Should You Lollipop Outdoor Plants? A Grower’s Guide

Lollipopping is a cannabis cultivation technique where the lower growth and foliage is removed from the plant, leaving the top cola sites intact. This forces the plant’s energy towards the remaining upper buds. While commonly used for indoor grows, is lollipopping beneficial for outdoor plants? There are pros and cons to consider when deciding whether to lollipop outdoor marijuana.

What is Lollipopping Cannabis Plants?

Lollipopping gets its name from the end result – a cannabis plant with a bare stem and full cola sites at the top, resembling a lollipop To lollipop a plant

• Remove all foliage and lower branches that won’t develop into prime bud sites
• Leave only the topmost cola sites with growth to remain
• Prune just before the flowering stage gets underway

With indoor cultivation, lollipopping helps concentrate the plant’s resources on buds that will get direct light from grow lamps. Outdoors the rationale is less clear since sunlight illuminates the whole plant.

The Potential Pros of Outdoor Lollipopping

There are some advantages that lollipopping may offer outdoor grows:

• Increased airflow and decreased humidity – Removing lower growth opens up the plant for better air circulation and light penetration. This can reduce mold risks outdoors.

• Redirects energy to prime buds – Pruning away lower buds may help push more nutrients to fully formed colas for bigger yields. But it’s strain dependent.

• Easier plant access and maintenance – Lollipopping gives you better access into the canopy for pest controls, pruning, watering, etc. Dense growth can make reaching the middle of plants difficult.

• Reduced trimming work – Getting rid of lower buds means less popcorn bud to trim after harvest. It concentrates yield into the easy-to-trim colas.

• Cleaner plant appearance – For those wanting a manicured, uniform look, lollipopping creates plants with distinct colas and bare stems below.

The Potential Cons of Lollipopping Outdoors

However, lollipopping outdoors also has some downsides to consider:

• Loss of plant energy – Outdoors, lower leaves photosynthesize and create fuel for the plant. Removing them means less energy production.

• Stress risk – Heavy pruning can stress plants. Outdoors, you don’t want to risk shocking plants and slowing growth. Go slowly and carefully.

• Genetics and strain variability – Some strains react poorly to heavy pruning. Sativas, in particular, often grow best when left natural.

• Loss of lower bud yields – While small, lower buds do contribute to overall harvest weight. Lollipopping trades these for hypothetically bigger colas.

• No light penetration issues – Indoors, lollipopping helps expose buds to grow lamps. Outdoors, the sun already hits the whole plant, so light penetration isn’t a concern.

• Natural growth may offer weedier plants – Allowing plants to grow bushy and wide can support themselves better outdoors against wind and rain.

When and How Much to Lollipop Outdoors

If attempting lollipopping on outdoor plants, keep these tips in mind:

• Start late in vegetation just before flowering – Pruning earlier risks slowing growth. Wait until floral initiation is underway.

• Do it gradually – Removing too much foliage at once stresses plants. Take off lower growth over multiple sessions.

• Focus only on the very bottom – Leave mid-level foliage intact for energy production. Just strip the lowest 1/3 of branches.

• Consider strain tendencies – Avoid heavy pruning on lanky sativas or plants prone to shock. Indicas often handle lollipopping better.

• Prevent overexposure – Outdoors, don’t strip away so much foliage that colas and branches sunburn. Leave protective shade leaves.

• Use sterile tools – Clean pruners between plants to avoid spreading disease. Make cuts at 45-degree angles to shed water.

The Verdict: Case By Case Basis

Ultimately there is no definitive yes or no answer to lollipopping outdoor cannabis plants. It requires weighing the pros and cons for your specific situation. Some final thoughts:

• There are better alternatives to just lollipopping for mold prevention like thinning dense colas and removing selective shading fan leaves.

• Allow plants to grow naturally their first season before experimenting with pruning techniques like lollipopping.

• Start slowly and lollipop just a portion of plants to gauge results before doing entire grows.

• Avoid heavy lollipopping on stressed, sick, or slow-growing plants.

• Sativas and landrace strains often thrive best with limited interference.

