What you are doing is cutting off the leaf branches that are so low on the stem that they drag/touch the ground and pick up soil bacteria.

It is a standard practice and does no harm to the plant when done correctly. Just use a sharp pair of scissors or shears and snip the branch off about 1/2 inch out from the stem. It will heal over quickly.

You are not cutting plant stems.

It is just like trimming a tree - you don't cut off the trunk, just the low hanging branches.

Dave

I do that much early on just by pinching them off. Any leaf branch under the first cluster must go. As Dave pointed out to the effect that you don't want any leaves, to touch the ground. I do even more than that in order to have good air movement under the pland, not just some space. Most macterial diseases are water/moisture borne.

what are macterial diseases ?

really a simple process I think...fewer branches = stronger growth on the ones you have. True with all plants. When thinning...do not leave "stumps" protruding out. They can die back, rot, and disease. Make your cuts flush to the "mother" branch.

duckie asked,

"what are macterial diseases ?"

Simple, a typo.

Betsy