Should i cut my fan leaves?

[Japanfreak]

realstyles with all respect bro 8 zips off that monster is the weakest thing ive seen in a while stepup your nute program and maybe a new bulb i dont know, maybe you chopped to erly buds looked skinny.

And he's convinced that everybody gets popcorn. Crazy.

 

[Canibitual]

Wow, this thread was amusing...

Japanfreak offered the "Scientific Approach" and was castrated with "not using science"... that in it's self is very funny...

I myself have seen a total fan leaf removal grow that a buddy did, he removed them early, and his yield was still very good, his buds were overall smaller, but he had many more bottom buds develope into ones bigger than they normally would (no popcorn) so it worked out fine... I asked him why he did it, and he said, "its in ED ROSENTHOL'S book... and showed me it... yes... ED SAYS ITS OK TO REMOVE LEAVES...

I can't find the exact quote online, and I don't own the book, so I'll just post up a couple samples of ED saying it's ok...

here's one I found...
http://books.google.com/books?id=vW...&resnum=1&ved=0CBMQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

also...

Heads#7 march 2002.Guest editor ED ROSETHAL.Page 34 Pruning and staking."Buds on plants that are hidden by large fan leaves will not grow as quickly as buds getting direct light.Fan leaves blocking light from the buds should be removed.Leaves not blocking buds should be left on the plant.They create more sugars used for growth

I myself selectively remove some leaves If I don't think they will let light go to the other plants or bud sites... I'm not claiming any kind of 100+ year growing experiance, but my yields are average... at least I get 3/4-1lb out of a 400w... 3x3table veg 4 weeks topped once early no Co2... I do plan on revisiting this on my "test table"... to see how two very similar plants will yield... I am Lazy and still learning, so I'll Worry about my "ego" later...

 

[Stinkmeaner]

everybodys obsessed with books it seems...i rather take advice from somebody who's done it than somebody who heard/read it.
btw, should you cut leaves or simply tuck them away when their in the way for the light to reach the flowers?
thats what i do anyways

 

[John12]

Thank you. No no no, I meant I cut off all the fan leaves at day 21 of flower. That plant is at week 6 of bloom. It is Fruity Chronic AKA Chronic White Widow. Havent found anything that yields like it or even near it honestly. Quality is good too. Does take 9 weeks to get the quality up there but can be cut at 8 weeks.

What kind of light are you using? Removing leaves really depends on the grow style. Some it helps some it hurts , some it will be nuetral.

i see what ur saying. so at abt three weeks in u cut all the fan leaves off right? but im using a 400 hps right now. thats some fruity for sure!! did u let it grow naturally or did u top it or do any of that fancy techniques stuff thats out here nowadays?

 

[dlively11]

i see what ur saying. so at abt three weeks in u cut all the fan leaves off right? but im using a 400 hps right now. thats some fruity for sure!! did u let it grow naturally or did u top it or do any of that fancy techniques stuff thats out here nowadays?

Yes that is correct. Every fan leaf was cut at 21 days into flower. Fan leaf being every 5+ bladed leaf. No topping. Plant was switched to 12/12 at 6 inches tall ending up at 20 inches tall nothing but solid thick bud. My grow is very crowded so you have to do it to get better yields. With the Fruity Chronic I can pull 3 lbs off a 4X4 tray no problem and 3.5 is very doable.
I can grow 4 of those per sq foot when I really push it. Usually end up with 3 per foot since I have other trays to keep full as well. Hard to keep them all full. If I had only one or two table it would be easy to fill them every time. I still manage to always get 50+ on a tray though. I am going to experiment with doing 2 per foot with two main colas and also one per foot and 4 main colas to see how they fair. Will need to add a week to veg time to do it though but my clone /veg space is in a cabinet space under T5s so it doesnt slow anything down.


FYI I pesonally have grown thousands of plants both ways in my grow room in the last year the ones with no leaves removed yield about 50% less. They averaged 10-15 grams per plant at best. Fruity Chronic was 15 grames with no removal instead of 30-34 when leaves were cut. On a less crowded table your mileage will vary. Not as good as reading a book or listening to people who have little to no experience doing soemthing so take it for what its worth =)

 

[dlively11]

Of course this plant I didnt remove any leaves. The moving sunlight kind of helped though =)

 

[REALSTYLES]

Well your numbers are decent but as japan mentioned average. Your numbers arent clear either when you say 4-8 OZ each plant and 3-4 plants. could be less then a pound per round and unless you are saying you always do 4 plants and they all get 8 OZ you arent getting 2lbs per round. You are also taking a lot of time to veg like that. Looks like you are getting a max of 4 rounds per year like this best case scenerio. So anywhere from 4 lbs per year to maybe 6 lbs for an entire year. Under a 1000 watt HPS I grow 50-60 plants with no veg time which is almost 4 per sq foot. They yield a minimum of 20 grams and up to 34 grams per plant and that is dried cut weight no popcorn bud. Depends on the strain. I have a few that never go under 25 grams per plant. I can do 6.5 rounds per year under that light. So take those numbers and the worst case scenerio is 50 X 20 X 6.5. Now its your turn to do the math =) Oh and I remove all the fans leaves at week 3 of bloom. I'll be nice and do the math for you. That is 14.5 lbs per year worst case scenerio which is more then 200% more then your BEST case scenerio ......

