Ok – I don’t know the best way to remove fan leaves from thick plants – especially buds.
Gurus – help me learn some tricks.
Leaves as small as the one on the last pic, I dont bother with until trim time.
Normally if you keep the lowers cleand up throughout flower, its not too much of a hassle to snip a fan here and there every few days. Ill snip them with scissors, or a razor blade, but pinching with finger nails work in a pinch.
And the best way Ive found to really get in there? Just pull you plant out n pluck away. Give her a spin to change angles n continue plucking. She wont miss a beat
I liked this
Haha didnt even notice the double entendre there lol
My problem are all the dang leaves hunkering into the buds and blocking all my light. Argh. Love the double pinch, BTW.
I gave it the head nod
Light to the buds themselves?
When I defoliate, I only lop off the leaves at the base of the buds. Anything in the middle of the bud I leave for trimming at harvest (wet and dry trim). Start at the bottom and work your way up!
I did this today so my colas each had their own hole in the scrog. I sat on a big pillow and cut off all the puny branches that were not going to amt. to much. Now i have about 10 or 11 on each plant. Was in there for about 90 min.
My problem is my autos are so stout – short and thick – getting to bottom branches is almost impossible. I’m not doing something right from early on. I feel like training the main cola (bending over and to the side) makes it even harder. Your plants are so tall.
Yes to buds – other lower buds.
Buds are a collection of calyxes. Calyxes don’t use light for anything, so flower needs its sugar leaves.
One way to deal with the lower buds issue is a staged harvest. Harvest the top half of the plant first, then let the lowers ripen for another week, then harvest those lower flowers. I do this every grow.
I love this plan. I had no idea calyxes were groovin’ without light. Knowledge is power. I actually left some growth on my 1st grow trio – just to see what they would do – they’re growing/maturing. I’m all about staged harvest. BAM.
I’ve cut a forest of them – it feels like. 
Mine are photo. I did 1 auto and stuck with photo.
