FrozenChozen
Well-Known Member
I like to take the scientific approach.. With a 600 watt light, intensity starts to exponentially decline at about 18 inches. I notice as well that auxins (growth hormones) within the plant are redirected when foliage is removed. There is a genetic factor involved too... Personally I believe that to a certain point defoliation is almost necessity.
I'm not very familiar with Pineapple Express, but the strains I like to grow continually stretch, all the way to week 6 or 7. They respond quite well to defoliating, usually once at week about 21 days in and again at about day 42. Recovery is fast as its only leaf removal and typically I pull only the ugliest and smallest leaves. Most importantly IMHO is to not take too much at a time, avoid shocking your plant; add in an anti shock nutrient a day or two prior if you plan on going in there with scissors ready for war! I have seen defoliation increase yield dramatically, and also DECREASE yield.
I mean how the hell is a solar energy collection system (a plant) supposed to work if there are no solar panels (leaves)? You have to have the correct number of panels (leaves) to charge the battery (grow the plant), understand as well that when you pile panels on top of each other (a canopy) the lower panels are barely receiving any light and are running fairly inefficiently (especially under an HID)... There's a certain balance between finding the right amount of light and removing just the right amount of foliage that many growers spend years trying to perfect it.
I say listen to your plants, if they are willing to take it, DO IT! You'll have less under developed low growth and more fully developed top colas, possibly larger than what you're used to. If you have the space, cut two clones, defoliate one and not the other.... use the same variables otherwise, that's what I did when I got tired of listening to everyone argue about it!
Its a LONG winded subject and there is no RIGHT answer, experience has been my best teacher! Check into some of the "Defoliation" threads here on RIU, once you get past all the shit talking, there is a lot of very valuable information!
I hope I helped!
I'm not very familiar with Pineapple Express, but the strains I like to grow continually stretch, all the way to week 6 or 7. They respond quite well to defoliating, usually once at week about 21 days in and again at about day 42. Recovery is fast as its only leaf removal and typically I pull only the ugliest and smallest leaves. Most importantly IMHO is to not take too much at a time, avoid shocking your plant; add in an anti shock nutrient a day or two prior if you plan on going in there with scissors ready for war! I have seen defoliation increase yield dramatically, and also DECREASE yield.
I mean how the hell is a solar energy collection system (a plant) supposed to work if there are no solar panels (leaves)? You have to have the correct number of panels (leaves) to charge the battery (grow the plant), understand as well that when you pile panels on top of each other (a canopy) the lower panels are barely receiving any light and are running fairly inefficiently (especially under an HID)... There's a certain balance between finding the right amount of light and removing just the right amount of foliage that many growers spend years trying to perfect it.
I say listen to your plants, if they are willing to take it, DO IT! You'll have less under developed low growth and more fully developed top colas, possibly larger than what you're used to. If you have the space, cut two clones, defoliate one and not the other.... use the same variables otherwise, that's what I did when I got tired of listening to everyone argue about it!
Its a LONG winded subject and there is no RIGHT answer, experience has been my best teacher! Check into some of the "Defoliation" threads here on RIU, once you get past all the shit talking, there is a lot of very valuable information!
I hope I helped!
