Pruning has been a subject of debate between cannabis growers for a while now. On one side, you have people who believe that a controlled pruning can actually increase the yields, while on the other, those who believe that the plant grows best when left alone in all its glory. Still, even though it’s debatable, most growers decide to put in the effort and take care of their plants with a little trimming.
To get the best results, the pruning needs to be performed correctly, which in the beginning can be pretty difficult. This is true whether you are working on your first grow, or your a pro who just got their ACMPR Canada license. To do it the right way, you need to know when you can prune, what you need to look for when doing so, and how you do it. For a some quick tips on what to do, check below!
So without any further ado, let’s take a dive in.
When can you start pruning the marijuana plants?
Most growers believe that the best time to start pruning is when your cannabis plant starts to take a “bushy” shape. Generally, this will happen around two weeks after the first leaf sprouts. If you want to obtain better results, you can try “training” your plant.
What do we mean by “training”? When cutting the leaves that are yellow or dead, cut off a quarter of the new shoots every week. Be careful not to touch the leaves that are already fully grown, as they are the ones who receive the most light, a pretty key part of any plant growing!
Be careful not to cut too much off! The plants will be forced to go back to the vegetative state if you do, which will most definitely affect the yields and quality of the flower in the end.
What parts of cannabis do you need to prune?
One of the hardest things when it comes to pruning is deciding which parts of the plant you need to cut. When planting, you want to do two things – maximize the airflow around the plant as well as the area where leaves catch the light. That way, the focus will be on the most functional parts of your plant.
To do that, you need to cut the branches on the lower part of the plant, as they are the ones that receive the least amount of light. The leaves should be concentrated on the top. Also, since those that are dying or are already dead can’t utilize the light, you should cut them as well.
How do you prune a cannabis plant?
Since you already know which parts of the plant you need to trim, let’s look closely at how you should do it. Just like with most things, it might take a while before you master it. Totally understandable that if you’re doing something for the first time, it’s very easy to make a mistake, you should remember to practice. Once you feel more comfortable with pruning, this will all be second nature to you. Simply, plant pruning can be divided into five steps:
– prepare all the necessary tools – before you start doing anything with the plant, you need to be prepared. Get a pair of clippers or garden scissors, and make sure that they are sharp. You should always keep your tools clean. It’s a good idea to have scissors in different sizes as it can make cutting the bigger branches easier.
– remove the big branches – since you are already prepared, you can start pruning. The first thing you want to do is cutting the big branches – this will make working on the smaller details easier.
– clear out the middle – since the branches growing in the middle are not as strong as the that grow on top, you need to cut them as well.
– work on the leaves and bud sites – once you have the big branches cut off, you can start working on the leaves and bud sites. When it comes to the leaves, remember to start with the ones that are either dead or are dying (the yellow ones). Also, remember to cut off the bud sites that are at the bottom of the canopy branches or the base of the plant – because of their location, they wont be able to receive enough sunlight anyway.
– give your plant time to recover – just like people, your plants will need some time to recover. So give them a few days, take care of them as you usually would, and you’re bound to see the effects of pruning within a week or so.
Final Thoughts
Many people don’t want to prune their cannabis because they believe that it lowers their chances of getting large yields. However, nothing could be further from the truth – pruning actually helps the plants to grow more.
Just like with everything, become a master may take a while. With that said, its absolutely worth it. See for yourself and give it a shot. Good Luck!
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