[Bogota.Mark]

My seedlings are in week 5. Two of my guys have large fan leaves-one is over " long. Should I remove it ? The plants are 5" and a couple of the leaves are an inch long.....TY

 

[compostmike]

Leave it on. Leaf size by itself isn’t a reason to defoliate a five-inch plant, and that fan is supplying much of its photosynthesis while it builds roots and branches. Remove it only if it is damaged, laying on wet soil, or creating a real airflow problem.

 

[WinJr63]

My seedlings are in week 5. Two of my guys have large fan leaves-one is over " long. Should I remove it ? The plants are 5" and a couple of the leaves are an inch long.....TY

Pictures please, we're all about seeing pics and video

 

[Bogota.Mark]

Leave it on. Leaf size by itself isn’t a reason to defoliate a five-inch plant, and that fan is supplying much of its photosynthesis while it builds roots and branches. Remove it only if it is damaged, laying on wet soil, or creating a real airflow problem.

Thank you

 

[danmac69]

My seedlings are in week 5. Two of my guys have large fan leaves-one is over " long. Should I remove it ? The plants are 5" and a couple of the leaves are an inch long.....TY

Cut a bit off the leaves if their covering growth site...you dont have to take full leaf off you can trim it to suit position.

 

[danmac69]

Cut a bit off the leaves if their covering growth site...you dont have to take full leaf off you can trim it to suit position.

Keep most of it,thats yer plants solar panel just now ..

 

[Ninjadogma]

My seedlings are in week 5. Two of my guys have large fan leaves-one is over " long. Should I remove it ? The plants are 5" and a couple of the leaves are an inch long.....TY

If I can suggest a topic to research, look into how to defoliate cannabis, why it's done, when it's done and where it's done. There are different reasons. Opening a canopy up for more light. Training the growth. Breaking apical dominance without cutting a top. Encouraging branching. Pest managent. So the question your asking, "should I remove these fan leaves." I have to ask. Exactly what would you be aiming to accomplish?

 

[Bogota.Mark]

If I can suggest a topic to research, look into how to defoliate cannabis, why it's done, when it's done and where it's done. There are different reasons. Opening a canopy up for more light. Training the growth. Breaking apical dominance without cutting a top. Encouraging branching. Pest managent. So the question your asking, "should I remove these fan leaves." I have to ask. Exactly what would you be aiming to accomplish?

I’ve researched “defoliating”. I’ve read cut the top after the 5th or 6th node appears. To increase bud / plant development. Then remove the lowest 2 branches. For same effect.

 

[BearWater]

I’ve researched “defoliating”. I’ve read cut the top after the 5th or 6th node appears. To increase bud / plant development. Then remove the lowest 2 branches. For same effect.

Thats topping. Not defoliation : ) two different things. Think of leaves as solar panels. The more the better. After flip and you have nodes all over, from topping, it’s ok to “expose the node” as i like to say. But still you try and keep those fan leaves on the plant. If I have a bud under a fan leaf I’ll remove that leaf to let the light in.

 

[Bogota.Mark]

Thats topping. Not defoliation : ) two different things. Think of leaves as solar panels. The more the better. After flip and you have nodes all over, from topping, it’s ok to “expose the node” as i like to say. But still you try and keep those fan leaves on the plant. If I have a bud under a fan leaf I’ll remove that leaf to let the light in.

Yes, I understand. Thank you for the quick reply. I anxiously await ha ha ha. I may have misinterpreted my explanation, but you are correct and I agree with reference to defoliating hopefully I am correct in assuming that when you’re getting close to harvest, you cut off the fan leaves to expose the buds to more light. Is this correct ?

 

[BearWater]

Yes, I understand. Thank you for the quick reply. I anxiously await ha ha ha. I may have misinterpreted my explanation, but you are correct and I agree with reference to defoliating hopefully I am correct in assuming that when you’re getting close to harvest, you cut off the fan leaves to expose the buds to more light. Is this correct ?

Sorry to beat a dead horse not my entent. I’m the same with waiting anxiously!

hopefully I am correct in assuming that when you’re getting close to harvest, you cut off the fan leaves to expose the buds to more light. Is this correct ?

100% correct, the only thing I say about it is, “close to harvest”… you can monitor bud growth and take fan leaves covering buds earlier than “close to harvest” : ) a bud with light for 4 weeks will be better than a bud with only a week or so of light. If that makes sense.

 

[Bogota.Mark]

Sorry to beat a dead horse not my entent. I’m the same with waiting anxiously!

100% correct, the only thing I say about it is, “close to harvest”… you can monitor bud growth and take fan leaves covering buds earlier than “close to harvest” : ) a bud with light for 4 weeks will be better than a bud with only a week or so of light. If that makes sense.

Perfect, thanks for taking the time to respond. Great info

 

[Ninjadogma]

You touched on an interesting fork in the road there as applies to initiating better node growth. It changes the subject away from defoliating, but worth mentioning. There's several ways you can do it. Top it (high stress training or HST), Bend it over (low stress training or LST), or an alternative HST where you pluck the most dominant fan leaf sitting highest up in a branch to break apical dominance and encourage more lateral growth. But if you're thinking of the latter, a seedling with only 5 nodes isn't really the ideal time or spot to try it out.