• If plants suffered from spindly growth or small buds last season, lollipopping likely won’t fix it; look to other issues like genetics, nutrients, sunlight, etc.

With outdoor cannabis, sometimes the best course of action is to let the plants grow wild and natural. While lollipopping may benefit some situations, it isn’t universally recommended for all outdoor grows. Consider climate, genetics, plant health, and your goals when deciding whether to lollipop outdoor marijuana. A trial run on a portion of the crop can help determine if it’s worthwhile.

An Example of Judicious Outdoor Lollipopping

Lollipopping isn’t an all or nothing technique for outdoor plants. You can take a balanced approach.

For example, carefully remove only the lowest third of growth just as flowering gets started:

• This leaves some lower foliage for energy production through photosynthesis.

• Mid-level branches remain to fill out buds sites down the stems.

• Air circulation improves slightly without wholesale defoliation.

• Lower buds unlikely to develop fully are pruned away.

• Top colas still receive ample nutrients and foliage cover.

• Plant stress is minimal from the light lollipopping.

This gentle lollipopping allows you to get some benefits like energy redirection and increased airflow without excessively stressing the plant. While not as dramatic, it’s often the smarter play outdoors.

Maximizing Your Outdoor Cannabis Yields

If your goal is to boost yields for outdoor cannabis:

• Start with vigorous genetics – Pick mold-resistant strains suited for outdoor growing.

• Give plants a head start – Use transplants or germinate seeds early indoors before spring planting.

• Use smart containers – Fabric pots or containers with ample drainage prevent overwatering.

• Feed plants actively – Fertilize with a complete nutrient system through vegetation and flowering.

• Provide staking and training – Support plants and spread them out with trellising techniques.

• Control pests – Stop insects and pathogens from damaging growth.

• Select ideal growing sites – Ensure full sunlight, privacy, and accessible water.

• Harvest at peak ripeness – Time the harvest precisely when trichomes are fully milky.

• Dry and cure carefully – Prevent post-harvest losses by drying slowly and curing thoroughly.

Following sound cultivation practices is far more important than lollipopping alone if your goal is to maximize your yields. But judiciously lollipopping a portion of plants can be one additional tool in a complete outdoor growing plan.

Frequently Asked Questions About Lollipopping Outdoors

Here are answers to some common questions about lollipopping outdoor marijuana plants:

Why do indoor growers lollipop plants?

Indoors, lollipopping helps redirect growth to upper buds that receive direct light from grow lamps. The lower foliage is pruning away since it doesn’t get adequate light exposure.

When is the best time to lollipop outdoor plants?

The optimal window is just as the plant is entering its initial flowering stage. Lollipopping done during vegetative growth risks slowing and stressing plants.

How much should you remove when lollipopping outdoors?

Take a minimalist approach, especially on first attempts. Remove only the very lowest third of growth. Leave mid-level leaves and branches intact.

Should you lollipop autoflowering strains?

Autos often don’t get tall enough outdoors to justify lollipopping. Their short lifespans also make them poorer candidates for high-stress pruning.

Can heavy lollipopping stunt plant growth?

Yes, removing too much foliage starves the plant of energy production and risks shocking the plant. Take it slowly over multiple sessions instead of one drastic prune.

Why aren’t my lollipopped plants producing bigger yields?

Lollipopping alone won’t boost yields if other issues exist like poor soils, nutrients, genetics, pests or environmental conditions. It should be just one part of a complete cultivation plan.

Conclusion

Lollipopping outdoor cannabis plants is a controversial technique. The benefits are debatable when sunlight isn’t limited like indoors. While some growers insist it redirects energy to the top colas, others argue it robs plants of photosynthesis capacity and increases stress.

Approaching lollipopping carefully and strategically is recommended over aggressive pruning. Outdoors, the best results come from working in harmony with the plant’s natural growth tendencies. Keep lollipopping limited to the absolute lowest third of branches. Avoid overexposing the remaining plant. Take it slow over multiple sessions. Consider the strain’s growth characteristics.

With prudent care and planning, lollipopping can potentially have a place in certain outdoor grows. But it shouldn’t be viewed as a cure-all technique and requires weighing the advantages against drawbacks for your specific plants and situation.