Should I trim these leaves?
- Thread starter wwvmd
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Jerry Garcia
Well-Known Member
trimming the bottom leaves is a bad idea. the leaves are the photosynthetic factory of the plant. mother nature designed the plant with leaves, so leave them there.
covering your soil is a good idea too, but stay away from using foil--it creates hot spots and can burn your plant.
good luck
covering your soil is a good idea too, but stay away from using foil--it creates hot spots and can burn your plant.
good luck
wwvmd
Member
trimming the bottom leaves is a bad idea. the leaves are the photosynthetic factory of the plant. mother nature designed the plant with leaves, so leave them there.
covering your soil is a good idea too, but stay away from using foil--it creates hot spots and can burn your plant.
good luck
See that shows how new I am at this.. I thought it would be a good idea to cover it with foil to reflect the light onto the bottom of the leaves. What should I use? and what is the real reason for doing so?
Jerry Garcia
Well-Known Member
Foil is bad because it creates hot spots, or concentrated beams of light that can literally burn holes in your plants. It is better to use reflective mylar--just a thin reflective film that is reflective but won't create hot spots. Other alternatives are white plastic sheeting (panda plastic is black on one side and white on the other) or just white pieces of cardboard. You won't be reflecting much light, so don't get too concerned over it. I use pieces of cardboard covered in mylar and just put them over the soil.
The reason you want to cover the soil is to help limit the light reaching the roots. Any light, and UVB light in particular, reacts negatively with the roots and can slow growth.
The reason you want to cover the soil is to help limit the light reaching the roots. Any light, and UVB light in particular, reacts negatively with the roots and can slow growth.
LOL, what are you growing with, lasers ? You hear this one all the time but no one has shown me any proof. Stick with the foil I do the same thing and in full sun NEVER a problem. I tried some mylar but once but it curls up in a day or two.
lazy88
Active Member
TIn Foil- its a common dispute over and over again,some say its ok,some say its bad, Thats why you should (always learn to understand YOUR plants),Just cuz it hurts one guys,it might now hurt yours..
Now it is more common to hear bad stuff of tin foil rather than good stuff..do some research..
and in my opn.its a matter of how much light you have with the tin foil...but again its just another opn.that i got from (learning my plants)..and I do agree with jerry,it makes hotspots from the light reflecting off the tin foil like lasers...thats why its called Hotspots..just a few brownish looking spots on only a couple leaves...
white reflects better than anything....its a common knowledge thing....
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as for covering your soil...sorry id have to disagree with that one,reason being....
that only works if your growing hydro..your roots are more subject to seeing light..with soil growing,once your roots are a inch or two in the soil...they are not seeing the light of day,inless you got worm holes in your soil..lol
and when you water your soil and then cover it up so no light gets in there,your soil is going to stay wetter longer,some may think that is a good thing,but it can lead to a ph problem in your soil,and fungus growing from your soil,from the over amount of moisture just sitting around. the light helps the soil dry up..which in regards makes the plant use more of the water,
if your soil was wet & dark how much is one plant going to be able to suck up? without getting root-rot? inless your running 100 degrees or something...
Now it is more common to hear bad stuff of tin foil rather than good stuff..do some research..
and in my opn.its a matter of how much light you have with the tin foil...but again its just another opn.that i got from (learning my plants)..and I do agree with jerry,it makes hotspots from the light reflecting off the tin foil like lasers...thats why its called Hotspots..just a few brownish looking spots on only a couple leaves...
white reflects better than anything....its a common knowledge thing....
......................................................................................................................................................................
as for covering your soil...sorry id have to disagree with that one,reason being....
that only works if your growing hydro..your roots are more subject to seeing light..with soil growing,once your roots are a inch or two in the soil...they are not seeing the light of day,inless you got worm holes in your soil..lol
and when you water your soil and then cover it up so no light gets in there,your soil is going to stay wetter longer,some may think that is a good thing,but it can lead to a ph problem in your soil,and fungus growing from your soil,from the over amount of moisture just sitting around. the light helps the soil dry up..which in regards makes the plant use more of the water,
if your soil was wet & dark how much is one plant going to be able to suck up? without getting root-rot? inless your running 100 degrees or something...
Purplekrunchie
Well-Known Member
My 2 cents for the tin foil debate, I have used this in my rooms but dull side, that will lower the hot spot threat and still add some illumination.
And I agree with the not removing leaves, unless they are already yellowed and dead they will just knock off easy when u touch. Let it be a plant as it is in nature as much as possible. There are times when its ok to remove 1 leaf to maybe let a part of the lower area get light but thats special circumstance.
And I agree with the not removing leaves, unless they are already yellowed and dead they will just knock off easy when u touch. Let it be a plant as it is in nature as much as possible. There are times when its ok to remove 1 leaf to maybe let a part of the lower area get light but thats special circumstance.
Jerry Garcia
Well-Known Member
For sure, to each their own. I don't use foil. I sure see lots of people on here who do though.
Regarding the soil issue, you're right, covering will limit dessication of the top layer. But the plant is going to use the moisture in the rest of the pot and dry it out all the same. And I'm not talking about restricting all airflow to the soil, just obstructing light and reflecting back to the top. I cut cardboard pieces in half and cover with mylar--this still allows for airflow with minimum light penetration as the two pieces don't rest directly on top of the soil but rather the edges of my pot.
Now, daylight will not travel down past a couple inches, you're right. But UV light will, and specifically UVB and C. Most plants have a gene in their roots called RUS4 that detects the presence of UV radiation. If it detects high levels, it will slow/inhibit growth of the rest of the plant in an attempt to protect itself (as UV rays are deleterious to plants just like people). This is more of a concern when using supplemental UVB lights, but the sun sure has it and I believe most grow lights emit low levels of it.
So again, to each their own. If you cover, just maintain good airflow and you shouldn't have to worry about fungus--you aren't creating a swamp.
bigtomatofarmer
Well-Known Member
No way dude. Dont trim those leaves. Espcially at that size.
Good Luck, what strain is that?
