Ive decided to defoiliate 2 plants that are in week 8 of flower. They are autos not photos. I have done one heavy defoiliation already and they are completely crazy bushy again. Looks like a lot of wasted energy to me. Any last minute advice? I just have a feeling these colas will get fatter if i trim the bush factor back
Defoiliation in flower
- Thread starter RonnieB2
- Start date
You're absolutely sure about this. ? I read an article that supports it.
Heres the article. Scroll down to defoiliation in flower. Thanks. https://www.growweedeasy.com/nebulas-flowering-stage-defoliation-tutorial
Stoned Whale
Active Member
Unless you have mega penetration from a huge well lit and reflected room, I would always advise removing what usually becomes "popcorn". So all the lower bud sites.
I don't get why you would remove the lower fan leafs really? Surely can only grab any of the leftover light coming through the canopy. If they ain't getting light they'll come off themselves into flower.
I am extremely intrigued by these growers doing FULL defoliation of all fan leaves at flip and then 3 weeks or so into flower. Some of the results are super impressive. Massive yields, but they are in super dialed in enviroments, much much more so than most of us home growers. Also will likely be strain specific how well the plants handle it.
I am going to try removing top most fan leaves on my next grow to try densen up the bottom of my canopy. But I am skeptical, considering I have always thought of fan leaves as essentially the solar panels of the plant.
It really depends on growing method aswell. If you are Scrogging and have built a dense canopy, I would only leave the top 18 inches - 24inches at most, of bud sites under a 1000w HPS. Anything below this will be fluffy in my experience. I pretty much always regret not removing more bud sites from the bottom come trim time.
I don't get why you would remove the lower fan leafs really? Surely can only grab any of the leftover light coming through the canopy. If they ain't getting light they'll come off themselves into flower.
I am extremely intrigued by these growers doing FULL defoliation of all fan leaves at flip and then 3 weeks or so into flower. Some of the results are super impressive. Massive yields, but they are in super dialed in enviroments, much much more so than most of us home growers. Also will likely be strain specific how well the plants handle it.
I am going to try removing top most fan leaves on my next grow to try densen up the bottom of my canopy. But I am skeptical, considering I have always thought of fan leaves as essentially the solar panels of the plant.
It really depends on growing method aswell. If you are Scrogging and have built a dense canopy, I would only leave the top 18 inches - 24inches at most, of bud sites under a 1000w HPS. Anything below this will be fluffy in my experience. I pretty much always regret not removing more bud sites from the bottom come trim time.
I'm for it and against it 
When I defoliate I think man what a fucking idiot removing the leaves. DURRRRR! 
But when it's done and I don't get bud rot or anything I'm happy enough.
Honestly though I have almost stalled plants in flowering by removing too much and blatantly cost myself yield, so I never take too much off.
In the circumstances of todays defoliation it's the only tent I have defoliated and it's a small tent with 4 plants in. Fuck all light was getting to the lower bud sites and leaves and air flow wasn't great.
When I defoliate I think man what a fucking idiot removing the leaves. DURRRRR! But when it's done and I don't get bud rot or anything I'm happy enough.
Honestly though I have almost stalled plants in flowering by removing too much and blatantly cost myself yield, so I never take too much off.
In the circumstances of todays defoliation it's the only tent I have defoliated and it's a small tent with 4 plants in. Fuck all light was getting to the lower bud sites and leaves and air flow wasn't great.
jadedintrovert
Well-Known Member
Wisdom consists of the anticipation of consequence 
Happy growing
Happy growing
I wont cut too much off. They are sativa dominate but the buds aren't as fat as the indicas. Thats the main reason. Do sativa plants mature more slowly? They are gorilla glue auto from fastbuds. Plants are very very healthy and are growing very well. I just feel they aren't getting fat buds like the others. I also did a test smoke. The other plants are far more mature compared to these. So that could be the issue, simple maturity. They dont even smell very much yet and are at week 8 tomorrow
post a picture of it
I strip my plants pretty heavy, but it's really dependant on what you have going on wether or not it's worth it. I have a ton of branches really close together. And my plants are spaced fairly close together for their size. So I pretty much have to defoliate or end up with larf. I've been doing this a long time and it works well for me. But that being said if your not crowded then it's not beneficial and can cause loss in yield if you take too much. Of course plants need air flow to avoid mold so if your really bushy then you can take a few no issue.
I think that's the right plan. Thank you
BluntMoniker
Well-Known Member
Defolitate 2 weeks before 12/12, and 2 weeks after 12/12. Beyond that, I only remove leaves if they are blocking bud sites (if tucking the leaf isn't an option) or if they are basically dead anyway.
At week 8 I wouldnt be doing a heavy defolitation... thats the same time the plant is most likely to be utilizing all the energy reserves it had stored in those leaves.
At week 8 I wouldnt be doing a heavy defolitation... thats the same time the plant is most likely to be utilizing all the energy reserves it had stored in those leaves.
These are autos. I only defoiliated the bottom. Light starved areas.