T
Trifid
Guest
Thinning, Leafing and LST - Pineapple Express
The horticulturist should aim to produce plants with uniform growth, by moderation of internodal spacing and applying low stress/super-cropping and thinning techniques to achieve ample light penetration in both the superior and inferior canopies. Containers should ideally be rotated in the grow space periodically to ensure light exposure and stimulate phototropism. White quartz/marble chippings may be implemented to reflect light from the surface of the growing media serving to enhance light exposure and intensity (thanks Noods).
Hybrids that display changes in apical dominance have a tendency to distribute their floral productivity to the lateral colas as they compete against each other for secondary dominance. Competition leads to the shading of inferior budding sites via the continued development of accessory and fan leaves that serve to provide an energy surplus to the terminal bud sites. Leaves have a definite function in the growth and development of plants, but excessive foliage from lateral branching may lead to a lack of light penetration of the lower canopy with pheno-types that exhibit short-stocky profiles.
Pineapple Express (Day 62) - Prior to thinning and leafing
Since cannabinoid resin and floral productivity are influenced predominantly by light intensity (in particular UV-B rays), one may choose to trim selectively the leaflets responsible for shading and conserve the remaining leaf mass. This process called ‘leafing’ serves to reveal lower and inferior bud sites to enhance resin productivity and floral development in these plants and moderate localized humidity and air flow without severely compromising the energy surplus provided by the leaf mass. Other techniques for maximizing light exposure to hidden bud sites attached to the lateral branches include bending and super-cropping which may be performed at various stages during the vegetative and flowering periods. Care is taken to prevent tissue and stem damage when performing LST to minimize recover time.
Pineapple Express (Day 62) - Undergoing thinning/LST techniques to expose and 'spread'
lower canopy to reveal hidden bud sites
One of the biggest mis-conceptions in common cultivation practice arises from the grower’s assertion that large shade leaves subtract or draw energy from the flowering plant. It is often assumed that by removing these leaves, surplus energy will be available and large floral clusters will be formed, but in fact the opposite is true.
Never-the-less, excessive foliage development in short-stocky phenotypes and high producing sativa hybrids may also inhibit to some extent, the development and maturity of inferior and hidden bud sites - shading the inner portions of the plant, leading to immature, atrophied floral clusters in the lower canopies. These sites may be removed early in flowering to effect auxin translocation which serves to induce ‘stretching’ or lengthening of the internodal spaces. This has the effect of raising the height of the superior canopy enabling the terminal buds to enhance their light exposure as they compete for dominance.
Pineapple Express (Day 62) - Leaf pruning to expose the lateral colas;
only the leaflets directly above bud termini are removed
In the case where these sites have been conserved with the intention of them going into maturity at the right time, thinning and leafing techniques are more of less essential to ensure these sites mature in-concert with the superior canopy.
Pineapple Express (Day 69) - Stage 2 LST to spread lower canopy
Caution must be taken however to ensure no more then 20% of the foliage is removed at any one time since excessive leafing can lead to de-hydration of the plant tissues, may interfere with metabolic processes and in some cases may induce senesence. Rather, small quantities of obstructing foliage is removed periodically throughout to ensure uniform growth of the budding sites. Correct and selective thinning adds aesthetic qualities to the grow space and assists in improving humidity levels and air-flow leading to improved productivity.
Pineapple Express (Day 75) - Swelling of revealed lateral colas
Pineapple Express (Day 77)
The horticulturist should aim to produce plants with uniform growth, by moderation of internodal spacing and applying low stress/super-cropping and thinning techniques to achieve ample light penetration in both the superior and inferior canopies. Containers should ideally be rotated in the grow space periodically to ensure light exposure and stimulate phototropism. White quartz/marble chippings may be implemented to reflect light from the surface of the growing media serving to enhance light exposure and intensity (thanks Noods).
Hybrids that display changes in apical dominance have a tendency to distribute their floral productivity to the lateral colas as they compete against each other for secondary dominance. Competition leads to the shading of inferior budding sites via the continued development of accessory and fan leaves that serve to provide an energy surplus to the terminal bud sites. Leaves have a definite function in the growth and development of plants, but excessive foliage from lateral branching may lead to a lack of light penetration of the lower canopy with pheno-types that exhibit short-stocky profiles.
Pineapple Express (Day 62) - Prior to thinning and leafing
Since cannabinoid resin and floral productivity are influenced predominantly by light intensity (in particular UV-B rays), one may choose to trim selectively the leaflets responsible for shading and conserve the remaining leaf mass. This process called ‘leafing’ serves to reveal lower and inferior bud sites to enhance resin productivity and floral development in these plants and moderate localized humidity and air flow without severely compromising the energy surplus provided by the leaf mass. Other techniques for maximizing light exposure to hidden bud sites attached to the lateral branches include bending and super-cropping which may be performed at various stages during the vegetative and flowering periods. Care is taken to prevent tissue and stem damage when performing LST to minimize recover time.
Pineapple Express (Day 62) - Undergoing thinning/LST techniques to expose and 'spread'
lower canopy to reveal hidden bud sites
One of the biggest mis-conceptions in common cultivation practice arises from the grower’s assertion that large shade leaves subtract or draw energy from the flowering plant. It is often assumed that by removing these leaves, surplus energy will be available and large floral clusters will be formed, but in fact the opposite is true.
Never-the-less, excessive foliage development in short-stocky phenotypes and high producing sativa hybrids may also inhibit to some extent, the development and maturity of inferior and hidden bud sites - shading the inner portions of the plant, leading to immature, atrophied floral clusters in the lower canopies. These sites may be removed early in flowering to effect auxin translocation which serves to induce ‘stretching’ or lengthening of the internodal spaces. This has the effect of raising the height of the superior canopy enabling the terminal buds to enhance their light exposure as they compete for dominance.
Pineapple Express (Day 62) - Leaf pruning to expose the lateral colas;
only the leaflets directly above bud termini are removed
In the case where these sites have been conserved with the intention of them going into maturity at the right time, thinning and leafing techniques are more of less essential to ensure these sites mature in-concert with the superior canopy.
Pineapple Express (Day 69) - Stage 2 LST to spread lower canopy
Caution must be taken however to ensure no more then 20% of the foliage is removed at any one time since excessive leafing can lead to de-hydration of the plant tissues, may interfere with metabolic processes and in some cases may induce senesence. Rather, small quantities of obstructing foliage is removed periodically throughout to ensure uniform growth of the budding sites. Correct and selective thinning adds aesthetic qualities to the grow space and assists in improving humidity levels and air-flow leading to improved productivity.
Pineapple Express (Day 75) - Swelling of revealed lateral colas
Pineapple Express (Day 77)
Last edited by a moderator:
and has been passed on for decades from generation to generation - My solution to this was to never get caught in the first place. This is what i've pass on to my children - Never do anything by halves if you want to get away with it. Be outrageous. Go the whole hog. Make sure everything you do is so completely crazy it's unbelievable 
