Defoliation in flower

jeff wright

jeff wright

Active Member
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?
 

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twagner23

twagner23

Well-Known Member
jeff wright said:
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?
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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

jeff wright

Active Member
twagner23 said:
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.
Click to expand...
I do heavy lst an topping.
 
jeff wright

jeff wright

Active Member
twagner23 said:
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.
Click to expand...
So it's okay to do it few leaves everyday?
 
GBAUTO

GBAUTO

Well-Known Member
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

twagner23

Well-Known Member
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.
 
Tomzy17

Tomzy17

Well-Known Member
jeff wright said:
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?
Click to expand...
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.
 
La Nina

La Nina

Member
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

Tomzy17

Well-Known Member
La Nina said:
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!
Click to expand...
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
 
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