How these looking
- Thread starter Frangafun
- Start date
Your plants are healthy and look great. They can certainly endure more defoliation….,my question is why?
I would take off any big fans that might be blocking lower sites. The only other reason would be to increase airflow. You’re fine to do it, just don’t get too scissor happy and take too much.
I would take off any big fans that might be blocking lower sites. The only other reason would be to increase airflow. You’re fine to do it, just don’t get too scissor happy and take too much.
I can't make an argument for removing healthy leaves from a cannabis plant. And the only rationale I've seen for removing leaves to expose bud sites is "because".
The problem with removing leaves at the top of the canopy to expose bud sites to light - it assumes that bud sites need light to mature. If that's the case, how can a plant that grows in the shade have mature buds?
Second, the leaves that make up the canopy are the most photosynthetically efficient leaves in the plant. Bud sites have very little chlorophyll which is required for photosynthesis. As a result, bud sites cannot contribute, in a significant manner, to photosynthesis.
Third, the difference in PPFD between the canopy and a location, say 1' below the canopy, is signficant, probably a couple of hundred µmol (it's been so long since I measured it that I don't recall).
I don't think it makes sense to remove leaves that are contributing to the growth of a plant to expose bud sites, which are not, realistically, capable of contributing to the growth of the plant so that they can "mature" when there's no evidence that they need light to mature.
I do advocate removing leaves that are heavily senesced or that are severely damaged. Leaves that are "blocking airflow"? Not likely — move the fans around.
Leaves are vital to the growth of a plant. They generate food, they are used as sources of nutrients for flowering, and they are responsible for transpiration which is one of the most important processes in a plant (it's how 50%± of nutrients are taken up by a plant). As such, removing leaves is should be a last resort.
On the other hand, removing leaves is a huge part of cannabis grower lore and it is quite exhilarating to watch a plant regrow after we've cut off healthy leaves. My question, is my goal to be able to watch a plant regrow the healthy leaves that I cut off or do I want to increase the size and quality of the harvest? For me, it's the latter.
The problem with removing leaves at the top of the canopy to expose bud sites to light - it assumes that bud sites need light to mature. If that's the case, how can a plant that grows in the shade have mature buds?
Second, the leaves that make up the canopy are the most photosynthetically efficient leaves in the plant. Bud sites have very little chlorophyll which is required for photosynthesis. As a result, bud sites cannot contribute, in a significant manner, to photosynthesis.
Third, the difference in PPFD between the canopy and a location, say 1' below the canopy, is signficant, probably a couple of hundred µmol (it's been so long since I measured it that I don't recall).
I don't think it makes sense to remove leaves that are contributing to the growth of a plant to expose bud sites, which are not, realistically, capable of contributing to the growth of the plant so that they can "mature" when there's no evidence that they need light to mature.
I do advocate removing leaves that are heavily senesced or that are severely damaged. Leaves that are "blocking airflow"? Not likely — move the fans around.
Leaves are vital to the growth of a plant. They generate food, they are used as sources of nutrients for flowering, and they are responsible for transpiration which is one of the most important processes in a plant (it's how 50%± of nutrients are taken up by a plant). As such, removing leaves is should be a last resort.
On the other hand, removing leaves is a huge part of cannabis grower lore and it is quite exhilarating to watch a plant regrow after we've cut off healthy leaves. My question, is my goal to be able to watch a plant regrow the healthy leaves that I cut off or do I want to increase the size and quality of the harvest? For me, it's the latter.