Pruning just growth tips, not fan leaves

Hi all,

Question for you guys. Putting the discussion of whether to prune or not aside for a second, let's say I'm pruning. It seems that conventionally, growers will remove ALL growth below a certain point, like this (not my pic):


Is there is a reason why they don't leave the fan leaves on? For example, I've been trying this - I've been pruning only the growth tips at the bottom of my plants (the tips that grow into new branches), but I've been leaving all the fan leaves:


Any thoughts/experience on why it's a bad idea to leave the fan leaves alone? My thinking was that these leaves are still healthy, so shouldn't they be energy sources for the plant?

The first picture is of lollipopping. I've never read a scientific explanation to why. I've read beliefs and theory but no explanation.

The theory says that by removing the lower growth. The upper growth will be more and better. Even as far as being more potent. Never seen or read proof of that. You'd figure that cannabis plants damaged by animals and bugs would be coveted for being stronger? Haven't seen that either.


My take on lollipopping....gives growers something to do in an effort to grow a plant that'll produce.....




"About a Pound"

Even when not lollipopping and just pruning though, it seems like growers remove both growth tips and fan leaves. Any other reason why taking off the fan leaves might be a good idea?

Pic was just an example, I understand that lollipopping's a specific form of trimming

chasingwaterfalls said:

Even when not lollipopping and just pruning though, it seems like growers remove both growth tips and fan leaves. Any other reason why taking off the fan leaves might be a good idea?

Pic was just an example, I understand that lollipopping's a specific form of trimming

Click to expand...

I can't tell you a good reason as to why to remove larger fan leaves off a plant that's evolved since recorded history. Since we still have no idea why the thing produces THC. With a best guess, 'its for protection'.

I couldn't begin to tell you why it's a good idea to remove parts off a healthy plant in an effort for more weight.

Best answer. I have no idea. I'd never do it.

I prune only the growth tip and leave the fan leaf if there isn't a mature fan leaf further up-stem. Only taking the growth tip will leave the fan leaf to power top growth of the main stem it's attached to. However, that fan leaf won't be needed for long, and will soon be far behind the canopy. The leaf will droop, and the plant will eventually let it go. During that time it is also more prone to mold and pests... which is why most growers just save the time and risk, and take it off at the same time as the growth tip.

If you're trying to expertly manicure your plants every day... have at it. If you have a lot to manage, just take the leaf and growth tip at once to keep the branching clean.

disbeverk said:

I prune only the growth tip and leave the fan leaf if there isn't a mature fan leaf further up-stem. Only taking the growth tip will leave the fan leaf to power top growth of the main stem it's attached to. However, that fan leaf won't be needed for long, and will soon be far behind the canopy. The leaf will droop, and the plant will eventually let it go. During that time it is also more prone to mold and pests... which is why most growers just save the time and risk, and take it off at the same time as the growth tip

Click to expand...

Ah, thank you! I guess I was just looking for some validation - that I'm not just being crazy doing this.

I have been keeping an eye on the leaves that are getting completely shadowed, but none have begun to droop or turn yellow yet. Thanks also for the note on mold/pests; been making sure that circulation among the leaves is sufficient.

The one impression I get from leaving the fan leaves is that they're fueling the flowering stretch/push, these plants have grown more than expected. Of course, this has more to do with genetics, so I'll have to keep trying it out before passing judgement

Bumping this because I finally got pics of my own to share. This could definitely be due to the genetics (first time growing this strain - Lemon Shining Silver Haze from RQS), but my opinion for now is that leaving the fan leaves on fueled the flowering stretch. Going to try it again next round and see what happens.

Even for other sativa-dominant strains, I don't end up with this much space in between the lower nodes, and this light's been good to me before, in light of it being a prefab blurple.

Looks exremely stretchy. Likely because of the lack of lighting though, not because you left the fan leaves