You’re about to get 20 different answers on this. I lollipop them. I’m in the group that like to take off as much as I can on the lower parts of the plant. After a few grows and seeing the stuff that didn’t turn into anything it’ll all come to you. Some people say cut nothing off and some scalp them. My rule is to take off as much as I can but when I’m standing above the plant and look down I don’t want to see my pot.

Illbill said:

You’re about to get 20 different answers on this. I lollipop them. I’m in the group that like to take off as much as I can on the lower parts of the plant. After a few grows and seeing the stuff that didn’t turn into anything it’ll all come to you. Some people say cut nothing off and some scalp them. My rule is to take off as much as I can but when I’m standing above the plant and look down I don’t want to see my pot.

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Cheers. My aim has been to just keep it alive with how much moving it’s had.

Now it’s to get even canopy and potentially use scrog to get an even better canopy if it’s needed! As you said, I’ll see as I go what is needed I hope haha

For a first time grower you have kept ontop of LST like a pro. Good work man. That is a beautiful plant structure you have created. I use the same clips as you!

If you get a scrog net it would make it a lot easier to fill out a whole tent, but once its in place you cannot move it, so its up to you. I prefer not to use a net but this grow I had to. I didn't stay ontop of training lmao I let it get out of hand and my only option was using a scrog to flatten out my tall plants.

For what its worth I am in the Illbill camp. I remove, at least, the bottom 1/3 of my plant around week 2-3 of flower. They don't get light, the buds are whispy and not very strong, and it will take you twice as long to trim but you'll only get 1/2 of a good product. He is also right in that you will get lots of people giving different answers to your question.

Personally? If the light isn't touching it and it is BELOW my thick canopy of leaves? I remove it. Usually I only have to remove the bottom 1/3 of the plant.

You have done good. And the nice thing about photos you can do as you like and veg them as long as you like. This GG4 grow in the 3 x 3 was supposed to be two photos. But a Auto snuck in,,, RATS! And it's been a horribly slow auto. Both these seeds broke ground around 9/18/24. And the auto is getting chopped 12/30/24. I'm done with it. Then the GG4 photo is getting transplanted in a 15 gal. Rain Science bag and will fill the 3 x 3 tent. It's not had any training. Just keep the bottom clean and pick a couple of handful of leaves off of it every week. Once transplanted it's getting topped and spread out in the scrog. The tent is 7'-11" tall and the exhaust fan is outside of the tent. So height isn't a issue. I'll flip her to flower in early Feb. and call it good.

Joshx said:

First time grower I’ve got this and I’m wondering what I should remove if anything and what I’m to expect when the light flip to 12/12 l ?

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Pretty plant ready to flower. Hoo Hoo! Nice. I just flipped mine and I feel your excitement.

After you flip to 12/12 within a few weeks she will start to stretch. Each stem at the top of the plant will quickly grow several nodes taller. Sometimes plants double in height during this phase, some less, depending on the strain, training and the environment. Then she will start to flower and you will see a preponderance of little white hairs, or pistils, growing out of all the tops and upper nodes of each stem.

I am in the camp that doesn't see a need to remove fan leaves. As I watch my plant stretch and flower I see her drop leaves she doesn't need and keep the ones she wants, I don't think leaving fan leaves on hurts flower growth. I think she makes leaves to power up and grow and drops them when she's done with them.

I think what is much more important is to remove the suckers below a certain point on each stem just before flip so she doesn't grow larf/popcorn buds at those lower nodes. I've gotten in the habit of removing the suckers from 2 nodes down from the top of each stem a week before flower. Then she grows several more nodes above that point during her stretch and then all the flower that she grows will be at and above that bottom sucker that I left. I think this is the way to induce her to put all her energy into making the biggest flowers at the tops of her colas. Removing lower suckers is the way to prevent lower/larf flower growth and if you prevent those forming than the resources that would have gone to them can then go up.

There do seem to be a whole passel of ideas about different practical aspects of growing that have their supporters. Fan Leaves, Water sources, training methods, environment, the list goes on. I guess the most basic one is, should I give my plant everything she wants and needs to succeed or should I stress her so that she must fight to reproduce. You'll be exposed to a lot of discussion here and you will need to sift and choose the ideas that seem right to you and that you want to try. That's why The Farm is such a great learning resource to have.

Seems like a good time to thank the creators and supporters of THCFARMER.COM. You've opened my eyes and I begin to see the world now. Thank you.

i'm in the leave'm on camp for the most part. my plant got so thick and overgrown that i had to remove 2 - 3.5 gallon buckets worth of leaves and i'm still going to have to remove a cpl more buckets of leaves as well as the suckers. my case is unique though as i'm growing hydroponically, which is much faster at growing & replacing leaves, plus i'm experimenting. you shouldn't follow my lead, but as Budtirement said; at some point you have to take in the multifaceted opinions & try to come up with a consensus & then do what you think is best for your lady's.

here's a short vid of my plant @ 55 days old, she was born nov 2nd. she is now drinking over 1.5 gallons per day. i'm posting it so you can see the potential of this spectacular plant

BudRanger1919 said:

For a first time grower you have kept ontop of LST like a pro. Good work man. That is a beautiful plant structure you have created. I use the same clips as you!

If you get a scrog net it would make it a lot easier to fill out a whole tent, but once its in place you cannot move it, so its up to you. I prefer not to use a net but this grow I had to. I didn't stay ontop of training lmao I let it get out of hand and my only option was using a scrog to flatten out my tall plants.

For what its worth I am in the Illbill camp. I remove, at least, the bottom 1/3 of my plant around week 2-3 of flower. They don't get light, the buds are whispy and not very strong, and it will take you twice as long to trim but you'll only get 1/2 of a good product. He is also right in that you will get lots of people giving different answers to your question.

Personally? If the light isn't touching it and it is BELOW my thick canopy of leaves? I remove it. Usually I only have to remove the bottom 1/3 of the plant.

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I appreciate your kindness thanks :). I started to doubt myself due to how it was looking “a lot” haha but it will get flipped next week after the new years and then like the progress follow i suppose! Thanks again

I’ve got Tiny holes on some leaves I suspect I need some kind of spray to tackle that?

Currently how the plants looks on day 24 of flower. Just introduced the new spider farmer se5000 upgraded from the sf2000.

Still first ever plant from seed! So pleased I kept it alive haha