weeks before 12/12.

This Blackberry's looking pretty good. You can see where the 4 leaves I chopped off are. What is the netting for PeaceLuvPot?

Pruning can be legitimate and in some cases increase yields. Topping a plant makes it branch out. Removing sick or dying leaves helps the plant by allowing it to use the energy it would trying to repair a dying leaf, and directing it into new growth. Thinning top leaves during veg will make your plant bushier overall, which could be helpful in giving you more top colas receiving direct life.