How to Lollipop Cannabis Plants
Discover how to increase your harvest with our lollipopping technique significantly. Learn how to lollipop the right way with the help of this in-depth guide.
In cannabis plants — the leaves are the engine that power the entire system.
Therefore, why not take advantage of cannabis leaves and focus their energy to perform the ultimate task — pump out massive resin-covered buds. If you want your cannabis plants to soak up every bit of light, it’s time to consider a pruning method that professional cannabis cultivators swear by.
Meet the lollipop method — a tried-and-true marijuana training technique that directs energy towards bud development.
Ready to learn how to lollipop weed plants in a few easy steps? Read this guide from top to bottom and learn how lollipopping marijuana plants is an essential technique to increasing your yield.
What is The Lollipopping Method and Why You Should Use It
Sure, the word “lollipop” sounds cute and all — but it’s a bulletproof method when it comes to amping up your yield.
Lollipopping weed is an invasive training technique that calls for the removal of the lowest growth. In other words, lollipopping removes branches and leaves that are not exposed to direct light.
By removing the unnecessary lower growth, the remaining leaves focus their efforts towards bud production.
If you don’t lollipop your cannabis plants, the lower growth consumes energy but doesn’t give back to the system because it’s not receiving enough light. In other words, the lowest growth becomes a leech to the overall system because it doesn’t give but instead takes.
As you can see, the efficiency of resources within the cannabis plant increases by implementing the lollipopping method. Here’s a list of benefits that come along with lollipopping marijuana plants:
- Increased yield
- Healthier and optimized plants
- Reduced “popcorn” buds
- More comfortable to inspect for pests and diseases
- Increased accessibility for irrigation
- Increased airflow
As you can see, lollipopping cannabis plants is an excellent method to streamline and accelerate plant and bud development.
When to Lollipop Your Cannabis Plants
Next, let’s discuss when you need to lollipop cannabis plants.
Remember, there’s always a best time to implement cannabis training techniques, and in lollipopping’s case — it’s at the onset of the flowering stage.
Unlike other cannabis training techniques, it’s best to lollipop weed plants at the beginning of the flowering cycle because you want to focus the plant’s energy on the uppermost growth.
Remember, the flowers of the cannabis plants are lragest at the top.
Therefore, the first two weeks, also known as the pre-flowering stage, is the window of opportunity to lollipop the lowest growth.
When your cannabis plants are pre-flowering is the best opportunity to start lollipopping.
Is Lollipopping The Same as Defoliation?
No!
Lollipopping is a form of pruning, but it is not the same as defoliation. To clear up any confusion, allow us to describe the difference between lollipopping and defoliation.
Defoliation is the removal of individual leaves. On the other hand, lollipopping is the removal of entire branches and leaves.
Is Lollipopping Compatible With Other Cannabis Training Methods?
Yes!
Lollipopping works incredibly well when paired with an additional technique, such as:
- Topping or FIM
- LST
- Super Cropping
- ScrOG
- SOG
If you want to push your cannabis plants to the limit, implement one of the methods mentioned above for the best results. Luckily for you, we have a guide on each topic to ensure you do everything right on your first try.
Lollipopping is an important part of scrOG and can be combined with other methods.
How to Lollipop Marijuana Plants in Three Easy Steps
Alright, ready to lollipop your cannabis crop?All you’ll need are:
- Weed plant(s)
- Trimming scissors
As you can see, the requirements to lollipop marijuana plants are the bare minimum. In other words — anyone can do it!
Step One: When To Start Lollipopping
The first step is to ensure that your cannabis plants are entering the flowering stage.
If you’re growing weed indoors, prepare your scissors once you enable the 12/12 light schedule. When growing cannabis outdoors, wait until mid-July, when cannabis plants typically begin to flower.
Step Two: Determining What Growth You’ll Remove
Next, determine how many branches and leaves you intend to cut.
We recommend that you remove the lower quarter of growth. However, the amount that you remove is ultimately up to you.
Remember, cannabis leaves are the engine of the plant. Therefore, if you remove too much, your plant may become stunted. You must leave an ample number of leaves and branches to ensure rapid growth through the flowering stage.
If you’re growing cannabis in a ScrOG setup, anything below the net is game for removal. When in doubt, check how much light the bottom leaves receive. If the lower leaves are shaded continuously, you may remove them.
Step Three: Make The Cuts
The final step is to make the cuts throughout the lowest sections of your marijuana plants.
Take your trimming scissors and remove the branch where it makes contact with the primary stem. Once cut, the branch, along with the leaves, will fall.
Make sure to discard the branches and foliage to ensure pests and diseases don’t propagate in the fallen detritus.
When you start lollipopping, be sure to cut the branch where it meets the primary stem.
An Optimized Garden is a High-Yielding Garden
After a few minutes of strategic pruning, your weed garden is on the path of enlightenment.
From increased airflow to optimized energy use, cannabis plants greatly benefit from the lollipop technique. Whether you grow feminized or autoflowering seeds, your cannabis crop can harness the power that lollipopping has to offer.
All that’s left to do after lollipopping your cannabis plants is to kick back and watch the buds stack.
Learn About More Cannabis Training Methods:
Great article for learning the techniques for maximizing bud production. Marc Correra