Plucking Leaves

Gregzky

Active Member
Hey guys,
I’m on my second crop and plants are on third week of flower. I’ve been plucking off the leaves so the buds are getting as much light as possible. Only 6 plants so no big deal.
Any problem doing that? Lollipoping extreme !
 

Northwood

Well-Known Member
Do you have a photo? I ask because I'm not sure what you've done exactly by your description. Do you mean just remove a fan here and there along the main stem that's shading out a lower bud you want to keep? Or are you removing all your fan leaves?

Keep in mind that most strains at this point will grow no more leaves and instead concentrate on flowers. Leaves left on the plant at this stage will be powering the growth of your buds, and offer a line of defense should you run into nutrient issues. And they also offer an early warning system should anything else go wrong with your environment.

I do advocate training, suckering, and defoliation in early flower if required, but it has to be within reason if you don't want to impact your yield or lose your safety net in case something goes wrong later on.
 
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Doug Dawson

Well-Known Member
Hey guys,
I’m on my second crop and plants are on third week of flower. I’ve been plucking off the leaves so the buds are getting as much light as possible. Only 6 plants so no big deal.
Any problem doing that? Lollipoping extreme !
You got any pics? Sometimes trimming is good, other times it is better to tuck leaves away. Just depends. Lollipopping extreme?
20201128_192239.jpg
20201128_194349.jpg
 

Northwood

Well-Known Member
You got any pics? Sometimes trimming is good, other times it is better to tuck leaves away. Just depends. Lollipopping extreme?
LOL, that before photo would have made a great plant for a new Kyle Kushman "Chiropractic" video. I wouldn't do the extreme lollipopping in week 3 of flower though, especially in one go. I think we sometimes underestimate the importance of vigor during the transition period, and it's better to do that sort of thing during veg to allow recovery before flip.
 

Doug Dawson

Well-Known Member
LOL, that before photo would have made a great plant for a new Kyle Kushman "Chiropractic" video. I wouldn't do the extreme lollipopping in week 3 of flower though, especially in one go. I think we sometimes underestimate the importance of vigor during the transition period, and it's better to do that sort of thing during veg to allow recovery before flip.
LOL, just searched that video, you may be right :) She bounced back fine, flipped to flower a couple days later and the canopy filled right out. Here is the canopy a week after flip.
20201212_144152.jpg
 

Northwood

Well-Known Member
LOL, just searched that video, you may be right :) She bounced back fine, flipped to flower a couple days later and the canopy filled right out. Here is the canopy a week after flip.
That turned out great! It's amazing how much plants can grow in the first 2 weeks after flipping, sometimes even too much with certain strains and it drives you crazy. lol

That Kyle Kushman video definitely ranks among my favorite training tutorials on YouTube. I like the way he's so calm with no BS, and just gets on with real information while getting down to it.

Edit: For the OP in case he hasn't seen that video:
 
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twentyeight.threefive

Well-Known Member
Hey guys,
I’m on my second crop and plants are on third week of flower. I’ve been plucking off the leaves so the buds are getting as much light as possible. Only 6 plants so no big deal.
Any problem doing that? Lollipoping extreme !
I only pluck off small handfuls of leaves at a time.

defol_12_6_2020.jpg
 
Only pluck leaves that have lost 60% or more of their chlorophyll either through yellowing or some form of necrosis. Always tuck down when possible. Unless you notice an airflow problem that is causing necrosis there is no reason to pluck a healthy leaf.
 

Dr. Who

Well-Known Member
Thing is, are you doing a SCROG like Mr. Dawson?

If not....NO! Buds do not need direct sun exposure to develop and grow. They should get even lighting to ripen though.

I run tall plants. I only lolly the bottom of the plant and some "sucker" branching in a cone shape from the soil up about 1/3 of the way up.
This is done right before the flip - same day actually.
The off-fall is then sorted for the best "cuts" and they are used as clones for the next round. I run a complete continuous harvest rotation.
The veg room is feeding 2 bloom rooms on either side of it.

The other side of the coin? If you have time to harvest the ripe and finished mains. Let the lower somewhat unripe buds. Mature for 2 more weeks and then harvest the rest of the plant.
The second "harvest" is usually the more potent, and always the effects are amplified.
I can only play this way. At another location....


The guy above? Is basically correct. YET, there are strains that run so leafy. You have to remove some to ripen the buds.

Snow Ball and LA Confidential are very good examples of that need....Still, it's only in the last week or so for that move.

REMEMBER THIS. Your removing the "food factories" of the plant when removing leaves!

Kyle Kushman? Who cares! There are FAR better growing "instructions" in books by older guys! Guys that have years of both real educations and experience. "Every one's" method is better then anyone else's......Just look at all those stupid video's and the idiot's who make them.

I looked at 3 whole "video" growers. 2 of them said things that were 100% false.....
 
