Newbie needs comment on pruning

First grow was a disaster starting in natural light ... in March (indoors in window). Went straight into flowering and died.

Got a 27 X 27 X 60 tent w/ 2 - 300W LEDs (I think maybe 125W output each?). Probably too much light (electric bill's not bad and no burn). Growing Suzy Purple Haze supposed to be Sativa but seems to be growing like a midget Indica. From the beginning very bushy/ tight nodes. I topped after about 4 nodes to branch it out. Tried super-cropping but the stalk was so woody 2 nodes from the tips it was really hard to supercrop. I managed to bend branches out to make a wreath of green figuring it would fill in and out (and it did). I also read where flowering needs red light so I bought a 3rd 300W LED but red this time. All in I'm about $600 for equipment including my webcam so I can watch my grow.

Started the red (3rd) LED about 2 weeks before flower so plants could adjust. I've always had the outer 2 lights at a slight angle - one on each side. I also rotate the pot almost daily. I've attached pics.

So my question is I'm about 1 week into flower and the main colas are stretching but nodes 1 or 2 below the tips are also sprouting colas/ tips (there must be over 40 tips/ colas). The plant is already dense and if the nodes 1 and 2 below the tip start sprouting I'm concerned I'll have a tight mess. But I've also read just let the plant grow and don't worry about it.

This is my first grow and I'd appreciate comments. I have a feeling I lucked out and should just let it ride. But I also think maybe I should clean some of it out. I figured after about 4 weeks of veg I might start clearing out the lowest leaves - maybe 2 rows per week working up to 8 nodes after the final 4 weeks of flower. Every few days I've tended to break off some of the leaves at the bottom but with the light I'm providing even the leaves buried at the bottom are green. The plant is now about 22" in diameter and 17" tall.

NOTE: I did get the white powdery mites or whatever early on (I think I underwatered once and it got attacked). Dripped the tiniest bit of Dawn into water/ spray bottle and all issues disappeared.

Hi don lacoy...
Your question is one of three that gets peoples panties in a wad... Some take leaves off - some don't EVER take a leaf off unless it's dead and dried up...

I came up with this idea about 6 years ago and still do it whenever I want more light to get inside the plant... I NEVER cut a leaf off - What I do is cut the middle finger of the leaf half or all the way off. The plant does a lot of work getting the leaf on in the first place so I hate taking them off entirely. Taking off just those parts of the leaves makes a lot of difference without all the destruction...

Hey. Thanks. That's a great idea. But all my leaves are deep green. Any that did die at the bottom I pulled.

But right now the plant is so healthy, dense, with colas that have colas that have colas.

I'm just not sure if I should remove every 3rd branch. I'm thinking not because it is incredibly healthy.

How far from the top of that bucket is the soil? I may just not be able to see it, but if u didn't fill the potting mix fairly close to the top, what was your reasoning for it....I'm just curious.

don lacoy said:

Hey. Thanks. That's a great idea. But all my leaves are deep green. Any that did die at the bottom I pulled.

But right now the plant is so healthy, dense, with colas that have colas that have colas.

I'm just not sure if I should remove every 3rd branch. I'm thinking not because it is incredibly healthy.

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I'd like to see it with Some natural light. Judging from the leaves it looks sativa to me.

Also what size pot is that? Are you planning on training it because it may get pretty big.

Keep it on and get t8 lights for side lighting.

plants have a natural response to stretch when you put them in a 12/12 light environment, the growth it should be starting will stretch it out so its not so tightly packed. leave it alone for at least another week to see what it does.

Thanks for the comments. Lots of great comments. I'll try to answer all.

The soil is about 2-3" below rim. First real grow and I wanted to give it the extra height. Pot is pretty large. Probably at least 5 gallons. I did think about filling in the 3" for more roots now that I cleaned out lower dead leaves to let it root like tomatoes do. But it was so healthy I didn't dare.

I did train it but 3 nodes from the tops got real Woody. So I did muscle some monster cropping by almost breaking the branches. I settled for bending branches out leaving a hole in the center. This worked ok since as it grew it filled the center in as well as growing out. If it was more spindly I think I could've cropped better.

It is supposed to be a tall sativa. So you are probably right. But it grew slowly, very close nodes and very bushy. Maybe because of the extra light. I guess I'll know after harvest if it was a good plant.

I'll try to post a pic w natural light. I agree it's hard to judge w the purple.

I'll look into the T8 side lights. I may need to wait for the next grow since it just started in flower and is 22" wide in a 27" tent. I read that it might be good to put a reflector on the bottom, above the pot. I have found any so I might just put foil there. But truthfully it currently is green and bushy even at the bottom so it's likely getting good light.

Yes it just started stretching and a am feeling better about the yield. I still worry about the colas. The top ones are very dense and each cola has lots of shoots 1 and 2 nodes down. I kind of feel I should cut down the lower shoots but probably will let it ride. Might've vegged too long.

Thanks again for the great feedback. I guess the proof will be in the potudding.

don lacoy said:

Thanks for the comments. Lots of great comments. I'll try to answer all.

The soil is about 2-3" below rim. First real grow and I wanted to give it the extra height. Pot is pretty large. Probably at least 5 gallons. I did think about filling in the 3" for more roots now that I cleaned out lower dead leaves to let it root like tomatoes do. But it was so healthy I didn't dare.

