Should I prune it?

[shmeg]

Hi everyone.

 

This is a great site, I'll post my first growing experience as soon as it's finished. It looks like I've done *almost* everything wrong, but I've got a bush in my wardrobe and I've learnt a lot for next time.

 

I was hoping someone could tell me if it's ok, or even necessary, to prune the big arse fan leaves that are covering the secondary growth, the leaves are pretty much sitting on top of each other.

 

The first pic shows the undergrowth with the fan held back, the second is taken from pretty much the same angle with the fan leaf back in place.

 

I'm worried that the undergrowth isn't getting enough light but I think I read that you're not supposed to chop a healthy fan leaf?

 

I'm also wary of cutting those leaves because you can see in picture three that the leaves are close to the base of the new crowns and I don't want to upset them.

 

Just quickly, I'm growing in a foot and a half of Rose potting mix under two x 18W two foot growluxes and I'm too scared to use fert so I use day-old tapwater instead.

 

The plant's about 3 - 4 weeks old.... I think..... maybe a little bit more, I can't really remember to be honest. I wish I'd kept a diary, oh well, next time!

 

Thanks in advance for any advice

Shmeg

[Guest Wilderbud]

Let it grow.

[skankmaster]

It is a weed mate, and leave it to grow as Wilderbud said... don't touch any fan leaves unless they are dying or showing signs of disease. If you are worried about not enough light, whack a 400 watter on the sucker, that will be heaps. You should think about getting it some nutes, even if they are fairly weak.

[Buddy]

Yeah, I wouldnt prune it yet.....wait until you put it into flower then if any of the leaves are covering bud sites either move them or cut them in half.

The leaves are the "food factory" of the plant.

[SweetJane]

I believe it's a myth (and a bad one) about cutting off fan leaves to let light in. I say "don't fuck with mother nature" the plant has fan leaves for a reason. Those new shoots need the food from the fan leaf more than the light right now.

 

If you ever have a spare plant to experiment with, try cutting the fan leaves off one side and watch how slow the new growth is on that side compared with the side you've left the fan leaves on and you'll never want to cut off a fan leaf again.

[shmeg]

Wow, thanks guys. I am SO glad I asked...

 

Cheers

[PHdOwnUnder]

I pluck during the veg period. It promotes bushiness imho.

You shouldnt really do it though. The best way ive heard it explained is why cut off a massive food factory that is getting more intense light to feed smaller crappy food factories with less intense light? I cant help myself during the veg but.

[Guest Wilderbud]

Its a small plant still - wait till its growing more rapidly so you dont stunt it. I only tip to get more bushiness - chopping fan leaves is crazy as they support the flowering [try it when you can compare].

[PHdOwnUnder]

I guarantee you plucking leaves even from a plant with only 3 or 4 nodes will not stunt it.

It will do the opposite actually.

[Tom]

I do not remove any healthy leaves from the plant, it needs all the food it can store for the flowering period.