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Northwood

Well-Known Member
Kyle Kushman? Who cares! There are FAR better growing "instructions" in books by older guys! I looked at 3 whole "video" growers. 2 of them said things that were 100% false.....
This was the only part of your post I actually disagreed with. Kyle Kushman is one of those individuals that actually teach advanced horticulture in university to educate others, and has been a major contributor to High Times for over 20 years. He's also has 13 Cannabis Cup wins under his belt. You may consider Kyle Kushman a "young" guy, and perhaps you consider me just a kid because I'm even younger at only 60 years old, but it depends on perspective I guess. Most of those "old" guys that I used to read back in the 1970s were still advocating hanging your plants upside-down with roots still on so that resin would flow to the flowers from the roots, or hammering nails through the base of their plant's stems in flower to "promote resin production". Kushman was one of those people back then who helped lead the change to introduce sanity and science into growing weed.
 

Doug Dawson

Well-Known Member
Thing is, are you doing a SCROG like Mr. Dawson?

If not....NO! Buds do not need direct sun exposure to develop and grow. They should get even lighting to ripen though.

I run tall plants. I only lolly the bottom of the plant and some "sucker" branching in a cone shape from the soil up about 1/3 of the way up.
This is done right before the flip - same day actually.
The off-fall is then sorted for the best "cuts" and they are used as clones for the next round. I run a complete continuous harvest rotation.
The veg room is feeding 2 bloom rooms on either side of it.

The other side of the coin? If you have time to harvest the ripe and finished mains. Let the lower somewhat unripe buds. Mature for 2 more weeks and then harvest the rest of the plant.
The second "harvest" is usually the more potent, and always the effects are amplified.
I can only play this way. At another location....


The guy above? Is basically correct. YET, there are strains that run so leafy. You have to remove some to ripen the buds.

Snow Ball and LA Confidential are very good examples of that need....Still, it's only in the last week or so for that move.

REMEMBER THIS. Your removing the "food factories" of the plant when removing leaves!

Kyle Kushman? Who cares! There are FAR better growing "instructions" in books by older guys! Guys that have years of both real educations and experience. "Every one's" method is better then anyone else's......Just look at all those stupid video's and the idiot's who make them.

I looked at 3 whole "video" growers. 2 of them said things that were 100% false.....
I also agree with what you said but am confused about he Kyle Kushman comment? I have heard the name and must admit I watched his video that the other fellow pointed out which showed him do basically what I did to my plant short of cracking it's spine, lol. First time I have ever really watched this guy. I usually restrict my Youtube time for downloading music videos. After your comment questioning his real experience and stating there were better instructions out there I did a bit of digging. Also the part about there being better books from older guys. It appears the guy is in his mid 50's, has taught advanced horticulture in university, is a writer, has won multiple cannabis cups and has created at least 2 strains. Now I am no expert but it seems to me the guy has a ton of both teaching and real world experience over the course of decades. What is it about this guys track record that makes you feel he is not worth watching or taking advise from? Honestly just curious, perhaps you know something about his that I did not find on my quick search. Is there something about his posted qualifications that you feel is incorrect?
 

go go kid

Well-Known Member
LOL, that before photo would have made a great plant for a new Kyle Kushman "Chiropractic" video. I wouldn't do the extreme lollipopping in week 3 of flower though, especially in one go. I think we sometimes underestimate the importance of vigor during the transition period, and it's better to do that sort of thing during veg to allow recovery before flip.
i mainly grow outside or grow with powerfull lighting during flowering 1000wats where its not so important to pluck leaves as it grows, i can get some huge colas with no trimming. but ive just baught 2 ts600's mars hydro and i can see the need for lollipopping.
ive tried pinching out growing heads for a dencer plant with many small colas on a single branch
 

go go kid

Well-Known Member
Thing is, are you doing a SCROG like Mr. Dawson?

If not....NO! Buds do not need direct sun exposure to develop and grow. They should get even lighting to ripen though.

I run tall plants. I only lolly the bottom of the plant and some "sucker" branching in a cone shape from the soil up about 1/3 of the way up.
This is done right before the flip - same day actually.
The off-fall is then sorted for the best "cuts" and they are used as clones for the next round. I run a complete continuous harvest rotation.
The veg room is feeding 2 bloom rooms on either side of it.

The other side of the coin? If you have time to harvest the ripe and finished mains. Let the lower somewhat unripe buds. Mature for 2 more weeks and then harvest the rest of the plant.
The second "harvest" is usually the more potent, and always the effects are amplified.
I can only play this way. At another location....


The guy above? Is basically correct. YET, there are strains that run so leafy. You have to remove some to ripen the buds.

Snow Ball and LA Confidential are very good examples of that need....Still, it's only in the last week or so for that move.

REMEMBER THIS. Your removing the "food factories" of the plant when removing leaves!

