To trim, or not to trim?

Hey y'all,
So, I've heard different opinions from people on here and elsewhere, but I figured I'd personally ask about this. So, people don't kid about White Widow being nutrient-sensitive. I gave them their first feeding around a week ago. A few days later, they showed some yellowing on the lower leaves and signs of nitrogen definciency. Although I now realize it was probably just a delayed response from before I fed, I'm new to this, and freaked out a bit and fed them again. Both were pretty light feedings (equivalent to quarter strength of 2-1-1). Well, now they're showing some signs of nitrogen toxicity (dark green, slightly clawing and slightly burnt tips). I gave them a heavy flush last night when I watered and did just straight RO water with a bit of H2O2. I seem to have gotten the overload of micro-nutrients fixed now by switching my water, and they're getting watered properly now as well.

So, main question... should I cut off or trim the yellowed leaves or just let them be? I'm not talking about leaves that are barely damaged, but rather the oldest ones that are 50% or more dead. What about the dead original feeder leaves? I'm planning on super cropping (or maybe lst) and lollipoping them once they're bigger anyway, so I wouldn't think it'd be a big deal in terms of their later parts of life. They are growing kind of slow (I started seeds soaking 25 days ago) and have had a fair bit of stress in their lives already, so I'm not entirely sure if cutting or trimming those leaves would be good or bad for them.

Whatcha all think?

Thanks in advance,
-Peach

Me personally i dont clip off any leaves unless im about to flower and cut the bottom 1/3 of the girl to avoid airy bottom buds. But to me its looks youve been overwatering. Id cut down on the watering til the soil dries out completely. Could be the reason the growing so slow. They look very small to be a few weeks old.

hotshotisdashit said:

Me personally i dont clip off any leaves unless im about to flower and cut the bottom 1/3 of the girl to avoid airy bottom buds. But to me its looks youve been overwatering. Id cut down on the watering til the soil dries out completely. Could be the reason the growing so slow. They look very small to be a few weeks old.

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Yeah, i determined after some tests I was both over- and underwatering -- not enough, but too frequent. I've got that straightened out, but there was definitely N problems on both ends of the spectrum and also a definite over feeding of micro-nutrients. So you'd suggest not cutting the leaves off or even just the dead parts of them?

depends on what you want, if you want very bushy plants, remove all the large fan leaves ( it will slow the plant growth down but the plant will grow very bushy)
then you don't need to top, lst ect
you will still get the same results

jacksthc said:

depends on what you want, if you want very bushy plants, remove all the large fan leaves ( it will slow the plant growth down but the plant will grow very bushy)
then you don't need to top, lst ect
you will still get the same results

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They already seem to be super bushy (at least in my opinion) and being white widows, should contine that way. I've actually been trying to get the new growth to stretch a little bit more, because it seems suuuuper close together and I feel a lot of older leaves aren't getting ample light or airflow. So in that case, would cutting those bottom leaves that are yellowed help?

Theyre fine. They dont look burnt. If thats soil in those cups you sould be fine with quarter strength nutrients once a week until you transplant. If its soiless then feed more often. The bottom leaf usually dies, thats just how it goes. Stop freaking out youll be ok.

Alienwidow said:

Theyre fine. They dont look burnt. If thats soil in those cups you sould be fine with quarter strength nutrients once a week until you transplant. If its soiless then feed more often. The bottom leaf usually dies, thats just how it goes. Stop freaking out youll be ok.

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Heh, yeah, honestly, that's probably about the best advice I've heard from anyone on growing in general. I'm brand new to this all and I'm just a little over-concerned with everything with my kids. And I know WW isnot the easiest thing to do, and they're sensitive to nutrients, so, just erring on the catious side.

PeachyBuds said:

They already seem to be super bushy (at least in my opinion) and being white widows, should contine that way. I've actually been trying to get the new growth to stretch a little bit more, because it seems suuuuper close together and I feel a lot of older leaves aren't getting ample light or airflow. So in that case, would cutting those bottom leaves that are yellowed help?

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gives the shoots more space and more air flow, you want as many tops in early flower as you can, when you turn the plants over to flower they will strech and you will have loads of even shoots

jacksthc said:

gives the shoots more space and more air flow, you want as many tops in early flower as you can, when you turn the plants over to flower they will strech and you will have loads of even shoots

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Okay, interesting. So I shouldn't be concerned about their over-fullness right now while they're young and small? and I take it i should cut the dead leaves then to help produce more nodes/healthy tops?

yer removing dead/damaged leaves is a good way to encourage heathy new growth

PeachyBuds said:

Heh, yeah, honestly, that's probably about the best advice I've heard from anyone on growing in general. I'm brand new to this all and I'm just a little over-concerned with everything with my kids. And I know WW isnot the easiest thing to do, and they're sensitive to nutrients, so, just erring on the catious side.

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Thats your problem, you think ww is sensitive. Its not. I can tell you with all the different strains ive grown there hasnt been one that is more or less sensitive. Theyre all the same. The amount of food they need is directly proportional to how big they are. If you own a ppm meter you cant fail unless you get all crazy. Feed plants more as they get bigger, add calmag, and make sure the enviroment is good and just watch them grow. Its simple. Learn what bugs you need to worry about, and the signs of over and under watering look like, and what calcium and magnesium deficiancies look like and youll be fine.

jacksthc said:

yer removing dead/damaged leaves is a good way to encourage heathy new growth

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wonderful. so should I cut at the base of the leaf at the stem, or just cut the yellowed part off of the leaf?