trimming lower buds produce larger top buds?

[matticus408]

I have a few females about 2 weeks into flowering.

On my last grow (which was my first), after harvest i noticed that most of the buds on the lower half of the plants were almost non existent. Almost not even worth harvesting (but i did anyway).
This is most likely due to my light set up. Its all CFL and they all hang from above. Which is probably why the lower nodes lack growth.

HERES MY QUESTION. If I start cutting off every node on the lower half of the plant, will that in the end produce larger buds at the top of the plant?
The logic behind my thoughts is this. If you have X ammount of bud sites and you take half of them away, will this cause more "energy" or "growth" to go to the remaining sites?


On the other hand, would doing this in flowering stage have any negative effects on my girls?
Any comments or advice is more than welcome. Thanks!

 

[Juicy Fruit]

This should usally only be done in the veg stage as it stresses the plant, and also it then takes energy away from producing buds to repair itself, max time into flower should be 2weeks and thats pushing it. But yes pruning the bottom 2-3 branches off will increase the top growth if done properly.

 

[aeviaanah]

This should usally only be done in the veg stage as it stresses the plant, and also it then takes energy away from producing buds to repair itself, max time into flower should be 2weeks and thats pushing it. But yes pruning the bottom 2-3 branches off will increase the top growth if done properly.

Well stated.

 

[abberation]

This should usally only be done in the veg stage as it stresses the plant, and also it then takes energy away from producing buds to repair itself, max time into flower should be 2weeks and thats pushing it. But yes pruning the bottom 2-3 branches off will increase the top growth if done properly.

Agreed.

I have cut in the past during veg and cloned the cuttings. Got a few extra plants. It's well worth it.

 

[aeviaanah]

Agreed.

I have cut in the past during veg and cloned the cuttings. Got a few extra plants. It's well worth it.

Yes plan your trimming when you need clones. Two birds with one stone. Every time i cut a little off a plant i am torn by either throw it away or clone it. Most of the time i dont need clones lol.

 

[McFonz]

From my experience removing bottom branches would SLIGHTLY increase the size of the upper colas.
The total weight will be LOWER, but using CFLs it will not be noticable.
You will get much less popcorn buds, which are a pain in the ass to trim and look ugly. I usually throw anything below 0.2g dry to the hash pile.

You better option would be adding some light to the bottom parts.


The logic is that the bottom branches produce their energy too, just less than the upper ones so they take a bit of the upper branches energy to bud out.

 

[aeviaanah]

From my experience removing bottom branches would SLIGHTLY increase the size of the upper colas.
The total weight will be LOWER, but using CFLs it will not be noticable.
You will get much less popcorn buds, which are a pain in the ass to trim and look ugly. I usually throw anything below 0.2g dry to the hash pile.

You better option would be adding some light to the bottom parts.


The logic is that the bottom branches produce their energy too, just less than the upper ones so they take a bit of the upper branches energy to bud out.

I am not a fan of removing lower growth. If plants are trained for lower bud sites to receive light (or if a separate light is added to supplement) they should not be removed. only sites i will remove are ones that reside in the dark.

 

[pointswest]

Remove the top colas when they are ripe and lower the light to size up the lower buds after the first harvest. The small buds in the lower part of the branches will then receive the growth hormones the top buds were using. This removal theory Works better in reverse, that is remove the top to create larger lower buds. When the tip of the branch is growing it receives most of the nutrients and auxins for growth, so the lower buds are not using as much as people assume. Small popcorn buds in the lower branches can be turned into walnut to golf ball size buds with this method.

 

[McFonz]

lots of times the bottom nugs are ready faster than the top colas.
its strain dependent.

 

[aeviaanah]

Remove the top colas when they are ripe and lower the light to size up the lower buds after the first harvest. The small buds in the lower part of the branches will then receive the growth hormones the top buds were using. This removal theory Works better in reverse, that is remove the top to create larger lower buds. When the tip of the branch is growing it receives most of the nutrients and auxins for growth, so the lower buds are not using as much as people assume. Small popcorn buds in the lower branches can be turned into walnut to golf ball size buds with this method.

i tried this when i used to grow larger plants in smaller numbers- turned out great. 120g on one plant with three harvests. I now do more plants and smaller- i like multistraining. Good tip!

 

[goofy81]

I disagree,
I've done two plants with and without pruning the bottom/inner small branches.
It all comes down to how much light you have. If you have overkill worth of lights that are penetrating the bottom, and i mean overkill (4000w around one plant) then the inner/bottom ones can get just as big.
A guy i know does this and he gets 3lbs-4lbs easily a plant because he doesnt worry about his bill.

When i tried this, i trimmed one plant and left the other, all the buds directly hit by the light are pretty much big, regaurdless if i trimmed or not.

 

[matticus408]

So lets say that i dont want to touch my light setup and keep all the light comming from above. I would be better off trimming off lower sites?

 

[McFonz]

yes.
.........

 

[PlainfieldPuff]

lots of times the bottom nugs are ready faster than the top colas.
its strain dependent.

Your right !