Alright.. this debate will never end cause there's always going to be that person that cut the leaves off and still did fine.. which is cool, cuz it worked for them
.. Let me tell you though.. if you cut off the fan leaves YOUR CUTTING OFF THE POWERHOUSE OF THE PLANT! and you will decrease your yeild
.. Although I'm relatively new to this site.. I've been growing for a long time and I'm a biology major in college
.
Buds do not perform photosynthesis.. they are the chemical makeup that makes marijuana unique compared to other plants (just like the rose peddals on a rose plant).. the reason why buds will continue to grow without them is because they make their own smaller (much smaller) fan leaves that protrude out of the buds themselves..
Those
big fan leaves are there for the SOLE purpose of performing photosynthesis.. each individualone has TRILLIONS and TRILLIONS of chloroplasts for utilizing the light and can hold has much water as the ENTIRE main stock branches..
Trimmin is not bad.. but it has to be in the right place.. trimming the lower third of the plant is the good thing to do because it increases airflow and concentrates the plants energy on the top colas where the
real weight comes from.. also trim the inside crap that tends to go inward toward the plant as this produces nothing but promotes mold..
hope this helped guys.. again everyone has their own way and more power to ya
thanks