Pruning

[7vicsmcc]

Should I trim off bottom smaller branches that are never going to do much or let them be cannibalised buy the rest of the plant?

[Flockshot]

Most will say, to take them off. It's really not a big deal one way or the other.

[Greengringo]

7vic are you growing in soil?.. reason I ask is because I normally let the plant cannibalize them selves on the last week's of flower to help with the flushing process.but flockshot has a good point it's not a show stopper ..

[7vicsmcc]

Soil, just clipped some and left others, see what happens!

[Toripony]

For what it's worth... just one real grow under my belt, but here's what I learned... big stems grow big buds. The flimsiest, tiniest, short, thread-like stems will only grow flimsy, tiny, fluffy "flowers" (wouldn't even call 'em buds). As those reveal themselves, I will take them off next time. However, just because the stems are at the bottom doesn't mean they're goners. I had several stems stretch 3 feet from the bottom of the main stalk up through my screen and grew nice tight ~1 gram buds/colas on top of them. It seems like the most popular answer I read is to wait until the first 1-3 weeks of flowering to sort them out and do a little clipping. Overall, I agree with the above responses... it didn't seem to make any difference for me. I left more "popcorn" than a lot of folks it seems, but still got lots of big fat colas in the end.

[Sheesh]

I'm with Toripony. We trim a bunch during the stretch but also let some low branches go to the top and they produce. We keep a bunch of popcorn and add it to all the sugar leaves to make kief. It's really personal preference, a bunch of ways work. One main reason to lollipop is for airflow and to prevent mold.

[SovietStoner]

Everyone has their own opinion on it. But it really depends on what you're going for: If you're going for the biggest, heaviest nugs, I would trim it off. But if you're really after the crystals for concentrates, then you may want to leave all your growth on, and use it all for trim when harvesting. People usually don't smoke the trim, but run it for concentrates. And if you let it all grow out, you will end up with A LOT of trim.

Personally, I would trim them off.
I'm an advocate for a lot of trimming. I Lolly-Pop my plants so much, other people think its a sacrilege. Really, my poor branches look like French poodles when I Lolly-Pop them.
By 3rd or 4th week of flowering, when they are done stretching, that's when I Lolly-Pop. I usually take off the bottom 50% of growth on each branch. Sometimes more, if the branch is big. But I'm sadistic like that.

[7vicsmcc]

Good point. Last year, 1rst grow I left all and used trim for amazing edibles, kinda like freebies.

Everyone has their own opinion on it. But it really depends on what you're going for: If you're going for the biggest, heaviest nugs, I would trim it off. But if you're really after the crystals for concentrates, then you may want to leave all your growth on, and use it all for trim when harvesting. People usually don't smoke the trim, but run it for concentrates. And if you let it all grow out, you will end up with A LOT of trim.

Personally, I would trim them off.
I'm an advocate for a lot of trimming. I Lolly-Pop my plants so much, other people think its a sacrilege. Really, my poor branches look like French poodles when I Lolly-Pop them.
By 3rd or 4th week of flowering, when they are done stretching, that's when I Lolly-Pop. I usually take off the bottom 50% of growth on each branch. Sometimes more, if the branch is big. But I'm sadistic like that.