The only good reason to prune a plant is to prevent moisture buildup, aka improve air circulation. Besides that it can make sense to remove a few leaves to expose a lower branch, which shouldn’t be an issue if you have managed your plant well. If you don’t have moisture buildup / mold / mildew / botrytis issues your grow, you only risk harming your yield by pruning.
I’m on the fence about removing to expose lower buds myself, as long as it’s not larf, but I would sooner remove the larf. I’ve seen lots of evidence of lower (canopy protected buds) bud sites testing higher for THC and terpenes, which makes sense since light degrades THC.
And there is some evidence of a stress reaction being beneficial to yield, some plants like cotton it’s essential to a good harvest.
Bottom line, we need more empirical evidence for cannabis.
I dont really mean lower buds, but specifically some shorter colas, if the plant is already starting to flower.
Higher buds seem to at least have more CBD and afaik the highest % of Thc is also in the top 1/3, but I do not remember reading any papers on THC specifically. AFAIK light breaks down THC only in dead plant matter.
Personally i do very light lollipopping early-ish but thats about it.
The only good reason to prune a plant is to prevent moisture buildup, aka improve air circulation. Besides that it can make sense to remove a few leaves to expose a lower branch, which shouldn’t be an issue if you have managed your plant well. If you don’t have moisture buildup / mold / mildew / botrytis issues your grow, you only risk harming your yield by pruning.
I’m on the fence about removing to expose lower buds myself, as long as it’s not larf, but I would sooner remove the larf. I’ve seen lots of evidence of lower (canopy protected buds) bud sites testing higher for THC and terpenes, which makes sense since light degrades THC.
And there is some evidence of a stress reaction being beneficial to yield, some plants like cotton it’s essential to a good harvest.
Bottom line, we need more empirical evidence for cannabis.
I dont really mean lower buds, but specifically some shorter colas, if the plant is already starting to flower.
Higher buds seem to at least have more CBD and afaik the highest % of Thc is also in the top 1/3, but I do not remember reading any papers on THC specifically. AFAIK light breaks down THC only in dead plant matter.
Personally i do very light lollipopping early-ish but thats about it.