Dwezelitsame
Well-Known Member
i ll post back in about a month
U will C
U will C
defoliation question..... anyone familiar with it?
- Thread starter keebo3000
- Start date
Jimmy Luffnan
Well-Known Member
Hi RIU guys,
Turns out it is quite difficult to find a thread about 'defoilation' that has not been closed these days ^^
Ive been experimenting with defoilation for a few months now and just wanted to share some of my findings and theory as to why it has the potential to work quite well in some cases...
Not here to state a right or wrong... just posting what I am finding and nothing more
I do agree that removing a fan leaf does have somewhat of a negative impact on a plants growth. Yes, fan leaves are important for a plant during growth, they handle most of the photosynthesis effectively during veg period and are required in nature.
What I am noticing is that when mature fan leaves are removed from a branch during veg state, this mimics somewhat how an animal would bite off a fan leaf if grazing. The plant cannot reproduce that same fan leaf, so if diverts its energy to the growing tip of the branch to accelerate growth to create more leaves, equaling faster growing branches and more nodes.
Ive found that if you remove too many fan leaves on a branch at one time (aggressive defoilation), this will slow down growth as the plant loses too many 'solar panel' fan leaves to remain at a steady growth rate. If this is what you want to achieve, then it is effective, but if you want to continue accelerated growth, removing leaves at the correct ratio is important.
This rule appears to apply all throughout veg period.
On to flowering period
After the stretch period, the plants are starting to divert their energy into development of the flowers.
My understanding of a fan leaf's cycle is that it is then used to provide a small percentage of energy via photosynthesis, but to also use the leaf as a potential food source as backup if required.
The flower and node structures (especially in the topically dominant branches) still have leaves that protrude from the colas.
These leaves are used as 'solar panels' effectively for the cola.
Ive noticed that the plant will strip energy from the fan leaves in the lower branches (yellowing) yet the top leaves remain green till the very end.
I think there is a misconception that lack of light penetration to the lower portion of the plant is what causes the 'fluffy popcorn buds' but I am finding this to be false.
The reason I am finding the lower flowers to be underdeveloped is due to the plant using it's lower 'stores' of energy to feed the upper part of the plant... the fan leaves and also the flowers.
This is not to do with light, this is to do with the plant sacrificing the bottom for the top naturally.
This may be why the 'lollipop' method is so effective...?
If I supply the plant with everything it needs via nutrient, it requires less of the fan leaves... (like a healthy human diet and maintaining a low body fat % in comparison)
By removing a good ratio of fan leaves that are not attached to a topically dominant cola, the plant has full mature flowers from top to bottom.
So I just wanted to share what I have seen/am finding with defoilation method, that it has less to do with light and more to do with the plant.
Thanks guys!
Cheers Jimmy.
Turns out it is quite difficult to find a thread about 'defoilation' that has not been closed these days ^^
Ive been experimenting with defoilation for a few months now and just wanted to share some of my findings and theory as to why it has the potential to work quite well in some cases...
Not here to state a right or wrong... just posting what I am finding and nothing more
I do agree that removing a fan leaf does have somewhat of a negative impact on a plants growth. Yes, fan leaves are important for a plant during growth, they handle most of the photosynthesis effectively during veg period and are required in nature.
What I am noticing is that when mature fan leaves are removed from a branch during veg state, this mimics somewhat how an animal would bite off a fan leaf if grazing. The plant cannot reproduce that same fan leaf, so if diverts its energy to the growing tip of the branch to accelerate growth to create more leaves, equaling faster growing branches and more nodes.
Ive found that if you remove too many fan leaves on a branch at one time (aggressive defoilation), this will slow down growth as the plant loses too many 'solar panel' fan leaves to remain at a steady growth rate. If this is what you want to achieve, then it is effective, but if you want to continue accelerated growth, removing leaves at the correct ratio is important.
This rule appears to apply all throughout veg period.
On to flowering period
After the stretch period, the plants are starting to divert their energy into development of the flowers.
My understanding of a fan leaf's cycle is that it is then used to provide a small percentage of energy via photosynthesis, but to also use the leaf as a potential food source as backup if required.
The flower and node structures (especially in the topically dominant branches) still have leaves that protrude from the colas.
These leaves are used as 'solar panels' effectively for the cola.
Ive noticed that the plant will strip energy from the fan leaves in the lower branches (yellowing) yet the top leaves remain green till the very end.
I think there is a misconception that lack of light penetration to the lower portion of the plant is what causes the 'fluffy popcorn buds' but I am finding this to be false.
The reason I am finding the lower flowers to be underdeveloped is due to the plant using it's lower 'stores' of energy to feed the upper part of the plant... the fan leaves and also the flowers.
This is not to do with light, this is to do with the plant sacrificing the bottom for the top naturally.
This may be why the 'lollipop' method is so effective...?
If I supply the plant with everything it needs via nutrient, it requires less of the fan leaves... (like a healthy human diet and maintaining a low body fat % in comparison)
By removing a good ratio of fan leaves that are not attached to a topically dominant cola, the plant has full mature flowers from top to bottom.
So I just wanted to share what I have seen/am finding with defoilation method, that it has less to do with light and more to do with the plant.
Thanks guys!
Cheers Jimmy.
ImSoCuteAndDying5150
Member
I defoliate its fine to go again but not to much I had a bad bug problem and after defoliated had to defoliate again but they are snapping back nice and bushy
I got one plant with 8 tops never topped or fimmed just defoliated and blam
I got one plant with 8 tops never topped or fimmed just defoliated and blam
Jimmy Luffnan
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the input CuteI defoliate its fine to go again but not to much I had a bad bug problem and after defoliated had to defoliate again but they are snapping back nice and bushy
I noticed this also.
If I wanted the lower branches to catch up in height, I would start to defoilate along them from the bottom of the branch and it would push that particular branch higher just like lst but with accelerated growth, not slowed growth at all
I would respectively say that correct defoilation procedure would give similar results to scrog, but without the net...
Cheers Jimmy.
BenFranklin
Well-Known Member
@Jimmy Luffnan: I just got back on my self.
Further back in this thread, I mention that on an indoor grow, human's become the deer that outdoor growers loathe and go in depth on it. =) Thanks for reinforcing what I felt was common sense thinking.
Further back in this thread, I mention that on an indoor grow, human's become the deer that outdoor growers loathe and go in depth on it. =) Thanks for reinforcing what I felt was common sense thinking.