 

[Bogota.Mark]

You touched on an interesting fork in the road there as applies to initiating better node growth. It changes the subject away from defoliating, but worth mentioning. There's several ways you can do it. Top it (high stress training or HST), Bend it over (low stress training or LST), or an alternative HST where you pluck the most dominant fan leaf sitting highest up in a branch to break apical dominance and encourage more lateral growth. But if you're thinking of the latter, a seedling with only 5 nodes isn't really the ideal time or spot to try it out.

 

[Bogota.Mark]

Thx, I wasn’t real clear on my initial post, defoliating / topping. My newbie-ism. Re: topping I will most likely do this after the 6th node appears. I’m a little over 4 now. I’m not comfortable on the “bending”. I’ve taken more notes and read more on weed growth procedures and care than all my studying in high school !!!

 

[Ninjadogma]

Thx, I wasn’t real clear on my initial post, defoliating / topping. My newbie-ism. Re: topping I will most likely do this after the 6th node appears. I’m a little over 4 now. I’m not comfortable on the “bending”. I’ve taken more notes and read more on weed growth procedures and care than all my studying in high school !!!

That's awesome man, cause most of us in this world will start tackling any project without first perusing an instruction manual. And unfortunately when it comes to weed, there's a lot of conflicting information out there. If you spend a little time outside the cannabis forums and delve over into some of the gardening forums and follow what they're doing, it might put you at better ease but in the back of my mind I'm wondering what you're drawing some hesitation on and I'm wondering if it's because you're playing with autos. And you're right to be hesitant because with autos you're growing a Countdown Clown and any stress you throw at the plant can count as a time penalty against you, with every second moving closer to the buzzer. And interesting enough, it's bending and not cutting that's a better move for them because there is no wound. The penalty is minimal as the auxin load resettles at new high points. It's like helium, always wants to float to the topmost points. Think of a lava lamp bubble that's floating slowly up. You disrupt the bubble and a bunch of smaller bubbles form to make their way to the top that's kind of what auxin does in a plant and really when we're talking topping or bending unless it's strictly for space management, what we're trying to do is move those auxins around.

 

[Bogota.Mark]

That's awesome man, cause most of us in this world will start tackling any project without first perusing an instruction manual. And unfortunately when it comes to weed, there's a lot of conflicting information out there. If you spend a little time outside the cannabis forums and delve over into some of the gardening forums and follow what they're doing, it might put you at better ease but in the back of my mind I'm wondering what you're drawing some hesitation on and I'm wondering if it's because you're playing with autos. And you're right to be hesitant because with autos you're growing a Countdown Clown and any stress you throw at the plant can count as a time penalty against you, with every second moving closer to the buzzer. And interesting enough, it's bending and not cutting that's a better move for them because there is no wound. The penalty is minimal as the auxin load resettles at new high points. It's like helium, always wants to float to the topmost points. Think of a lava lamp bubble that's floating slowly up. You disrupt the bubble and a bunch of smaller bubbles form to make their way to the top that's kind of what auxin does in a plant and really when we're talking topping or bending unless it's strictly for space management, what we're trying to do is move those auxins around.

I will eventually try the bending down the road, especially because where I live, which is South America. And I can pretty much grow year-round just a little apprehensive since my plants are doing so well right now as I mentioned I’ve done a lot of research on every aspect from seedlings to curing growth mediums, different pots, different lighting, etc. I purchase Jorge Cervantes book and have scar at cover to cover on all different subject. It’s a lot of great information but it’s a little dated a lot of the information I’ve read. I’ve got all three or four different forms and I’ve met a couple people from ILGM Seeds, Seed Supreme in a couple of other companies where I’ve ordered Seeds. They’ve all been very helpful and I really picked their brains but as far as forms go, this is the only one that I post questions on because it seems like it’s the most informative I found thanks again for your input. If you have any other suggestions, just shoot them my way brother.

 

[Ninjadogma]

I will eventually try the bending down the road, especially because where I live, which is South America. And I can pretty much grow year-round just a little apprehensive since my plants are doing so well right now as I mentioned I’ve done a lot of research on every aspect from seedlings to curing growth mediums, different pots, different lighting, etc. I purchase Jorge Cervantes book and have scar at cover to cover on all different subject. It’s a lot of great information but it’s a little dated a lot of the information I’ve read. I’ve got all three or four different forms and I’ve met a couple people from ILGM Seeds, Seed Supreme in a couple of other companies where I’ve ordered Seeds. They’ve all been very helpful and I really picked their brains but as far as forms go, this is the only one that I post questions on because it seems like it’s the most informative I found thanks again for your input. If you have any other suggestions, just shoot them my way brother.

I grow outdoors year round here in the US but it's no fun at all January thru March.

 

[cpurola]

I grow outdoors year round here in the US but it's no fun at all January thru March.

Okay outdoor grower, I have tried to lean my plants but this year they've already grown to the top of my 'line'. Should I top the main now? Or re-jigger the dominance by taking off the top fan leaf. (and I have no idea which one that is, plus I need to get a ladder. LOL)
Kalini Asia

Sticky Beast

 

[cpurola]

Sorry about taking over your thread, but I am wrestling with a similar issue.