To “lollipop” a growing cannabis plant means to remove most growth from the bottom of the plant that isn’t getting light. With lollipopping, the cannabis grower leaves the top of the plant untouched, so it’s full on top and bare on bottom, like a lollipop.
The lollipopping technique leaves the cannabis plant resembling a lollipop—full on top, bare on the bottom.
Why lollipop your marijuana plant? It forces the plant to put more energy into the top buds, resulting in bigger, longer, and more dense top buds. As a bonus, lollipopping stops a cannabis plant from wasting energy on buds lower on the plant (which typically don’t get big and are less potent than the top buds on average). This marijuana lollipopping tutorial will teach you how to increase your cannabis yields and bud quality using the lollipop technique.
“Lollipopping” cannabis means removing bottom growth so that the marijuana plant puts more energy into the bud sites at the top.
With these lollipopped cannabis plants, the bottom growth has been removed to allow the main buds to get all the light and energy.
Lollipopped marijuana plants tend to put more “effort” into the top buds, which is what you want (top buds are typically the biggest and most potent buds on a cannabis plant).
Lollipopping is a good choice when your cannabis plant is so tall that the light from your grow light doesn’t reach the bottom leaves at all. For example, if you have a small grow light with a tall plant, it’s likely the bottom leaves are in total darkness. These leaves do nothing for your plant as far as photosynthesis or bud building, and if they’re removed, your plant will put more energy into other more productive parts of the plant.
Lollipopping is a popular technique used by indoor cannabis growers to increase yield and improve bud size. But is it also effective for outdoor grows? In this article, we’ll examine the pros and cons of lollipopping outdoor marijuana plants.
What is Lollipopping?
Lollipopping refers to the practice of removing all the small, lower branches and bud sites from the bottom portion of the marijuana plant. This forces the plant to concentrate its energy on the top colas, resulting in bigger buds up top.
It’s called “lollipopping” because after removing the lower growth, the plant resembles a lollipop – bare on the bottom and bushy on top.
Indoor growers use lollipopping when the lower portions of the plant don’t receive enough light from overhead grow lights. Since the lower bud sites won’t fully develop due to lack of light, it makes sense to remove them so the plant wastes less energy on pointless growth.
A lollipopped marijuana plant (image from GrowWeedEasy.com)
Should You Lollipop Outdoor Plants?
Outdoor plants receive sunlight from all angles so lack of light isn’t an issue. This means lollipopping may not provide the same benefits as it does for indoor grows. However, some outdoor growers still use the technique. Here are some potential pros and cons to consider
Pros of Lollipopping Outdoor Plants
-
Increased air circulation and decreased humidity Removing lower growth opens up the plant for better air flow This can reduce problems with mold, mildew and bud rot
-
More even growth: The plant focuses energy on upper bud sites, potentially evening out growth. Without lollipopping, upper buds tend to be larger.
-
Quicker harvest time: With fewer bud sites to develop, the remaining buds may mature faster.
-
Easier maintenance: Less foliage can make tasks like pruning, training and pest management simpler.
-
Cleaner look Some growers prefer the aesthetics of a lollipopped plant
Cons of Lollipopping Outdoor Plants
-
Lost potential yield: Removing lower bud sites means cutting off potential yield. Outdoors, even lower buds receive ample light.
-
Increased stem weakness: Leaf stripping can weaken branches and stems, making the plant more susceptible to damage from weather.
-
More stress: Excessive defoliation stresses plants more than light pruning. Outdoors, avoid additional stressors when possible.
-
Uneven bud density: With indoor lighting, lollipopping often increases density in the top buds. Outdoors, upper and lower bud density may remain similar pre- and post-lollipop.
Tips for Lollipopping Outdoors
If trying lollipopping with your outdoor marijuana plants, keep these tips in mind:
-
Start small: Don’t go overboard removing lower growth and foliage your first try. Take it slow to see how the plants respond.
-
Wait until flowering: Only remove lower growth once plants begin flowering. Pruning in veg can stunt plants.
-
Leave some leaves: Retain some lower leaves for photosynthesis. Remove only insignificant bud sites and excessive leafage.
-
Avoid excessive stress: Outdoor plants deal with pests, weather, mold and more. Don’t add excessive stress with harsh lollipopping.
-
Use proper technique: When pruning, make clean cuts at nodes rather than ripping or tearing branches and leaves.
-
Provide support: Staking or trellising branches prevents damage if stems weaken from stripping.
-
Consider your climate: In rainy or humid environments, improved airflow from lollipopping may help reduce mold risks.
-
Match genetics: The lollipop effect works best on naturally Christmas tree-shaped marijuana strains.
While lollipopping offers some potential benefits for outdoor cannabis cultivation, it also comes with notable drawbacks. The technique is likely most useful for growers dealing with high humidity, poor air circulation, or very dense foliage. For most outdoor growers, maintaining lower vegetation and simply pruning strategically seems the better option.
Remember, outdoor marijuana plants receive light from all angles. Don’t go overboard stripping away lower foliage and bud sites as you would for an indoor grow reliant on overhead lighting. As with any high-stress training method, start minimally your first season experimenting with lollipopping outdoor plants. See how your strains respond and adjust your techniques accordingly in future grows.
How to Lollipop Cannabis for the Higher Yields
This isn’t the only way to lollipop cannabis plants, but this is the method I use and it works well for me.
Step 1: Wait until just before the plants start flowering (making buds)
I have had the best results lollipopping cannabis right before the switch to the flowering stage. Growers don’t typically need to lollipop in the vegetative stage, unless you haven’t trained your plant and it’s gotten very tall or out of control, leaving some leaves in total shadow.
Photoperiod plants: Lollipop plants 0-3 weeks after initiating 12/12. I usually do it right as I initiate 12/12, though I’ve also waited a few weeks. So far, I haven’t noticed that it seems to make much difference if you do it right at 12/12 vs a few weeks later. However, never lollipop an unhealthy or slow-growing plant to prevent stressing it out further.
Autoflowering plants: Autoflowering plants often don’t get out-of-control enough to need to lollipopping. If the light is strong and can already get to the bottom of the plant, there is no need to do anything. However, if you’ve got a big autoflowering plant (or a weak grow light) I recommend lollipopping autos right as the buds start forming, like in the picture below.
The best time to lollipop is right around the beginning of the cannabis budding phase, while the plant is still growing vegetatively and before buds have fully formed.
The Real Reason Your Lollipopped Plants Underperform!
FAQ
When should I lollipop my plants?
Lollipopping is recommended in the 3rd to 4th week of flowering because before that your plant will have a growth spurt where new mini buds will likely emerge at the bottom. Take a look at LST and Scrog, which will optimize your space much more and provide a higher yield and better quality.
When should I defoliate my outdoor plants?
Airflow & Pest Prevention
This is why we highly recommend defoliating outdoor plants at least once a month to clear out all old leaves that are turning yellow, not catching any more light, or that are blocking airflow to the middle of the plant.
How many nodes to leave when lollipopping outdoor?
The answer here varies based on things like the intensity and power of your light, what other growing techniques you may be using, and a plant’s genetics. Typically, it’s ideal to leave anywhere from three to six inner nodes at the top of each branch and to remove anything below that line.
Does lollipopping lower yield?
Yes, most growers find that lollipopping cannabis can increase yield. The energy is focused on the top buds by removing low-down branches and leaves that won’t receive enough light. This results in better-developing buds and a higher overall yield.