Lollipoping

Bud man 43

Well-Known Member
A couple weeks before flip
Yes if you want or are expecting large dense colas it is 100% necessary. All the growth inside the plant severely restricts air flow- plus the inside of the plant won’t get enough light to have the buds develop properly.
You should be hollowed out before flipping and keep it pruned in there.
 

Grow Monster

Well-Known Member
Yes it is. When depends on your plant and or canopy. If I scrog or lst for a even canopy then I start a week before flip. If I let the plants do there thing, I lollipop 3 weeks into bloom. I wait to see which buds make its way to the light. Wherever larfy buds start, I cut everything below. Knowing the strain helps too. My skittles made no larf. Even buds down lower were hard frosty nice size nugs. I keep the larf from time to time for hash or rosin. U don't have to trim it so I don't mind.
 

calvin.m16

Well-Known Member
Everyone has their preference. I prefer doing a lolipop in mid & late veg going all the way up to the top 2-3 nodes or so. By the time I put them into flower they're filled out again except no scraggly lower nodes & leaves and better airflow. A few weeks into flower (day 20-21 ish) I will go through and snip away any new scraggly branches or buds trying to grow on the lower parts of the plants. The better you lolipop the less scraggles and tiny buds you'll have to deal with come harvest.
 

pegboy

Well-Known Member
I know I'm going to get a bit of resistance on this statement, but I dont think lollipoping is necessary. I've not seen a huge difference and believe cola size is largely determined by genetics. Here comes the shit storm :D

PS: Also. There is no scientific proof that it helps. In fact is more scientific evidence that says it might do the opposite.
 
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Grow Monster

Well-Known Member
I know I'm going to get a bit of resistance on this statement, but I dont think lollipoping is necessary. I've not seen a huge difference and believe cola size is largely determined by genetics. Here comes the shit storm :D

PS: Also. There is no scientific proof that it helps. In fact is more scientific evidence that says it might do the opposite.
Yeah I saw a guy on youtube do a side by side with same strain one he left alone, one with heavy defoliating and one lollipoped and they all came out with no noticeable difference. He said the one left alone gave a lil more in total weight due to the larf on the bottom. If I find it I will post. So heavy defo if u need space or air flow. Lollipop if u dont want larf. The airy larf is not worth the time it takes to trim but it is gd for extracts. But I due agree everything in cola size is genetics 1st then your environment, light, stress, etc.
 

calvin.m16

Well-Known Member
I know I'm going to get a bit of resistance on this statement, but I dont think lollipoping is necessary. I've not seen a huge difference and believe cola size is largely determined by genetics. Here comes the shit storm :D

PS: Also. There is no scientific proof that it helps. In fact is more scientific evidence that says it might do the opposite.
It's not necessary. It's beneficial in some situations. Still, not necessary. I don't need scientific proof when I have first hand experience. Washing your hands several times a day isn't necessary but can be beneficial to your health. Some would argue the contrary. I have been growing a couple of the same cuttings since 2019 and have most certainly noticed more pro's than cons when lollipopping & defoliating.

There's levels to the shit though. Can you post any information on why it would be counterproductive to lollipop? You said you have evidence?
Lollipopping is a technique used to prune cannabis plants in order to encourage the growth of larger buds on the upper branches while removing smaller buds from the lower branches. By removing the lower branches, the plant can redirect its energy towards the upper buds, which will result in bigger and more potent buds. Additionally, lollipopping also helps with light penetration, air circulation, and pest control.
Anyone that has grown for a couple years knows the plants bounce back from near anything, if you do the stress the plants and allow the plant to recover prior to flowering them what is the downside?

The only downside I see to leaving old leaves and lower nodes is more work in the end and a lot more scraggly airy popcorn buds. I will take the higher airflow, easier harvesting and large dense buds over that.
 
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calvin.m16

Well-Known Member
Yeah I saw a guy on youtube do a side by side with same strain one he left alone, one with heavy defoliating and one lollipoped and they all came out with no noticeable difference. He said the one left alone gave a lil more in total weight due to the larf on the bottom. If I find it I will post. So heavy defo if u need space or air flow. Lollipop if u dont want larf. The airy larf is not worth the time it takes to trim but it is gd for extracts. But I due agree everything in cola size is genetics 1st then your environment, light, stress, etc.
My MMJ Patients complain about larf, so that doesn't go in my bag anyways, still waiting to hear what the proven evidence of negative impacts are from pegboy.
 

bk78

Well-Known Member
I know I'm going to get a bit of resistance on this statement, but I dont think lollipoping is necessary. I've not seen a huge difference and believe cola size is largely determined by genetics. Here comes the shit storm :D

PS: Also. There is no scientific proof that it helps. In fact is more scientific evidence that says it might do the opposite.
Enjoy your larf, if that’s your thing.
 

Grow Monster

Well-Known Member
My MMJ Patients complain about larf, so that doesn't go in my bag anyways, still waiting to hear what the proven evidence of negative impacts are from pegboy.
Yeah I don't claim one way is better then the other. Its preference. But there are reasons u would want to or not. Some strains do better when left alone. Some need the pruning or defo. If I had 20 plants and didn't wanna deal with the small stuff or wanted to concentrate my energy on top colas then lollipop away. Heavy defo can hurt u if u run into issues later and start loosing leaves fast. Once u get skills together u can do whichever u comfortable with. As u said there's levels to it. I fully agree. Some do some don't some will some won't. Science idk but I do know how to grow.
 

pegboy

Well-Known Member
I'll go with this guys opinion.

Robert Connell Clarke

"It is more efficient for the plant to reuse the energy and various molecular components of existing chlorophyll than to synthesize new chlorophyll at the time of flowering. During flowering this energy is needed to form floral clusters and ripen seeds. Removing large amounts of leaves may interfere with the metabolic balance of the plant."
 

bk78

Well-Known Member
I'll go with this guys opinion.

Robert Connell Clarke

"It is more efficient for the plant to reuse the energy and various molecular components of existing chlorophyll than to synthesize new chlorophyll at the time of flowering. During flowering this energy is needed to form floral clusters and ripen seeds. Removing large amounts of leaves may interfere with the metabolic balance of the plant."
So now you’re talking leaf stripping?

Stay on topic of lolipopping of useless branches
 

pegboy

Well-Known Member
And I'm not telling anyone what to do. I simply stated that theres no scientific evidence that it works. To each his own. I don't care what others do. theres a million ways to skin a cat.
 
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