SativaLion
Member
When you remove a leaf should you leave a little of the stem (maybe half inch) on the plant or do you remove the leaf and stem completely?
Can anybody help me please? Question about defoliating.
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ThorGanjason
Well-Known Member
Haha, yup me and greylord were (kinda) just talking about this.
And while we're on the point, I'd like to add that I'm an advocate of defoliation. In my experience during my first grow, I have found that removing some leaves can benefit the plant greatly. People say "if it didn't need them it wouldnt make them", which is a true statement. But at the same time, a plant doesn't "need" to grow horizontally, but tying the plant down changes the flow of hormones and can greatly increase yields.
I had very tight internode spacing, but didn't have the biggest of nugs, and wound up with a lot of leaves that just completely shaded the entire plant, save only an inch or so of top buds. I tried folding leaves, I tried tucking them--it wasn't until I removed over half the leaves of the plant that the rest of the nugs started to develop well.
Maybe for some peoples environment and their style of growing, not removing any leaves helps them. But in my case, I have definitely come to the conclusion that removing leaves can greatly benefit the plant. Its like cutting the top off-- people could argue that its unnecessary. But at the end of the day, training the plant to grow in ways that it would have never done so naturally can absolutely help increase yields and vigor.
And while we're on the point, I'd like to add that I'm an advocate of defoliation. In my experience during my first grow, I have found that removing some leaves can benefit the plant greatly. People say "if it didn't need them it wouldnt make them", which is a true statement. But at the same time, a plant doesn't "need" to grow horizontally, but tying the plant down changes the flow of hormones and can greatly increase yields.
I had very tight internode spacing, but didn't have the biggest of nugs, and wound up with a lot of leaves that just completely shaded the entire plant, save only an inch or so of top buds. I tried folding leaves, I tried tucking them--it wasn't until I removed over half the leaves of the plant that the rest of the nugs started to develop well.
Maybe for some peoples environment and their style of growing, not removing any leaves helps them. But in my case, I have definitely come to the conclusion that removing leaves can greatly benefit the plant. Its like cutting the top off-- people could argue that its unnecessary. But at the end of the day, training the plant to grow in ways that it would have never done so naturally can absolutely help increase yields and vigor.
SativaLion
Member
youre fucked up
ThorGanjason
Well-Known Member
Yeah, that'd what greylord and I were talking about earlier; I was reading fdd2blk's harvest sticky, and he talked about how he likes to get in there with the snips and get to the base of the petiole or the stem.
When I defoliate, it depends if I'm in a hurry or not. If I'm in a hurry I'll just start grabbing and ripping (but I've sacrificed a couple buds this way by not being careful). When I pull the fan leaves off with my hands, usually it tears off and leaves the petiole on the stock, and I'll just let it dry off and then they pop right off.
But usually I like to get in there with the snips and snip it right at the stock. When those petioles/stems dry out they can fall off, and I have to be really careful about plant matter getting into my soil BC my grow room has more bacteria than I'd like anyways, and coupled with my humid conditions its just a breeding ground for mold.
When I defoliate, it depends if I'm in a hurry or not. If I'm in a hurry I'll just start grabbing and ripping (but I've sacrificed a couple buds this way by not being careful). When I pull the fan leaves off with my hands, usually it tears off and leaves the petiole on the stock, and I'll just let it dry off and then they pop right off.
But usually I like to get in there with the snips and snip it right at the stock. When those petioles/stems dry out they can fall off, and I have to be really careful about plant matter getting into my soil BC my grow room has more bacteria than I'd like anyways, and coupled with my humid conditions its just a breeding ground for mold.
ThorGanjason
Well-Known Member
In these parts I think its safe to say that most of us are fucked up. But I got an Abe Lincoln in my pocket that says I'm generally more fucked up than most.
Sand4x105
Well-Known Member
If you are going to give your poor plant pain by taking something that will aid it's growth then your plant does not care which method you use to inflict this unnecessary pain to it, Rip the leaf off, of cut it with some snips, or even a razor blade.... as an advocate for your healthy plant, I argue against cutting anything that "shades" your plant....if it is alive and green.... Good Luck
chuck estevez
Well-Known Member
He was talking about trimming, after it is hung and dry. FDD was absolutely against defoliating. One of his quotes was "stupid nature,put all these leaves in my way" reading comprehension is fun,huh?
ThorGanjason
Well-Known Member
Sorry, I meant to type that out (that he was talking about trimming, not defoliating) but typing can be painfully slow on my phone. I'm sure he appreciates you pointing that out 
People get pretty defensive about defoliation. A guy who's article I read was once booed off of stage at a growers seminar for advocating defoliation, lol.
Edit: and sheesh, you don't have to be an asshole about it. If you read mine and greylords posts you'll see I was referring to something we were discussing earlier, pertaining to one of FDD's posts that I had quoted about trimming leaves all the way at the base, unless they were small sugar leaves engulfed by the bud. This was all in a thread about trimming, and I just didn't bring that up
People get pretty defensive about defoliation. A guy who's article I read was once booed off of stage at a growers seminar for advocating defoliation, lol.
Edit: and sheesh, you don't have to be an asshole about it. If you read mine and greylords posts you'll see I was referring to something we were discussing earlier, pertaining to one of FDD's posts that I had quoted about trimming leaves all the way at the base, unless they were small sugar leaves engulfed by the bud. This was all in a thread about trimming, and I just didn't bring that up
Shivaskunk
Well-Known Member
You grew one time and anecdotal evidence tells you that your buds got bigger after you took almost all the leaves off...
You really shouldn't advocate growing methods when you have one grow under your belt. You have no idea how the buds on your plant would have grown in the same time frame with the leaves left on. My bet is that you hit the rapid bud growth phase of your grow right after your cutting all those leaves and assumed it was the trim job. You should grow a few crops of the same strain and document your results before claiming proof of anything. I saw the picture of your colas that you took all the leaf off of and promise you that you did not do those colas any favors by causing injury all over their surface and removing the leaves directly feeding energy to those buds....even proponents of defoliation don't cut their dang bud leaf off.
You really shouldn't advocate growing methods when you have one grow under your belt. You have no idea how the buds on your plant would have grown in the same time frame with the leaves left on. My bet is that you hit the rapid bud growth phase of your grow right after your cutting all those leaves and assumed it was the trim job. You should grow a few crops of the same strain and document your results before claiming proof of anything. I saw the picture of your colas that you took all the leaf off of and promise you that you did not do those colas any favors by causing injury all over their surface and removing the leaves directly feeding energy to those buds....even proponents of defoliation don't cut their dang bud leaf off.