Okay so I've been LST my plants and the secondary shoots are coming in nicely, but as the plant gets bigger the fan leaves start to get in the way, to the point where it shades the secondary stems. So would pinching off a few fan leaves affect the stem growth? and if i pinched a fan leave the stem was growing out off would that halt the growth of the secondary stem? Now as for my second question. There's been a few gnats that find there way into my grow room and have eaten tinny holes in a few of the leaves. It's only been one or two gnats not an infestation, but how would i discourage bugs from taking a liking to my girls? Any help would be greatly appreciated and would make my first grow a whole lot easier. I'm sure once you've LST a few plants you start to get and idea of what to do and when but right now I'm pretty lost.
I can only respond to your second question, plus I hate it when I post a question and ppl look but never respond ahhh! I've heard that "don't bug me" from fox farms is great for all stages of growth.
Absolutely not never cut off fan leaves there the plant's main source of energy and will stunt it's growth and possibly cause it to hermi, It's also not necessary. Neem oil is good, spray on the underside of the leaves, apply when the light's are off other wise it will just be burnt up, so basically apply when there sleeping.
Keep bending and stretching the plant so that the fan leaves arent in the way anymore... get as extreme as you can with out snapping the plant. They are pretty hardy and dont mind a good bending. As for the bugs, some people add lady bugs.... safe guard the plants. There is some neem oil i believe that others will use and spray on the foliage. Google that shit and it shouldnt be hard to get a more in depth explanation. Some people also use nicotine water. Take a pack of ciggerits, soak it in half gallon/ gallon of water... filter that crap out pour water in spray bottle and again hit the foliage.
Haha, I just spent about an hour trying to get them to bend the way I want them too but ended up letting my frustration get the best of me and pinched a couple of leaves (I'm sorry don't hurt me its my first grow). I think I've gotten it fairly stable for now, the stems are now being twisted around the outside of the pot but those damn leaves just make it one bushy mess, almost makes me want to quit training and just let it flower right now like a normal unruly plant would. There about 8in tall, tied to the edge of the pot, and being put threw a series of hooks till they get all the way around. Ideally what I plan on doing is cutting the leaves the stems are growing off of once said stem starts its second set of leaves of its own, that way the bottom gets good airflow and I end up with multiple colas upon flower. Basically I need help controlling the clutter that you get when the plants growing like a vine. There's about 20 leaves trying to get more light then the next and the second set of stems needs constant help staying at the top of the pack. I wish I could post pictures but since it's not 100% legal I don't feel like taking a risk.