buzzy203

ive got a slight problem with my plant, though its not really a bad one
its just getting too godamn bushy. my grow space is 6' high, 3' wide and 2' deep. shes got about 2 foot left to go heightwise, but shes popping out of the cupboard sideways.

there is 12 main branches which are roughly even sized, which is very nice, but each of these branches has several long, scrawny branches coming out the base, so theres like 36 colas all popping out everywhere and competeing for space.... ive cut everything off the bottom 4" but still the plant has a very 'overcrowded' look to it, ive just started the flower cycle so things are only going to get denser and im a bit worried...

is it ok to prune the plant back substantially? i want to chop off alot of these secondary branches coming off the main stalks so the 'big 12' as i call them have the space and light to fill out properly. these secondary ones are tall, thin ones that have sprung up and i cant see them holding any decent amount of buds...

i know its bad to chop off fan leaves, but what if you take off whole branches at the base? im guessing it will be ok, as your removng growth tips, which use energy, and fan leaves which create energy. but id like to be sure before i go hacking my baby to bits.

thanks in advance for your help

afterburner

Sup buzzy,

I've been whacking off the lower branches during early flowering that dont get very much light anyway, and are just in my way... A rule of thumb that I've been going by is; If the tip of the branch doesnt reach halfway up the plant, off with it!

This makes the plant concentrate its energies on the upper colas that are recieving the most light, and have the most bud potential. Now honestly, If I had the space, I wouldnt clip any branches, but I think a little pruning helps keep things under control in confined situations. Watchout, this will make them grow taller!

Goodluck!
Afterburner

buzzy203

these branches go all the way up, but they are like 2mm thick, and theres a huge gap between the nodes, so i dont think ill lose any buds...

interesting that the plant grows taller, with that in mind i might tie her down after i prune to stop this, or the stretch might become too much for my poor cupboard to handel...

thanks for the advice