Pruning Cannabis: Why, When, and How to Prune

Pruning cannabis the right way can boost your yield, improve your plant health, and ensure that light and air get where they need to be.

You should start pruning during the vegetative stage and continue with light pruning into the early flowering stage to avoid stressing your plants too much. 

To get started, you should make clean cuts with sterilized tools, focusing on removing dead leaves, lower branches, and overcrowded areas to ensure your plants thrive and produce larger, healthier buds.

This guide is for you if you’re just getting started or looking to improve your cannabis pruning game. We’ll walk you through why you should prune, when to get those scissors out, and exactly how to do it. 

Plus, we’ll throw in some pro tips and real-life examples from our own growing experiences.

Plus, we’ll throw in some pro tips and real-life examples from our own growing experiences.

TLDR: Key Takeaways from This Article

• Pruning your cannabis can enhance light and air penetration and promote healthier and more productive plants.
• Knowing when to prune can make all the difference, with key times being the vegetative and early flowering stages.
• There are various pruning techniques like topping, fimming, and lollipopping that cater to different goals.
• Proper tools and safety measures ensure a clean and efficient pruning process.
• Follow our detailed steps to prune your plants successfully and improve your harvest.

What to Know About Pruning

Pruning is similar to giving your cannabis plants a good haircut. It is strategically cutting away certain parts to boost overall health and productivity. We’ve found that the right pruning can turn a good harvest into a great one. 

But it’s not that easy. You need to know what to cut, when to cut, and how to do it without stressing your plants too much.

Earlier on in our journey, there were times when we hesitated to prune, fearing it would harm our plants. 

And then we would spend hours just observing our plants, noting where new growth appeared and how light affected different areas. Such close observation helped us understand exactly where to prune for maximum benefit. 

And after trying it out and seeing the benefits—healthier plants, bigger buds, and fewer issues with mold—we recommend pruning. It felt like we unlocked a secret to better growing.

Getting to Know Cannabis Plant Structure

It’s tough to get pruning right if you don’t understand the cannabis plant’s anatomy. Regardless of what strains you’re growing, all cannabis plants have nodes (where the leaves and branches meet the stem) and internodes (the spaces between nodes). 

This information is what you need to decide where to make your cuts. 

1. Nodes

Are the points on a stem where branches, leaves, or flowers grow? Each node typically has a pair of leaves or a single leaf growing from it. Internodes are the stem sections between nodes.

For example, when topping, you cut just above a node to encourage the plant to grow two new branches from that node. This technique helps create a bushier plant with more bud sites.

2. Fan leaves 

The large leaves that grow along the length of the plant. They play a crucial role in photosynthesis, converting light into energy. Sugar leaves are smaller leaves that grow within the buds and are often covered in trichomes.

Pruning fan leaves can improve light penetration and airflow. During the defoliation process, removing some of the fan leaves allows more light to reach the lower parts of the plant, which can enhance overall growth and bud development. 

However, it’s important not to overdo it, as these leaves are essential for the plant’s energy production.

3. Colas

These are the clusters of buds that grow tightly together. The main cola, also known as the apical bud, is typically found at the top of the plant. Pruning can help develop multiple colas, leading to increased yields.

When you top a cannabis plant, you encourage the growth of multiple colas by removing the main apical bud. This redirects the plant’s energy into producing several smaller colas instead of one main one, potentially increasing your overall yield.

Why Should You Prune Cannabis Plants?

Pruning offers several perks:

• Improved Airflow: Thinning out the foliage lets air move freely, reducing the risk of mold and mildew. We’ve noticed a significant drop in mold issues once we started pruning correctly.
• Better Light Penetration: By removing unnecessary leaves and branches, more light reaches the lower parts of the plant. This ensures even growth and bigger buds.
• Enhanced Growth: Pruning helps the plant focus its energy on producing bigger, healthier flowers rather than maintaining excess foliage.
• Pruning is a precaution that helps avoid transplant shock, which is stress that recently transplanted plants go through.

Common Goals for Pruning

When we prune, we usually have one or more of these goals in mind:

• Maximizing Yield: By focusing the plant’s energy on fewer, bigger buds, we’ve seen up to a 20% increase in yield.
• Controlling Plant Size: This is especially important for indoor grows. Pruning helps manage the plant’s height and width, making it easier to handle in a confined space.
• Improving Plant Health: Regularly removing dead or diseased parts of the plant keeps it healthy and thriving.

When to Begin Pruning Cannabis

Timing is everything. We usually start pruning when the plant has at least 3–5 nodes. Starting early helps shape the plant while it’s still flexible and promotes vigorous growth. Waiting too long can make the plant too woody and harder to manage.

Pruning During Different Growth Stages

The pruning technique will vary depending on the stage of plant growth: vegetative or flowering stage.

Pruning During Vegetative Stage

During the vegetative stage, we focus on shaping the plant. This is when we do most of our heavy pruning, including topping and fimming. Removing the lower branches that won’t get much light anyway helps the plant concentrate its energy on the top.

Pruning During the Flowering Stage

Once the plant starts flowering, we dial back on pruning. Too much cutting at this stage can stress the plant and reduce yields. We usually only remove large fan leaves that block light from reaching the buds.

How to Prune Cannabis

Pruning is simple, but it’s not easy. Here’s our breakdown of the activities you should follow.

Tools You’ll Need

You don’t need fancy equipment, but the right tools can make a big difference.

