Big Fan Leaves!

[LoveMeBucket]

Can I cut off big fan leaves so that more light can get to budsites lower down?

[Tom]

Try not to remove any leaves if you can avoid it, tuck them away from the bud sites or even trim them a little. The plant needs them for photosynthesis and as a food storage for during the flowering stage.

[Buddy]

There are some growers for and some against pulling the leaves, I only pull them when the stem is purple and havent had any problems but if the stem of the offending leaf looks nice and healthy, I either move it so it doesnt restrict the light or cut the leaf blades in half.

 

In an outdoor grow I wouldnt touch them in case the plant needs the stored nutes for some reason or other but growing artificially in a hydroponic system as I do, the plants are assured of an adequate supply of tucker so pulling a few leaves doesnt seem to hurt the plant.

 

My plants have a lot of eleven bladed leaves and they are pure Indicas so I find I have to do a little leaf trimming so the light reaches the lower branches.

[Luke Skywalker]

And besides, a substantial proportion of light is not absorbed by the leaves, and passes through anyway to the budsites below. It's debateable whether it's beneficial to the plants, depending on what leaves you remove and why, but I'd say just move em if possible.

 

I tend to only remove leaves which are dropping themselves, (you'll see this happen in the flowering process as all light is eventually used up by the canopy and the eldest leaves begin to lose their purpose and drop off) and those which have been more than 50% damaged.

 

In short, leave em on, cos their plants, and plants need leaves to grow.