Trim Shade Leaves? Help Me Pro Growers

[CallMeAFool2]

This is my second go round since my teenage years some 35 century ago .

First 7 days into flowering. If these pictures work, my question is this. Should I trim these large SHADE LEAVES to let the light go through. This particular setup is 3 400W Lights, hydro, still at apprx 500-600 ppm (should I bring that down to 400?)

I want the pro's guidance. I have read too many YES and NO's in so many threads, seems like the members here are pretty rational with responses. I am talking only the large noting on the stem but the one shade leaf, sorry if I sound dumb about this, I am.

Thank you, hope I did this right.. Oh yeah, if it makes a difference in your answer, I think I want to try that cold ice method to do that hash bag thing I read about in the forum for that.

 

[cjf2612]

IMO there is no need to trim especially with 3 x 400 lights. Thats plenty of light in you space, by prunning your not going to accomplish anything worthwhile in regard to bud size except maybe delaying growth a day or two from shock. Some people may dissagree but ive never trimed/prunned etc, mother nature doesnt have a pair of snips for plants in the wild.
Like I said, just my oppinion.

 

[Hick]

hXXp://www.emc.maricopa.edu/faculty/farabee/BIOBK/BioBookPS.html

NO.... do not trim any healthy leaf.

 

[BBFan]

If you are to trim anything- trim the lower shoots that have small flowers on them but are not getting any light- you can save them for your bubble hash (the ice / hash bag thing)- that will leave more energy for your main colas-do not trim the fan leaves as they are the energy producers of your plant- can't help with your hydro questions, I'm a soil guy- ask Andy52 for advice there.
Good luck with your grow.

 

[umbra]

Hmmmm fan leaves are like solar cells. The more there are, the more energy the plant has. From your pictures, it looks like you have a dense canopy. Light is not going to penetrate too deeply. so lower grow that would become light airy popcorn buds, is a waste in my mind. there is an art to pruning for growth and big buds. let me see if i can find a picture.because sometimes a picture is better than a long drawn out explanation

 

[godspeedsuckah]

Beautiful Umbra!!

 

[andy52]

i would have the ppm's higher than that.at the least i would have them at 800ppms.jmo

 

[The Hemp Goddess]

Not a good idea to trim those leaves. They aren't really 'shade' leaves. Like Umbra said, the fan leaves are the little powerhouses of your plant--they turn nutrients and light into THC.

 

[CallMeAFool2]

thank you all so much. I might add two 250 Watts I have sitting around and toss those at the sides to see if I can come up with much lower. I have LEDs, but I am intentionally doing this with 3 400W HPS and one smaller than this by one tub with LED Only 3 90 over top and two coming from the sides.

I just did a water change and bumped the nuts to a bit over 600, next water change I will go up a bit more and then whatever week it is, I have it written down, to boost it to like 1200ppm then when like 2 weeks before harvest, plain RO water. I think at 4 weeks out, I will start adding the Koolbloom.

thanks everyone! not trimming but yellowing on the bottom

 

[mendo local]

I trim some to let air circulate better, I find when I do not thin them out I usually get problems with powdery mildew and if you get bugs your screwed. But its really upto you.