Peace

I laugh at what you are saying to me. I've had 6-7 lbs harvests on a perpetual program when I was growing for dispensaries. When I had a real room but the pic you saw is from a one bed room apartment with the room not dialed in. It's now dialed in and gonna get 3-4 lbs off 2000 watts of light and 7 plants. I went to your profile and you're trying to compare your yield per plant to mine I can't seeing myself getting 34 grams per plant. I've always 2-6 oz per plant and as for popcorn at the bottom I mean bottom of the plant all the tops 8oz's and the popcorn and the water leaves I use for hash and cannabutter. In the middle of January I'll be back working with a Malibu dispensary. I will be solely growing for them they've tasted my bud and I got the job so obviously I can grow good tasting smoke with a incredible high.

 

[REALSTYLES]

Here are some new pics from today, well yesterday. One of the fuks turned herm on me (the indica) and is growin lil sacs on a couple of the lower branches! Took all of them off that i cud see for the day. Man that sucks! But she still looks like some GREAT . Has anyone had this happen to them before, and if so, what was your outcome of the

Plants look good a couple look slightly over watered but still looking good. And as for removing fan leaves try it on one of your plants the next run so you can see for yourself. I personally don't think it's a good thing and yes I've tried it and didn't see it helping the bud

 

[dlively11]

I laugh at what you are saying to me. I've had 6-7 lbs harvests on a perpetual program when I was growing for dispensaries. When I had a real room but the pic you saw is from a one bed room apartment with the room not dialed in. It's now dialed in and gonna get 3-4 lbs off 2000 watts of light and 7 plants. I went to your profile and you're trying to compare your yield per plant to mine I can't seeing myself getting 34 grams per plant. I've always 2-6 oz per plant and as for popcorn at the bottom I mean bottom of the plant all the tops 8oz's and the popcorn and the water leaves I use for hash and cannabutter. In the middle of January I'll be back working with a Malibu dispensary. I will be solely growing for them they've tasted my bud and I got the job so obviously I can grow good tasting smoke with a incredible high.

I wasnt saying there was anything wrong with your grow its just that you were coming across like you invented the wheel of growing to Japanxx. I was just pointing out that in the same space with the same light you can get a lot more with other techniques and one of those includes removing leaves. I do lots of plants but they use very little medium and are in 5 inch containers with ebb and flow so its very easy overall. Having no veg time makes your grow much more efficient. From what I can see of your grow I dont see you getting lbs off 2K lights, more like 1.5 at best but probably more like 1.25. I have grown 5 years indoors in soil and bigger plants too, the method I use now is what gives me the most yield annually. I have several strains I get 25 grams per plant average which comes to
lbs per light with ZERO veg time being wasted. Now that is with 64 plants and lots of times I only get 50 in the trays but it gives you a clear idea what the potential is with a different style. Other then SCROG grows I never see people getting over 2lbs per light with big plants.

 

[REALSTYLES]

realstyles with all respect bro 8 zips off that monster is the weakest thing ive seen in a while stepup your nute program and maybe a new bulb i dont know, maybe you chopped to erly buds looked skinny.

And how much do you get off one plant without CO2 but when you can do this then say what you want

 

[dlively11]

And how much do you get off one plant without CO2 but when you can do this then say what you want

View attachment 1351039

And when you can get finished popcorn like this then you can speak ... lol

 

[REALSTYLES]

And when you can get finished popcorn like this then you can speak ... lol

lol here you go

 

[REALSTYLES]

that's just one branch from my monster and now I have 7 more in flower as of 12-25-10

 

[dlively11]

lol here you go

View attachment 1351153

lol those are still wet and are still small. Actually look like you pulled them early and needed to go longer. My colas on my clone to bloom plants are bigger dry then yours wet so whats your point ?

 

[cowboylogic]

I did it as a test really, saw people who have got defoliation down to a science and like most people I had always heard removing leafs was stupid, but unlike most people I wasn't afraid to give it a try.

You did it as a test yet have to use someone eles pics. LMAO

 

[missnu]

For some reason with my first grow I trimmed off a good deal of fan leaves so the bud sites could get more light, but it is the fan leaves taht get the light and turn it into food for the bud sites....so don't do that...I mean if you have a ridiculous amount you could trim a few but don't just hack them all off...reducing the fan leaves and reduce your yield...you can use LST methods to train your plant in a better way to receive the most light in the space they are in though.

 

[Wetdog]

Yo Japanfreak I'll bet you a dollar I can out grow you. LMFAO stop giving bad advice.

I'll bet a dollar you can't.

JF is NOT giving out bad advice, but telling the OP to gain experience on his own. THAT'S the only way you truly learn how to grow.

I don't cut my fan leaves and that works for me, but I also lollipop the hell out of my clones in a SOG grow, so I keep what's left after that little operation. LOL

Learn what works best for your style of growing.

Wet

 

[dlively11]

I'll bet a dollar you can't.

JF is NOT giving out bad advice, but telling the OP to gain experience on his own. THAT'S the only way you truly learn how to grow.

I don't cut my fan leaves and that works for me, but I also lollipop the hell out of my clones in a SOG grow, so I keep what's left after that little operation. LOL

Learn what works best for your style of growing.

Wet

clap clap clap

 

[REALSTYLES]

I'll bet a dollar you can't.

JF is NOT giving out bad advice, but telling the OP to gain experience on his own. THAT'S the only way you truly learn how to grow.

I don't cut my fan leaves and that works for me, but I also lollipop the hell out of my clones in a SOG grow, so I keep what's left after that little operation. LOL

Learn what works best for your style of growing.

Wet

Where's your pics?

 

[REALSTYLES]

lol those are still wet and are still small. Actually look like you pulled them early and needed to go longer. My colas on my clone to bloom plants are bigger dry then yours wet so whats your point ?

I don't think so just because I didn't take pics of all my buds don't assume I grow small buds