• Sharp pruners or scissors: We prefer bypass pruners for clean cuts.
• Gloves: Keep your hands clean and prevent contamination.
• Disinfectant: Use it to clean your tools before and after pruning to prevent the spread of disease.

We’ve tried everything from cheap scissors to high-end pruners, and let us tell you, quality matters. Sharp, clean tools ensure clean cuts, which help the plant heal faster and reduce the risk of infection.

Safety Precautions

• Stay Hygienic: Always sterilize your tools to avoid spreading disease.
• Be Gentle: Cannabis plants can be delicate, so handle them with care to avoid unnecessary damage.

Step-by-Step Pruning Guide

Start by identifying areas that need pruning:

• Dead or yellowing leaves: remove these to prevent disease.
• Lower branches: If they’re not getting enough light, they’re wasting the plant’s energy.
• Overcrowded areas: thin out these sections to improve airflow and light penetration.

Making the Cuts

• Use sharp tools: This ensures a clean cut and reduces the risk of damaging the plant.
• Angle Your Cuts: Make cuts at a 45-degree angle to promote faster healing.
• Avoid Over-Pruning: Only remove what’s necessary to keep the plant healthy and productive.

Pruning can feel a bit like playing a game of Operation. One wrong move, and you might set back your plant’s growth. But with a little practice, it becomes second nature. We often joke that our plants must think we’re barbers, giving them stylish haircuts every few weeks.

Types of cannabis pruning techniques

Here are the top techniques we use to get the best results out of our plants.

Topping

Topping involves cutting off the top of the main stem to encourage the plant to grow two new stems. This technique helps create a bushier plant with more bud sites. The first time we topped a plant, we were amazed at how quickly it adapted, growing two sturdy branches from the cut point.

Fimming

Fimming is a bit like topping, but you only cut about 75% of the new growth. This results in multiple new growth tips, increasing the plant’s overall yield. We’ve found that fimming can produce up to four new colas, significantly boosting potential yields. It’s a bit trickier than topping, but the results can be worth it.

Lollipopping

We’ve found that lollipopping can really improve the quality of the top buds. The plant’s energy is directed toward the parts that have the best chance of producing large, potent flowers.

Lollipopping is the process of removing the lower branches and leaves that don’t receive much light. This technique helps the plant focus its energy on the upper buds, which will get more light.

Mainlining

We’ve used mainlining to create evenly spaced colas that get uniform light exposure, leading to a more consistent and high-quality yield. 

Mainlining involves training the plant to grow in a specific shape, usually with a symmetrical structure. This technique maximizes light exposure and promotes even growth. It’s a bit more labor-intensive but can produce impressive results.

Defoliation

Defoliation is the removal of some of the fan leaves to improve light penetration and airflow. It’s usually done during the vegetative stage and early flowering stage. We use defoliation sparingly to avoid stressing the plants too much. 

The key is to remove just enough to let light penetrate deeper into the canopy without exposing the plant to excessive stress.

Conclusion

Pruning cannabis is a vital technique that can significantly impact your plant’s health and yield. By understanding the best times to prune and the various techniques available, you can ensure your plants grow strong and produce high-quality buds.

Apart from pruning, buying high-quality feminised seeds or our collection of autoflowering seeds can greatly increase the chances of bigger buds.

Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty and practice these pruning techniques. The more you experiment and learn, the better you’ll become at managing your cannabis plants.

FAQ Section

Have more questions? Check our FAQ to see if we’ve answered all of them.

How often should I prune my cannabis plants?

The frequency of pruning depends on the growth stage of your plant and its overall health. 

During the vegetative stage, you can prune every couple of weeks to shape the plant and remove any unnecessary growth. In the flowering stage, it’s best to limit pruning to avoid stressing the plant.

What is the difference between topping and fimming?

Topping involves cutting off the main stem at a node to encourage the plant to grow two new stems, creating a bushier plant. 

Fimming, on the other hand, involves cutting about 75% of the new growth, which can result in multiple new growth tips. Both techniques aim to increase the number of bud sites, but fimming can produce more than two new stems.

Is it necessary to sterilize pruning tools?

Absolutely. Sterilizing your pruning tools before and after use helps prevent the spread of diseases and pests. Clean tools ensure that cuts heal faster and reduce the risk of infection.

What should I do if I accidentally over prune my cannabis plant?

If you over prune, give your plant some time to recover. Ensure it gets adequate light, water, and nutrients. 

 Avoid any further pruning and monitor for signs of stress. The plant will usually bounce back with proper care, although growth might be slower for a while.

Are there any pruning techniques that are better for beginners?

Yes, we’ve found that topping and lollipopping are great techniques for beginners. 

Topping is straightforward and helps create a bushier plant, while lollipopping simplifies the plant structure by focusing energy on the upper buds. Both techniques are relatively easy to learn and implement.

Can pruning affect the potency of my cannabis?

Indirectly, yes. Proper pruning can lead to healthier plants and bigger buds, which can result in higher potency. By ensuring that the plant focuses its energy on fewer, more robust flowers, the overall quality of your harvest can improve.

Should I prune outdoor cannabis plants differently than indoor ones?

Well, the basics of pruning apply to both indoor and outdoor cannabis plants. However, outdoor plants might need more frequent pruning due to their larger size and more vigorous growth.

To add to that, outdoor plants might require more attention to airflow and light penetration due to varying environmental conditions.

What is the best time of day to prune cannabis plants?

The best time to prune is during the early morning or late afternoon when the plant is not under direct sunlight. This reduces the risk of shock and allows the plant to recover during the cooler parts of the day.