Go easy on me pls -- discussion about removing lower third

Hey Everyone,

I know people will go to the mattresses over removing fan leaves. But that's not what I'm asking about.

So I have a 2'x3' tent and two bubble pots. I topped at two node for four main stems on each plant. And I LSTd. So I now have these "two" plants acting like eight plants -- they fill the entire tent footprint, similar to a SCROG set up.

I'm about 4-5 weeks into flowering, and everything is looking beautiful. But the bottom third of the plant is weird. Some super-thin, soft branching and leaves. They may have little tiny buds on the heads, with some trichomes, and some of these are dead and dried up. No light really reaches here, and in fact the fan leaves have been dropping pretty regularly.

On the one hand, I want all the trichomes I can get, because I'm going to be making ice hash.

On the other hand, I wonder if these juvenile branches are taking energy from the upper buds. It did make me think about why they might be on the plant, and my recent experience with Hurricane Sandy gave me a rationale -- these little soft branches are the plant's back up system. If a strong storm comes through and rips off all the colas and decimates the main stem and developed branches, these immature ones can rise and, potentially, keep the species going.

Okay, how nice the plant has a back up system in the natural world. But there is no need for a back up system in my world (insert evil laugh here: Waaahaaahaaahaa). This back up system will never be used. And perhaps all those back up system branches are in fact taking plant energy.

So here's my question: If I trim these lower third branches, I lose some hash trichomes (I can see them there). Will the gain in bud yield or increased trichomes up top be greater than what I'm losing at the bottom?

Also, what's the best time to snip these little ones? On this grow I just did a little of it and I do think it's a little late. But on a future grow I can do it earlier.

Thanks!
KG

Are you frigging nuts? No, really the reason for lollipopping is what you describe. I usually advise against thinning but in this case it's reasonable.

Hotrod is right on this. BTW here's a pic of him taken last night:

...and why not use those lower branchs as clone stock?

peace, bozo

I usually leave em on there and I use those little popcorn buds for testing purposes as they approach thier full maturity. I can get a couple weeks worth of "test" blunts out of the little stuff below (quick dry in a paper bag on top of my lights) and I dont feel at all guilty about "choppin" early because its just the little shit below that im using. Thats how I do it anyways...it works for me...and if you are "dry" then you get to start smoking your new stuff a couple weeks early...which is always a bonus ...good luck.

hotrodharley said:

Are you frigging nuts? No, really the reason for lollipopping is what you describe. I usually advise against thinning but in this case it's reasonable.

Click to expand...

Thanks Hotrod. I don't want to do it unless it will be beneficial. My upper third canopy is unnaturally thick because I've already done something unnatural to the plant -- I topped for four main stems. So as I look at this technique I want to balance the "unnaturalness" of it against what I've already done. I don't want to do something as extreme as some of the lollipopping pics I've seen. Just cleaning up the lower third of the soft little.

I think on my next grow I will start it earlier and do it on one plant to see how that compares to the non-trimmed plant. Though my guess is I won't be able to tell the difference without multiple comparative trials.

justanotherbozo said:

...and why not use those lower branchs as clone stock?

peace, bozo

Click to expand...

My set up is not large enough for that. I have room for only one light, so I can't have some plants vegging while others flower. I did look into cloning on my last grow because I thought I had the Jillybean Candy Store Pheno and was looking for a way to hang on to that. Ended up being male, so no need to think further.

But good idea!

Squatch said:

I usually leave em on there and I use those little popcorn buds for testing purposes as they approach thier full maturity. I can get a couple weeks worth of "test" blunts out of the little stuff below (quick dry in a paper bag on top of my lights) and I dont feel at all guilty about "choppin" early because its just the little shit below that im using. Thats how I do it anyways...it works for me...and if you are "dry" then you get to start smoking your new stuff a couple weeks early...which is always a bonus ...good luck.

Click to expand...

OK! Worth trying! I still have few on there. Thanks!

kryptoniteglo said:

My set up is not large enough for that. I have room for only one light, so I can't have some plants vegging while others flower. I did look into cloning on my last grow because I thought I had the Jillybean Candy Store Pheno and was looking for a way to hang on to that. Ended up being male, so no need to think further.

But good idea!

Click to expand...

sooner or later you're gonna find a real keeper and if you haven't already made some kind of arrangements you'll kick yourself big time!





...there's lots of ways to create a space, ...i have some mothers i've had for years man, years, ...believe me, you want to create that space and begin learning to clone and to keep bonsai mothers.

justanotherbozo said:

sooner or later you're gonna find a real keeper and if you haven't already made some kind of arrangements you'll kick yourself big time!

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...there's lots of ways to create a space, ...i have some mothers i've had for years man, years, ...believe me, you want to create that space and begin learning to clone and to keep bonsai mothers.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the photos, Bozo -- I live in a 10x14 studio with one tiny closet that I actually have to use for clothes. BUT, your CFL set up in the chest is a great idea. I would want to keep a clone in "suspended animation" or as close to it as possible without it just dying from neglect. A low-light set up might just do the trick.

Hmmmmm....

Brother Numsi said:

Hotrod is right on this. BTW here's a pic of him taken last night:
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Nobody is supposed to know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

kryptoniteglo said:

Thanks Hotrod. I don't want to do it unless it will be beneficial. My upper third canopy is unnaturally thick because I've already done something unnatural to the plant -- I topped for four main stems. So as I look at this technique I want to balance the "unnaturalness" of it against what I've already done. I don't want to do something as extreme as some of the lollipopping pics I've seen. Just cleaning up the lower third of the soft little.

I think on my next grow I will start it earlier and do it on one plant to see how that compares to the non-trimmed plant. Though my guess is I won't be able to tell the difference without multiple comparative trials.

Click to expand...

The topping will bring you yield. I top nearly every plant multiple times. I also amputate roots in soil grows regularly for the same reason. Both work.

kryptoniteglo said:

Thanks for the photos, Bozo -- I live in a 10x14 studio with one tiny closet that I actually have to use for clothes. BUT, your CFL set up in the chest is a great idea. I would want to keep a clone in "suspended animation" or as close to it as possible without it just dying from neglect. A low-light set up might just do the trick.

Hmmmmm....

Click to expand...

you're welcome man and here is a thread on keeping mothers smaller than you could imagine written by a guy who is an expert and in a way that is fairly simple to understand, ...it's been a few years since i read it but i'm sure you will find MUCH useful information.

**DrBuds Bonsai Mum's- How To for You**

he has SEVERAL excellent threads so you might want to check out the list and see if he has written on any other topics of interest to you.

peace, bozo