Ok, ill finish...... Anyways, at week 2 of flower, after the plant has been successfully triggered and starts producing alot of chutes, I will remove all chutes in the middle of the plant, close to the stalk, and at the bottom of the plant, as well as remove most of the large "shade" leaves at the top and middle of the plant. I remove all growth on each branch, about 6 inches from the stalk to concentrate growth to the ends of the branch where the largest flower growth occurs. This will eliminate the larfy, useless, underdeveloped flowers that rob the main flowers of energy and food. I remove larger leaves and whatever undergrowth remains at the onset of week 5. This can cause shock, so as a precaution, use
Superthrive with your normal nutrient regimen..
I understand the main purpose of the leaves, and their funtion for the plant, but here is my rebuttal and explanation for my theory: #1.. Yes, leaves can be accurately be decribed as "Solar Panels" because they do absorb the light for photosynthesis. But, by removing the larger leaves at the top of a plant, more direct light reaches the lower areas of the plant, reducing the need for larger leaves on the lower areas to absorb light. They wont be fighting for life like a seedling tree under a forest canopy. The less larger leaves a plant has to have to reach for light, the less energy is used by the plant to grow/maintain these leaves, and the more energy is directed to the desired area, the flower. I use Dutch Master Saturator and Liquid Light as a foliar spray, from veg to week 4 flower to increase light absortion through the remaining leaves, and have got great results.
#2... Food storage for plants..Yes, I get it. The plant stores food in the leaves, and as evidenced by leaves that turn yellow and die, the plant feeds from its leaves. BUT, on a nutrient regimen, you are feeding a plant. Many of the nutrients I use contain sugars, complex sugars and agents that help break down the food for better plant absortion. I rarely ever have yellow or dying leaves from the plant feeding off of itself, because I have a pretty complete, but simple nutrient regimen, that at each stage, feeds the plant what it needs.
By all means, dont strip the plant. Leave any leaves, especially in the middle of the plant, that arent shading a flower. The more energy that is being wasted on large leaves, and small chutes "budsuckers", the less energy goes to the desired area: The Flower! ... If your plant NEEDS to feed off of
itself, then you need to get a better nutrient regimen. Take time to learn what is the function of the nutrients you use, and what other building blocks you need for your plants, and the beneficial enzymes/bacteria in your soil to maximize plant absortion and usage of those expensive nutrients that your using... This is a process that I have developed over the last decade and a half of both indoor and outdoor growing in the Emerald Triangle, Far Nor California, and it works great for me. Hope it helps someone out there. As far as the nutes I use? Dont ask me no questions, and I wont tell you no lies! Thats a trade secret
