Should I cut fan leaves (autoflowering)?

Hi @tototerremoto yes, you can defoliate some larger leaves from the main branch, larger leaves that are covering off shoots. you can also cut some shoots that are at the bottom of the plant where the light does not reach. automatic plants detest stress, defoliate slowly and gradually so that the plant will not stress and be late. good luck mate 👍

Your friend claims are true , the bottom branches are smaller and thin , they are producing what we are calling popcorn buds aka inconsistent buds , fluffy, aerated. If you cut the branch before the Flowering then the plant will redirect the energy to the upper parts . He told you to remove the fan leaves because they are blocking light to lower branches/ buds sites , this method is called defoliation and it is helping to promote secondaries growth by bringing more light , the rules are simple : cut the leaves that are blocking light and keep the others, don’t remove too much leaves aka don’t strip her down. Your friend is in right, google search for defoliation

Yes the term for this is lollipopping and it is effective because he is correct about the bottom small growth will never mature as fast as the top branches, this is something that you wanna do in a low stress way and you don’t even need to take whole branches unless they are tiny compared to the rest the main goal is to take all the little leaves and future bud sites off the lower branches where the light won’t reach effectively anyway, and which will make the branch bare until it is able to grow out enough to get light and it will end of with just a main cola which is fine and it will promote more growth on the top of the plant! Remember autos are more sensitive to high stress than a regular photo plant! Good luck 🍀👍