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Felco pruners a favorite of pot farmers

September 21st, 2008, 6:45 am · 7 Comments · posted by Cindy McNatt

You think I’m kidding — but listen to this — a few weeks ago I wrote a column about pruners, you can read it here, but more specifically about losing my Felco pruners and the angst that goes with forking over $40 for another pair.

As columns go, my message box filled up with questions about the pruners, availability, reader’s preferences and even I suspect, a company rep that suggested I take another look at the cheaper Fiskars. I will with the economy and all.

But one message was different. A narcotics officer (who shall remain anonymous for obvious reasons) for the Department of Justice called to say that when his undercover team raids pot growing fields they always find Felco pruners on the property. He believes they are the preferred hand-pruner of pot growers.

Why would pot heads prefer Felcos? I can only guess that it may have something to do with the fibrous nature of marijuana plants, but only because I am comparing marijuana to its close cousin, hemp (as in rope).

At some point in his career, the officer explains, he picked up a pair Felcos at the crime scene (as in tampering with evidence?) to cut down the marijuana plants and found that they did a superb job of slicing the tough stems.

After a few such pot growing raids, he is know a firm fan of Felco pruners. Absolutely loves them and recommends them to anyone with horticultural pursuits.

But the problem with Felcos remains, that at $40 a pop, only pot farmers can afford them.

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 7 Comments

  • LilyC says:
    September 21, 2008 at 9:58 am

    Quite an endorsement! That’s as good as a thumbs up from taggers for Krylon due to it’s superior coverage…

  • kevin says:
    September 21, 2008 at 11:13 am

    Will we need a prescription to buy medical pruners?

  • Cindy McNatt says:
    September 23, 2008 at 5:24 am

    Probably.

  • CAN says:
    September 24, 2008 at 7:12 am

    It may just be an example of word of mouth, and the blind leading the blind.
    They hear this is what and how you do it, and they follow step by step.
    Because that’s how they roll.

    Also there are many plants that give off a sticky substance, ie pot, and eventually gum up the friction between the blades so it seems as it is not sharp. With a thick round anvil, easier to clean and doesn’t stick as fast onto the metal.
    Some of the other pruners have a tendency to allow build up faster.

    It may be because the heads are made from a different material, and others having a shape being more a flat blade, like the felco #5

    Another problem with felcos are that if you are a serious user, the springs can get gummed and or caught in a branch and snap out, flying somewhere into the abyss of the yard clippings.
    I learned that long ago and will not buy.

    I still think that the Fiskars, all steel, with an internal spring - pruners are the best.
    I have seen and used many pruners over the last 22 years.
    And for 10.00- 14.00 dollars a pair, at walmart, you can not beat it.

    .

  • Cindy McNatt says:
    September 24, 2008 at 1:12 pm

    I agree on Fiskars. Use them until they don’t work anymore, throw them out, and buy another pair. And then I got my first pair of Felcos - wow so sharp. But like expensive sunglasses, I just lose them quicker than anything.

  • lisa mertins says:
    September 26, 2008 at 11:10 am

    this post is terrific cindy. thanks for the fascinating tidbit. i think i’m gonna get me some felcos!

  • Cindy McNatt says:
    September 26, 2008 at 11:34 am

    they are hard to resist once you’ve had a pair.

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