Lollipopping: Cleaning Up the Lower Third
By The Budometry TeamPublished Updated
The bottom third of a dense plant receives very little light and produces small, airy popcorn buds that take just as long to trim as good flower.
Part of our pillar guide: Plant Training, Pests and Troubleshooting
What to remove
Strip the lowest third of growth: thin whippy branches, tiny bud sites, and the leaves down there. Aim for bare stem from the soil up to where real light penetration begins.
When
The standard window is just before the flip, or around day 18-21 of flower. Later than week three and you are removing tissue the plant already invested in.
What you get
Better airflow at the base which reduces mold risk, less trimming work, and energy redirected into the top two thirds of the plant.
Frequently asked questions
- Is lollipopping necessary?
- Not necessary, but almost always worth it in a tent with a single overhead light and no side lighting.
The full guide on this topic
Plant Training, Pests and Troubleshooting
Topping, LST and SCROG explained, plus how to identify and stop spider mites, fungus gnats and powdery mildew, and how to read leaf symptoms correctly.