I did train it but 3 nodes from the tops got real Woody. So I did muscle some monster cropping by almost breaking the branches. I settled for bending branches out leaving a hole in the center. This worked ok since as it grew it filled the center in as well as growing out. If it was more spindly I think I could've cropped better.

It is supposed to be a tall sativa. So you are probably right. But it grew slowly, very close nodes and very bushy. Maybe because of the extra light. I guess I'll know after harvest if it was a good plant.

I'll try to post a pic w natural light. I agree it's hard to judge w the purple.

I'll look into the T8 side lights. I may need to wait for the next grow since it just started in flower and is 22" wide in a 27" tent. I read that it might be good to put a reflector on the bottom, above the pot. I have found any so I might just put foil there. But truthfully it currently is green and bushy even at the bottom so it's likely getting good light.

Yes it just started stretching and a am feeling better about the yield. I still worry about the colas. The top ones are very dense and each cola has lots of shoots 1 and 2 nodes down. I kind of feel I should cut down the lower shoots but probably will let it ride. Might've vegged too long.

Thanks again for the great feedback. I guess the proof will be in the potudding.

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Plant looks pretty good, as far as I can tell....maybe use some pushpins and soft garden ties to do some light LST (be careful because it's not super hard to push it too far and cause the stalk to split). This will open the plant up for more light penetration without pruning of leaves, if U are against pruning.

Thanks again. I only fould fluorescent T8 bulb that didn't look like grow lights. Pls provide more info.

Yes I've thought of LST to spread it out. Problem now is I started flowering at 22" wide in a 27" tent. So I think if I let it go it's gonna hit the side. So I'll probably let this grow and next time be smarter and veg less and do more LST.

Thanks!!

don lacoy said:

potudding.

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i want potudding

t8 florescent bulbs ARE grow lights...kind of. there are ones that are specifically designed to emit more blue or red, but generally any 5k+ t8 can be used for veg and any 4.5k and lower can be used for flower. you can mix and match as well, but 5k+ is bluer, 4.5k and lower is redder

T8s will do ok, as long as U keep them VERY CLOSE....not necessarily the ideal lighting but can work if this is just a personal grow or whatever.

They have led ones in amazon t5 as well

TF Leary said:

T8s will do ok, as long as U keep them VERY CLOSE....not necessarily the ideal lighting but can work if this is just a personal grow or whatever.

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Side lighting

Thanks again for the great info. My last question is several have recommended very close side lighting. Currently with 3 - 300 W (middle light is redder for flower) LEDs I have a very deep bushy green plant just beginning flowering so I thought I'm getting plenty of light.

I'm guessing that as the canopy stretches tall it will become harder to get the depth of light needed for great buds.

Currently at 1 week flower stretch has started well but 22" wide plant in a 27" tent.

Can the T 8 bulbs touch the plant?
If not I'm not sure LSTing the plant tighter/ off the side light will make sense for this grow.

I may need to wait for next grow an have a smaller plant.

Any thoughts are welcome and thanks again for the great info.

don lacoy said:

Thanks again for the great info. My last question is several have recommended very close side lighting. Currently with 3 - 300 W (middle light is redder for flower) LEDs I have a very deep bushy green plant just beginning flowering so I thought I'm getting plenty of light.

I'm guessing that as the canopy stretches tall it will become harder to get the depth of light needed for great buds.

Currently at 1 week flower stretch has started well but 22" wide plant in a 27" tent.

Can the T 8 bulbs touch the plant?
If not I'm not sure LSTing the plant tighter/ off the side light will make sense for this grow.

I may need to wait for next grow an have a smaller plant.

Any thoughts are welcome and thanks again for the great info.

Click to expand...

I wouldn't let ANY bulb actually touch the plants but U can get them very close!!

Here are some pics. 9 weeks veg. 17" tall. 22" wide. Tent is 27" wide so I'll probably skip side lights this grow. I'll probably veg less next time and add side lights. Plant is deep green and healthy. 1 week flower. I have removed lower leaves when they touched the ground. And continued as they began to die. I'm thinking I will work deleafing after 4-6 weeks flower. Just 1 or 2 lower node leaves per week.

don lacoy said:

Thanks again for the great info. My last question is several have recommended very close side lighting. Currently with 3 - 300 W (middle light is redder for flower) LEDs I have a very deep bushy green plant just beginning flowering so I thought I'm getting plenty of light.

I'm guessing that as the canopy stretches tall it will become harder to get the depth of light needed for great buds.

Currently at 1 week flower stretch has started well but 22" wide plant in a 27" tent.

Can the T 8 bulbs touch the plant?
If not I'm not sure LSTing the plant tighter/ off the side light will make sense for this grow.

I may need to wait for next grow an have a smaller plant.

Any thoughts are welcome and thanks again for the great info.

Click to expand...

As the one above me said, they shouldn't touch the light, but if you have good airflow, you can keep them very close...however if you keep them 1 or 2 inches away, you will have to raise/move the lights often, until after flowering stretch stops

Also, many people will cut all foliation off the bottom xx inches(say 3 inches or whatever the situation calls for), as you will have the plant putting energy into maintaining flowers that will ultimately yield nothing but trim. IMO This needs to be done a certain amount of time before flowering.