Can I remove large leaves?

Hey.
I have 4 huge plants in a room in my appartement, and since Iḿ a first timer, Ie managed too screw things up a bit... I have had the 18-6 light on for about 6-7 weeks before reading on the net that you should switch to 12-12 when the plants are about 35cm tall. Hehehe, well, now the plants are all over 1m tall and still reaching for the stars. I have changed to 12-12, but Iḿ worried that the light will not reach more than to the middle of the plants due to huge leaves. Can I cut away the big leaves (and how is the best way to do it) or will it hurt the plants?

Thanks a lot in advance!

 

Leave the large leaves as they provide the energy the plant needs. Lower branches that will receive little or no light can go as clones.

 

I agree with this because that is the fuction of the leaves and lower limbs being removed inceases bud production to upper parts of the plant and increases airflow around the plants. But I would remove any large fan leaves that are shading any of the buds and only them

 

I would also pinch off the tops of your babies as they are apparently getting too tall for your situation. Read up on pinching off; you'll get more understory growth while slowing down the height.

 

You might want to try to bend them all over and get them under a stretched out net - kind a "SCROG after the fact". If the pots aren't in a confined area, you can prop them up at a 45 degree angle (ala The Bushy Old Grower), aiming the tops in towards the center and under the net. You should have lots of branches to spread around, evenly, under the net. Four plants that big ought to give you a pretty full canopy. I wouldn't remove anything, unless you want to pinch the tops - just keep the big leaves pulled down so they can't come up through the net.