Small/lower Branches in Flowering-Cut them or leave them be?

[skinzilla]

I'm on day 9 of flowering, and i'm wondering if I should remove the small/lower branches that aren't getting much light, and don't look like they'll yield much. Ideally I know I should have done it in veg, but too late now, lol. Will chopping them now overstress the plants, slow growth, etc? Is it worth it to chop them or not while in flowering?
On a side note, if the top of the plants are getting lots of light, doesn't the plant use the light/nutrients to promote growth throughout the entire plant? Why wouldn't the lower branches grow/yield well? For example, when humans eat, the food is converted to energy and available to the entire body, so why isn't it the same with plants? It's likely a dumb question, but I'm curious.

 

[Phaeton]

What is a 'teamster tan'?

Oh, now I remember, it is a tan on the lower left arm only.
The butt does not get tan.

Food is distributed in a pump driven distribution network, tanning is done to stationary skincells.

Plant food is one way, evaporation driven from the roots up, no circulation. The nutrients need to be taken to the leaf where the light is.

For the 'gotcha' crowd, if a leaf's pores all close evaporation stops, the fluid is carried in reverse to an area where evaporation is still happening. Still a one way process until the last leaf in line dries out.

As to the main question posted. I've chopped quite a few without damage. I had heard never chop more than 20% at any given time. I cut less than 10% and the plants don't even hiccup.

 

[CannabisDog]

You should cut them, let the plant put its energy into the top buds that are getting the most light.

 

[DirtyCarpet]

You might consider letting the tops mature, and harvest them. Leave the lower, less-developed branches on a bit more until they mature, and harvest them, too. It may also be possible to bring the lower branches closer to the light now that the main colas have been removed. Some won't, but I would! Good luck, and Happy Harvesting! Peace.

 

[Jellyfish]

Good thread. Love to hear more responses.

 

[skinzilla]

Dirty, if I try your method, do I still flush same as normal prior to harvesting the tops? Then, do I resume feeding, and at what strength nute solution do I use to finish the lower buds? How long does it take for the bottom buds to finish after harvesting the tops? 1-2 weeks?

 

[DirtyCarpet]

Yeah, I would go with the regular flush. I wouldn't feed her anymore; as I see it, any bottom buds are just cream, you know? Extra gravy, if you will....watch the glands for maturity and harvest them at the stage you prefer....

 

[pinecone]

I almost always cut them. They get used for mulch.

Pine

 

[BrownThumb]

Let'em grow another couple of weeks and then make monster clones out of the best of what you trim for your next round, assuming these are keeper plants. The rest? I dunno, smoke it?

 

[Rotti By Nature]

I've been trimming the lower branches for a bit and it not only makes for an easier harvest, but it also gives the plant a stronger looking Cola. So I would say go for it and give it a shot. Just as long as you don't take more than 20% of the plant.

 

[noyd666]

chop them out , more air flow, easier to get at plant, energy to top buds, bottom useally just larf, for mine i would cut and use if ok for clones. best o new year.

 

[Hydro-Soil]

I'm on day 9 of flowering, and i'm wondering if I should remove the small/lower branches that aren't getting much light, and don't look like they'll yield much. Ideally I know I should have done it in veg, but too late now, lol.

Actually... this is about the time I do it myself. No problem
Chop everything below the 3rd node on each branch. Any branches that are out of the dense light area (400w 12", 600w 18", 1000w 24" Approximately)

Will chopping them now overstress the plants, slow growth, etc? Is it worth it to chop them or not while in flowering?

Nope... won't stress them at all. Definitely worth it to chop that larff off now.

On a side note, if the top of the plants are getting lots of light, doesn't the plant use the light/nutrients to promote growth throughout the entire plant? Why wouldn't the lower branches grow/yield well? For example, when humans eat, the food is converted to energy and available to the entire body, so why isn't it the same with plants? It's likely a dumb question, but I'm curious.

It's not a dumb question. Plant physiology is different than human. Where humans have a central digestive system... plants draw the elements in the solution/soil/medium up from the roots and deliver it to where it's going to be used to make food. While a plant can move 'mobile' elements from one spot to another... the food usually doesn't. Or something like that. LOL

Your premium, dense, flavorful, ripe bud is going to be produced in the area with the most amount of light in it. (to a point, of course. There is such a thing as too much light.) Keeping just the tops of the plants uncut... allows the plant to focus all of its energy into the tops within that light pattern.

Stay Safe!

 

[Arthritis_sucks]

You should cut them, let the plant put its energy into the top buds that are getting the most light.

Actually... this is about the time I do it myself. No problem
Chop everything below the 3rd node on each branch. Any branches that are out of the dense light area (400w 12", 600w 18", 1000w 24" Approximately)


Nope... won't stress them at all. Definitely worth it to chop that larff off now.



It's not a dumb question. Plant physiology is different than human. Where humans have a central digestive system... plants draw the elements in the solution/soil/medium up from the roots and deliver it to where it's going to be used to make food. While a plant can move 'mobile' elements from one spot to another... the food usually doesn't. Or something like that. LOL

Your premium, dense, flavorful, ripe bud is going to be produced in the area with the most amount of light in it. (to a point, of course. There is such a thing as too much light.) Keeping just the tops of the plants uncut... allows the plant to focus all of its energy into the tops within that light pattern.

Stay Safe!

Very well put Hydro.

 

[MoeBudz^420]

I just can't get myself to chop off lower branches.

Probably due to the fact I have + use B.bags. Tops are fine + that loose lower stuff is still covered in trichs!

Makes more of this...but to each their own.

Peace

 

[Chillb]

I always trim off the lower branches when flowering is started. Helps with many things ... air circulation being one. The last thing you want to do is stress out your ladies, so don't over do it ;-)

 

[socialist]

Did anyone see the original post date? lol. Brownthumb bumped this from almost a year ago.

 

[944s2]

chop them out , more air flow, easier to get at plant, energy to top buds, bottom useally just larf, for mine i would cut and use if ok for clones. best o new year.

as above,bottom third has to go and good luck,,peace and regards s2

 

[WelderDan]

I leave 'em. The popcorn buds dry quicker, and it gives me something to smoke while the nice buds dry and cure properly.

 

[herbwarrior420]

excellent been doin that for years since the whole plant doesnt mature at same time i microscope each bud when tricomes and cannaboloids r at peak ripeness i cut buds off that r ripened and let rest of buds finish out like a fruit tree do u harvest the whole tree of fruit when first fruits r ripe? also i will clone or fertilize the bottom 4 to 6 branches as needed happy growing

 

[Hydro-Soil]

excellent been doin that for years since the whole plant doesnt mature at same time i microscope each bud when tricomes and cannaboloids r at peak ripeness i cut buds off that r ripened

This is another reason why I cut all the lower stuff.

When I harvest... nearly all the bud is the same maturity. Only the larff at the very bottom of the light layer is immature. When I do it correctly... nothing is wasted.

I need to turn the room... no time to wait for the rest of the buds to mature.

Stay Safe!