Kyle Kushman? Who cares! There are FAR better growing "instructions" in books by older guys! Guys that have years of both real educations and experience. "Every one's" method is better then anyone else's......Just look at all those stupid video's and the idiot's who make them.

I looked at 3 whole "video" growers. 2 of them said things that were 100% false.....
yes hindu kush for one
 

Dr. Who

Well-Known Member
I also agree with what you said but am confused about he Kyle Kushman comment? I have heard the name and must admit I watched his video that the other fellow pointed out which showed him do basically what I did to my plant short of cracking it's spine, lol. First time I have ever really watched this guy. I usually restrict my Youtube time for downloading music videos. After your comment questioning his real experience and stating there were better instructions out there I did a bit of digging. Also the part about there being better books from older guys. It appears the guy is in his mid 50's, has taught advanced horticulture in university, is a writer, has won multiple cannabis cups and has created at least 2 strains. Now I am no expert but it seems to me the guy has a ton of both teaching and real world experience over the course of decades. What is it about this guys track record that makes you feel he is not worth watching or taking advise from? Honestly just curious, perhaps you know something about his that I did not find on my quick search. Is there something about his posted qualifications that you feel is incorrect?
This was the only part of your post I actually disagreed with. Kyle Kushman is one of those individuals that actually teach advanced horticulture in university to educate others, and has been a major contributor to High Times for over 20 years. He's also has 13 Cannabis Cup wins under his belt. You may consider Kyle Kushman a "young" guy, and perhaps you consider me just a kid because I'm even younger at only 60 years old, but it depends on perspective I guess. Most of those "old" guys that I used to read back in the 1970s were still advocating hanging your plants upside-down with roots still on so that resin would flow to the flowers from the roots, or hammering nails through the base of their plant's stems in flower to "promote resin production". Kushman was one of those people back then who helped lead the change to introduce sanity and science into growing weed.
Looked at old "Adam" at Wiki did we? Obviously.

Teaching "Advanced Horticulture" Where? Oaksterdam U? This is NOT accredited college of advanced learning. It is simply an over priced place to go to "learn" how to grow POT and ONLY cannabis! He has no degree from an accredited college either!

He's Like "Jorge". He's an old school hippie grower that holds onto scientifically DEBUNKED theories - Like "flushing and fading".

He made 2 strains, the best being Joey's strain. Great job of breeding for a purpose! As for the Cherry strain.... While I have to say that many of us old guys can and do breed our own things. We don't exactly have them "on the market" either.
I did a high CBD strain - Balanced. I spent a ton of money on building that strain. It really was coming on strong in MI medical dispensaries.
Then came the State AD that shut down the whole system already in place. Had the republican majority of the state congress. Change all sorts of the Medical MJ rules.
My related business's, were subsequently raided and shut down. The grow's that feed all those shops? Raided and I lost a lot of premium strains. Including the High CBD strain and a cpl others being developed at the time.

Right now, Everything is according to the law. Even breeding work....Say, I have this FINE Bruce's Monkey strain. Crossed and stabilized the strain from GG#4 X Bruce Banner. The goal was to remove the "paranoid feeling" you got from the GG and make something really good for my PTSD friends. Runs from 28 - 32% THC. You feel it on the first hit, at exhale.

Less then a handful of REAL friends have it.

High Times? Really! That magazine teaches nothing! Articles are greatly lacking detail and tell you nothing. They can be bought. How about a year or two back when Big Mike from Advanced bought out the stories for the whole mag.
He made all sort's of claims and made as many promises.. Seen any of those yet?

High Times pushed flushing for years and years. Simply to keep their advertisers happy (Yup, they knew about the truth) but it's ADVERTISING that makes them money - NOT your $'s spent on their short sighted BS!
I've had a go round with their editor(s) for years also. He sold out to big money investors, along with the "lawyer" who attempted to legalize MI the first cpl go arounds.

The people of MI who supported this BS. Gave around 3 million dollars to the cause. Now the lawyer and the HT editor, embezzled most of that money as they can't account for 2/3rds of it. It just vanished like the weed and coke did from the Grand Rapids Police dept. evidence room. They actually blamed it on mice! Over 2lbs of pot and several ounces of coke...
The mice had great times, eh?

He grew on groups or teams that grew cup winners! He did not run it alone. He invented what? Vegionics? Hmm, considering that as of 2015 or 16, there were only a very few organic cup winners, and all of those were NOT "vegionics". His influence was obviously not the controlling grower.

Sorry to have to break that news to you. It's all true - what I said. If you don't like it? I don't care...

Now don't get me started on that hack Danny Danko!
 

Northwood

Well-Known Member
Sorry to have to break that news to you. It's all true - what I said. If you don't like it? I don't care...
Well I'd certainly appreciate if you can point me to better cannabis plant training videos on YouTube that you were talking about. I'm always looking to improve in that regard.
 
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