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It’s finally time to harvest your cannabis plants! But before you do, you need to know when to lollipop them. Read on to find out more.
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The Case for Lollipopping Early
There are a lot of schools of thought when it comes to cannabis cultivation, and one of the most controversial is the idea of lollipopping. For those unfamiliar, lollipopping is the act of removing all of the smaller, lower leaves from the plant in order to focus the plant’s energy on the larger, more THC-potent buds. So, when is the best time to lollipop your plants?
Increased Airflow
Lollipopping is the practice of pruning cannabis plants so that the lower leaves are removed, which allows for better airflow. This is typically done around the time of flowering, when the plants are beginning to produce buds.
The main reason for lollipopping is to increase airflow to the lower parts of the plant. By removing leaves, you allow air to circulate more freely, which helps to prevent mold and mildew from forming on the buds. In addition, it can also help to increase yields, as more light will be able to reach the lower parts of the plant.
Lollipopping is not without its risks, however. If done too early, it can slow down the plant’s growth, as there will be less leaves available for photosynthesis. In addition, if not done carefully, it can damage the buds or even the stems of the plant. Therefore, it is important to only remove leaves that are yellow or dead, and to avoid removing too many at once.
Overall, lollipopping can be a great way to improve airflow and increase yields. However, it is important to only remove leaves that are yellow or dead, and to avoid removing too many at once.
More Light Penetration
Lollipopping is the process of removing leaves below the canopy of your cannabis plant. This exposes the lower buds to more light, which can increase yields.
Many growers lollipop their plants early in the flowering stage, while the plants are still relatively small. This allows more light to penetrate the canopy, which can result in bigger, healthier buds.
If you wait until later in the flowering stage to lollipop your plants, you may not see as significant of an increase in yields. However, lollipopping late can still help your buds develop more evenly and prevent them from getting too airy or light.
If you’re not sure when to lollipop your plants, err on the side of caution and do it earlier rather than later. You can always remove more leaves later if needed, but you can’t put them back once they’re gone!
Better Nutrient Uptake
Lollipopping your cannabis plants means removing all the lower leaves that are fan leaves (leaves that do not have buds). Some growers will also remove any small buds that are on these fan leaves. The point of lollipopping is two-fold. The first reason is simply aesthetics. By clearing away the fan leaves, you allow more light to reach the flowers, which gives the plant a better chance to produce large, dense buds. The second reason is more practical; by clearing away the fan leaves, you allow more air to circulate around the plant, which reduces the risk of mold and mildew.
Lollipopping also has the added benefit of allowing your plants to better uptake nutrients. When a cannabis plant is covered in fan leaves, it can be difficult for the roots to get the access they need to important nutrients and water. By lollipopping your plants, you help them become healthier and more robust.
The Case for Lollipopping Late
One of the most common questions I get from new growers is when the best time to lollipop their cannabis plants is. There seems to be a lot of debate on this topic, with some people saying to do it early and others saying to do it late. I’m going to make the case for lollipopping late.
Bigger Yields
Cannabis plants are naturally shaped like a Christmas tree. The main stem grows tall and straight with side branches (or “suckers”) shooting off at regular intervals. While this shape is great for getting lots of light to all the leaves, it’s not so great for maximizing yields.
By “lollipopping” your plants, you can encourage them to grow more like a bush than a tree. Lollipopping involves removing the bottom leaves and branches so that the plant can direct more of its energy to the uppermost leaves and buds. This results in bigger, denser buds and increased yields.
More Trichomes
developed by growers in the late 1990s, “lollipopping” is the process of pruning away all of the lower, smaller leaves and branches of a cannabis plant. By removing these fan leaves and sugar leaves (leaves with fewer trichomes), growers can direct more of the plant’s energy into producing larger, more resinous buds on the main stem and upper branches.
While lollipopping can be done at any time during the vegetative stage, most growers believe that it’s best to do it when plants are around 50% of their final height. This allows the plant to recover from the pruning and continue to stretch for another week or two, resulting in taller plants with bigger buds.
One of the main reasons to lollipop your plants is to increase trichome production. Trichomes are tiny resin glands that produce cannabinoids like THC, CBD, CBG, and terpenes. The more trichomes a plant has, the higher its potency will be. By pruning away fan leaves and sugar leaves, growers can force their plants to produce more trichomes in order to compensate for the lost surface area.
While lollipopping does have its benefits, it’s important to remember that it’s not a magic bullet. Pruning your plants will undoubtedly stress them out, which can lead to stunted growth or even death if not done properly. Therefore, it’s important to have a firm understanding of basic plant physiology before you start pruning away leaves willy-nilly.
Better Flavor
One of the main reasons growers choose to lollipop their plants is for better flavor. Letting your plants grow unchecked can lead to trying, harsh-tasting buds. On the other hand, lollipopping allows you to manicure your plants and get rid of any unwanted leaves, resulting in a much tastier final product.
Another benefit of lollipopping is that it can increase your yield. By removing excess leaves, you’re giving your buds more room to grow, which can lead to bigger, healthier flowers come harvest time.
Finally, lollipopping can also help improve airflow around your plants. By removing lower leaves, you’re allowing air to circulate more freely, which can help prevent mold and mildew from taking hold.
How to Lollipop Your Plants
Lollipopping your cannabis plants is a great way to increase yield and promote better airflow. It is a simple grooming technique that involves removing the lower leaves and branches of the plant. This allows the plant to put more energy into the upper leaves and buds, which results in larger, more potent buds.
Choose Your Time
You can lollipop your plants at any time, but most growers prefer to do it when their plants are young. This provides the biggest benefit, as your plants will have more time to recover and grow back after the lollipopping process. If you wait until your plants are too old, you may not see as much of a difference.
Prepare Your Plants
Prepping your plants for a lollipop is just like prepping them for any other kind of trim. You want to make sure they’re well hydrated and fed before you start. The ideal time to lollipop is just before you switch your plants from vegetative to flowering growth. This gives them plenty of time to recover from the stress of the trim and produce new growth.
Perform the Lollipopping
Lollipopping marijuana is the process of removing all of the lower, fan leaves from your plants in order to concentrate the plant’s energy into the upper, more developing leaves and buds. When properly performed, lollipopping will result in larger, healthier buds and a better overall yield come harvest time. Lollipopping also has the added benefit of making your plants more resilient to mold and pests, as there are fewer places for these problems to take hold.
