Maximize Your Cannabis Yield: The Importance of Proper Cloning, Trimming, and Training

As a grower, I’m always learning new ways to improve my yields, and one lesson that recently hit home is how crucial it is to properly manage clones, trim leaves, and train plants for optimal light exposure. I’ve realized that if I’m going to invest months of effort into a grow, I need to make sure I'm doing everything I can to get the best possible yield. Let me share my experience and what I’ve learned to help you avoid missing out on precious harvests — and, of course, save some serious cash!

Clean Up Your Clones Early

One of the first things I’ve learned is how important it is to clean up clones once they start growing. It’s easy to get excited about new growth and just let things go, but early management is key. As your clones start to establish themselves, you’ll want to pay close attention to the bottom leaves.

Why? Because energy is wasted on those bottom leaves, especially the ones that won’t be getting much light. By trimming them early on, you’re helping the plant focus its energy on the top growth, which is what will ultimately lead to bigger buds and higher yields. The earlier you start cleaning up your plants, the better they’ll perform in the long run.

Trimming Bottom Leaves = Bigger Buds

I used to be hesitant about trimming too much off my plants, especially the lower leaves. I’d think, "Isn’t it better for the plant to have more leaves?" But the truth is, those bottom leaves don’t add much value. They’re often in the shadows and pull energy away from the parts of the plant that can really thrive. By trimming those leaves, I’m directing more energy to the tops where the buds will form.

Let’s be real — we’re not putting in months of effort just to get mediocre yields. If trimming bottom leaves means bigger, better buds, then it’s definitely worth the time.

Top and Train for Maximum Light Exposure

Another game-changer for me has been learning about topping and training. These two techniques can significantly increase the number of colas and improve light exposure, both of which contribute to larger yields.

Topping is the process of cutting off the top of the plant to encourage it to grow multiple colas. Each time you top a plant, it diverts energy into growing more branches, which means more bud sites.
Training helps you spread out the plant, ensuring that more leaves and buds get exposed to light. Light is one of the most important factors in getting a good yield, so you want to make sure every part of your plant is benefiting from it.
Together, topping and training can make a massive difference in your overall harvest.

My Recent Experience: The Price of Not Doing It Right

Here’s where I messed up. I recently chopped 4 plants where I didn’t really clean up, top, or train them like I should have. The result? I only got about an ounce per plant. But I know for sure that if I had done things right, I could have easily pulled in 3 ounces per plant. That’s a difference of 9 ounces of premium cannabis!

Not only does that mean I missed out on some top-quality bud, but it also means I’m potentially out of pocket when I need to restock. If I run out, I’ll have to buy from somewhere else, and we all know that’s not cheap.

Log Your Data and Track Your Tasks with PLnTrk

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from this experience, it’s that managing your grow properly is essential. And to do that, you need to stay on top of the tasks that matter most. That’s why I’m so glad I use PLnTrk to log all my plant data and track exactly what needs to be done.

From cleaning up clones and trimming bottom leaves, to topping and training for maximum light exposure, it’s crucial to have a system that helps you stay organized. With PLnTrk, I can easily log each action I take with my plants, so I don’t miss any important steps. Plus, it’s so simple to use that I can log data on the fly — even when I’m out in the garden and need to quickly scan a plant’s NFC tag or QR code.