Major defoliation = brown leaves

I'm on my first grown and I'm 3 weeks into veg and the plants were looking green and lush. I'm using Coco in Hempy buckets and I decided it was time to clean them up a bit and probably got a little carried away. I did this on Sunday and then gave them their normal feeding.

I skipped checking them on Monday which is normal and by Tuesday every single plant had some dry crispy brown leaves on them. It almost looks like I forgot to water them for a few days. Is it possible that I did so much trimming that they "bled" water/nutrients out and actually dried up that fast. I can't imagine them turning that quick from perfect to having some crispy leaves in two days.

They were all outside of the tent and under normal fluorescent lights for about an hour or so during their normal light cycle but I don't think that would be a problem.

Any ideas.

Pics and list of your environment would help.

I should have snapped some pics before I trimmed off the brown leaves I suppose. I have them in a tent with two small clip on fans barely blowing and one extraction fan with filter that really moves some air even on low. RH is kinda low at 35-40% and temps from 68-82f. I'm using Coco in Hempy buckets.

I guess the main thing is that it had to be something with the defoliation because the plants have been looking amazing and then two days after defoliation they all have some crispy brown leaves on them. With doing a little research it resembles a heat issue but I know that's not the problem. All the other leaves look as normal.

Why would you cut a bunch of leaves off of a healthy plant?

NanoGadget said:

Why would you cut a bunch of leaves off of a healthy plant?

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You’re probably right but they were so thick that the lower leaves were getting no light and most of the new lower leaves were growing with three blades.

Yeah next time I might do a minor cleanup, if anything.

Fixed up said:

You’re probably right but they were so thick that the lower leaves were getting no light and most of the new lower leaves were growing with three blades.

Yeah next time I might do a minor cleanup, if anything.

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I'm guessing that between the stress of heavy pruning and the reduced biomass that resulted, your plant is experiencing nutrient burn. Can you post any pics?

3 weeks veg shouldnt be much of anything to defoliate and crispy leaves from this or overnight seems impossible.

NanoGadget said:

I'm guessing that between the stress of heavy pruning and the reduced biomass that resulted, your plant is experiencing nutrient burn. Can you post any pics?

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I had posted a question about reducing the nutes for the exact reason you mentioned but no one replied so I kept the same feed. I could post a before pic but I didn’t take any after pics before I snipped the bad leaves off. Gonna check them after work tomorrow and hope all is good and it’s behind me. If I have a repeat then I’ll be worried and will get some pics.

Less photosynthesis = less nutes required.

Are you in a hempy bucket or just growing in coco?

I’ve only heard of defoliation at the first week or two of flower

Dynamo626 said:

Are you in a hempy bucket or just growing in coco?

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Both

I would check the TDs and ph of the running off of all. The regular coco ones that arnt in hempy bucket should be fed every day if you don't you will have salt build up and have dry pockets form that kill all the roots in said dry pocket.

Fixed up said:

You’re probably right but they were so thick that the lower leaves were getting no light and most of the new lower leaves were growing with three blades.

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"Nature" at work.....New grow, some old die off.....So what?

I only take off the yellow, non photosynthesizing leaves from down low.

At the flip, Lollypop the lowest 1/4 - 1/3 (think of a standing cone shape) of the plant and bloom it out.....These are 4ft tall plants at this time.

Dr. Who said:

"Nature" at work.....New grow, some old die off.....So what?

I only take off the yellow, non photosynthesizing leaves from down low.

At the flip, Lollypop the lowest 1/4 - 1/3 (think of a standing cone shape) of the plant and bloom it out.....These are 4ft tall plants at this time.

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Ok sounds good.

Dynamo626 said:

I would check the TDs and ph of the running off of all. The regular coco ones that arnt in hempy bucket should be fed every day if you don't you will have salt build up and have dry pockets form that kill all the roots in said dry pocket.

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They are all coco in Hempy buckets. My runoff PH is very close to the same and the ppm runoff is 100-150 less than what I’m putting in. I’ve been feeding them about every other day since the start. It will be interesting to check them out tonight when I get home. Could be a disaster but of course I’m hoping for a minor misstep and on to flower in two weeks.

Fullscan19 said:

I’ve only heard of defoliation at the first week or two of flower

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That's pruning and usually needed indoors IME, defioliators attack and hack plants from early veg.