Defoliation in flower

[jeff wright]

so they say you're not supposed to defoliate in flower until week three. Why? They say it stunts the plant... but how? Vertical growth, bud size?
I have plants 1 week into flower that are pretty much already forming nugz. But there's soooo much leaf covering some plant! If I defoliat heavy now at the end of week1 will it be negative to my girls?

 

[twagner23]

so they say you're not supposed to defoliate in flower until week three. Why? They say it stunts the plant... but how? Vertical growth, bud size?
I have plants 1 week into flower that are pretty much already forming nugz. But there's soooo much leaf covering some plant! If I defoliat heavy now at the end of week1 will it be negative to my girls?

Can't really see the underneath of your plant but typically people will trim the under canopy leaves up to week 3, the ones that aren't getting any light. Any even canopy at the top that isn't blocked can stay through your grow, at least I leave it. Ideally you want to get most of your lower defoliation done early as the plant stretches in flowering and produces more fan leaves, covering your previously exposed leaves. If you decide to defoliate everything at week 3 that is something else entirely different and wouldn't recommend that. There are also more advanced training techniques early on to produce an even top canopy prior to flower, lowering the need for defoliation after flowering starts and cutting down energy used for healing.

 

[jeff wright]

Can't really see the underneath of your plant but typically people will trim the under canopy leaves up to week 3, the ones that aren't getting any light. Any even canopy at the top that isn't blocked can stay through your grow, at least I leave it. Ideally you want to get most of your lower defoliation done early as the plant stretches in flowering and produces more fan leaves, covering your previously exposed leaves. If you decide to defoliate everything at week 3 that is something else entirely different and wouldn't recommend that. There are also more advanced training techniques early on to produce an even top canopy prior to flower, lowering the need for defoliation after flowering starts and cutting down energy used for healing.

I do heavy lst an topping.

 

[jeff wright]

Can't really see the underneath of your plant but typically people will trim the under canopy leaves up to week 3, the ones that aren't getting any light. Any even canopy at the top that isn't blocked can stay through your grow, at least I leave it. Ideally you want to get most of your lower defoliation done early as the plant stretches in flowering and produces more fan leaves, covering your previously exposed leaves. If you decide to defoliate everything at week 3 that is something else entirely different and wouldn't recommend that. There are also more advanced training techniques early on to produce an even top canopy prior to flower, lowering the need for defoliation after flowering starts and cutting down energy used for healing.

So it's okay to do it few leaves everyday?

 

[twagner23]

So it's okay to do it few leaves everyday?

I would trim any leaves now that are completely covered in shade, leave the rest. You can gradually trim the underneath after that up to week 3 if you want, any leaves that get covered in shade.

 

[GBAUTO]

I feel this is always going to be a compromise. Leaves are the engines of the plant but if they block light penetration to the flowers they will suffer. I try and remove fans that block bud sites but leave the rest intact. I have done repeated 'selective' defoliation on flowering girls and they have always responded favorably. I'd pluck some leaves.

 

[twagner23]

Technically you should have limited lower bud sites if scrogged or mainlined/topped, all energy should be going to upper colas. I agree though, if you do have lower bud sites you can uncover them as needed. I can’t see in your picture if you do or not.

 

[BigHornBuds]

You want to pick them pretty hard at 1st about 98%
Then your good to go

You’ve heard of 7min abs
This is 6min abs .

 

[twagner23]

You want to pick them pretty hard at 1st about 98%
Then your good to go

You’ve heard of 7min abs
This is 6min abs . View attachment 4110916

Damn! That looks pretty extreme lol, is that a schwazze?

 

[jeff wright]

Damn! That looks pretty extreme lol, is that a schwazze?

That's a harvested plant

 

[Tomzy17]

so they say you're not supposed to defoliate in flower until week three. Why? They say it stunts the plant... but how? Vertical growth, bud size?
I have plants 1 week into flower that are pretty much already forming nugz. But there's soooo much leaf covering some plant! If I defoliat heavy now at the end of week1 will it be negative to my girls?

Yo homie
I’ve had a few discussions on this subject and I have always heard you should try and get all defoliation done atleast a week before the flip, but in your case if leaves are in the way of bud sites, then cut them off but if you can just move them out the way then do that as it is a lot less stress on the plant and won’t send it into shock and don’t forget leaves are solar panels without them nothing would grow!
Good luck.

 

[twagner23]

That's a harvested plant

Ohhh, nevermind then lol.

 

[BigHornBuds]

Damn! That looks pretty extreme lol, is that a schwazze?

Nope that’s about 1 week into flower .

It’s just a joke .

 

[La Nina]

Do not defoliate as it would reduce the energy available to the plant and therefore decrease flower production.

However, do lollipop the plant! Prune all the bottom branches and suckers to maximize flower production at the top!

 

[Tomzy17]

Do not defoliate as it would reduce the energy available to the plant and therefore decrease flower production.

However, do lollipop the plant! Prune all the bottom branches and suckers to maximize flower production at the top!

Only thing is that is the same principal has the potential to send plants into shock if too much is done to quick and stunt growth, ultimately affecting flowering lollipopping should be done at most a week before the flip then maintained lightly afterwards

 

[jeff wright]

I mean I'm not trying to strip them down completely I'm just trying to remove 10 to 20 leaves from some bushes with about 100

 

[Tomzy17]

I mean I'm not trying to strip them down completely I'm just trying to remove 10 to 20 leaves from some bushes with about 100

That would be fine dude, as long as you trim lightly and not all the time they would be cool