Please Explain Defoliation Pros and Cons

ProdigalSun

ProdigalSun

Well-Known Member
Ok, I'm on the side of "Don't remove the solar panels" on this one. It makes sense. However, it's hard for me to argue with people who are running 20,000watts and have good yields season after season. So, I was hoping that we could have a discussion about it, as I am never above learning something new.


GO!
 
I

Imaulle

Well-Known Member
it's all bullshit. in what universe do you get better results from removing the powerhouse of plants / major site of food production for plants? it's just an excuse for amateurs who cannot maintain healthy foliage
 
Indoor Sun King

Indoor Sun King

Well-Known Member
ProdigalSun said:
So, I was hoping that we could have a discussion about it, as I am never above learning something new.
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that would be nice if we could get a normal discussion about these controversial subjects such as germination, soil/medium, flushing, nutes, amber trichromes, curing and a few more that have escaped me.....but it seems that so often these subjects become an ugly pissing match which lacks any proper substance for a rookie to formulate an educated opinion....as you can see your first response starts off with a really positive friendly atmosphere
 
AimAim

AimAim

Well-Known Member
And one problem that adds to the confusion of these discussions is some people don't make the distinction between "defoliation" and judicious pruning and removal of lower growth.
 
rickymac21

rickymac21

Well-Known Member
I like to prune the larger fan leaves off during veg only. I haven't done any real experiments to determine how much of a difference it makes. But I can say by removing the larger leaves it allows more light to reach lower and inner branches. It appears that this extra light allows the lower branches to grow quicker. I've tried defoliation in flower but it doesn't seem to make much of a difference in my yields. So I just leave it alone. I'll trim most of the leaves off a few days before harvest just to get a head start on trimming though
 
Indoor Sun King

Indoor Sun King

Well-Known Member
AimAim said:
And one problem that adds to the confusion of these discussions is some people don't make the distinction between "defoliation" and judicious pruning and removal of lower growth.
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I agree, the term "defoliation" is perceived differently...same with flushing, the perceptions are vast

IMO: there are circumstances that may make defoliation (and/or flushing) the right choice for your personal situation..... I just wish we could hear the pro's and con's of all these subjects without the crap
 
ProdigalSun

ProdigalSun

Well-Known Member
You have to sort through all the crap and put it with your own experiences to decide what to do. Luckily, marijuana puts up with our crap pretty well.
 
Nitegazer

Nitegazer

Well-Known Member
I'll stick my neck out for two reasons for judicial puning---

1 - when you are interested in stimulating a specific type of growth away from the leaf sites being removed. For example, take a look at the upcaning demonstrated in post #5076 of this link:

https://www.rollitup.org/advanced-marijuana-cultivation/151706-uncle-bens-topping-technique-get-508.html

In it, simisimis is willing to sacrifice short term growth to achieve a specific branching form.


2 - In order to improve air circulation. If I am having a hard time keeping humidity down, I may trim the lower fan leaves of my scrog, to allow for more air flow. I may lose some growth, but I'll take that as the cost of insurance against mold.

It really is all about tradeoffs. Yes, removing leaves will slow growth, but sometimes it's worth it for the gain.
 
dannyboy602

dannyboy602

Well-Known Member
I think the whole idea of removing plant parts is so that I get to control growth instead of the plant growing more leaves which I don't smoke anyway.
 
Cpappa27

Cpappa27

Well-Known Member
I absolutely do not believe in taking any leaves off for better light access. Some on the bottom for mold? OK I get that but not anything else. If its in the way move it, tuck it away, tie it, tape it if you must but don't cut it..
 
fssalaska

fssalaska

Well-Known Member
Oh shit not another one of these threads :( search and you will see this has been coved to death. some be leave it hurts the plant some think it helps, best thing try it for yourself.

good luck
 
ProdigalSun

ProdigalSun

Well-Known Member
fssalaska said:
Oh shit not another one of these threads :( search and you will see this has been coved to death. some be leave it hurts the plant some think it helps, best thing try it for yourself.

good luck
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Thats the problem, it's too hard to get answers, I think yours is best.
 
ProdigalSun

ProdigalSun

Well-Known Member
Why was this moved to general? I asked it in advanced, in hopes to limit new-b replies to this particular question.
 
SnapsProvolone

SnapsProvolone

Well-Known Member
We should end this by running a side by side competition where ppl grow two identical as possible clones side by side, stripping one but not other. Some strains may respond differently.
 
Sand4x105

Sand4x105

Well-Known Member
Some of us have tried this, and are too embarrassed to post the results...
When I first grew here... I tried this side by side.... took all the leaves off one plant [in veg], it's sister grew taller faster, but wasn't as short, or fat...
Then the plant I took leaves off, turned Hermie... That was my last defoliation experiment....
Haha... don't do it.... how I look at it, if newbies read defoliation is good, then a bunch of newbies will have a bunch of problems...
haha... don't do it....
 
justanotherbozo

justanotherbozo

Well-Known Member
Sand4x105 said:
Some of us have tried this, and are too embarrassed to post the results...
When I first grew here... I tried this side by side.... took all the leaves off one plant [in veg], it's sister grew taller faster, but wasn't as short, or fat...
Then the plant I took leaves off, turned Hermie... That was my last defoliation experiment....
Haha... don't do it.... how I look at it, if newbies read defoliation is good, then a bunch of newbies will have a bunch of problems...
haha... don't do it....
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...it hasn't seemed to hurt my op, ...and if you had something hermie on you then the hermie trait was already present in the genes, not something caused by defoliation.

...try and keep in mind that in the wild you have animals grazing on plants all the time so plants have developed an automatic response to this 'attack' which is a growth spurt in an attempt to replace the lost vegetation, that's why you'll notice increased growth rates after judicious pruning.





peace, bozo
 
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