Best time to cut branches

I am about to put my plants (untrimmed) into flower. I was going to wait a couple of days and trim off all the lower branches.

What is the best way of doing this? Should I cut a couple one day, then a few more the next week.. Or just all the lower branches cut at once?

How long should I wait to let them get adjusted to 12-12?

What are you looking to cut for?

To avoid popcorn buds on your lower branches, or to bush the plant up for a larger yield?

I want to direct all the plants energy to the top colas. The lower branches will be just growing larf. and I want them tall not bushy.

I cut all the budsites off the bottom 2/3 of the plant within 2 weeks of flipping the lights. I do mine all at once and end up with a ton of clones.

If your plant is at least 8 nodes high from bottom to top, follow this advice. Otherwise, dont.

Cut off the bottom 3 sets of branches a week before you flower. You these 3 branches to make clones! (Nice to not have to maintain a mommy, isnt it?). Then, cut the top node off till it reaches where the second node is about to touch leaves. That'll create 4 colas for you when you flower, instead of one. This causes no plant stress whatsoever, they wont miss a day of growth, I promise! For more familiar reading on this technique, read "UncleBen's Topping Method".

The only other trimming you should do to your plants is to make light penetrate a little better if they get too stocky, but this is preferential to the grower.