So how do I know if I'm over defoliating ... Can defoliating cause hermaphroditism

PSUAGRO.

PSUAGRO.

Well-Known Member
Kushash said:
Sounds good but what about these two sentences which are related to the threads title.

"He also states that removing large amounts of fan leaves will also interfere with the metabolic balance of the plant. Leaf removal may also cause SEX REVERSAL resulting from a metabolic imbalance."

Is this referring to outdoor growing only?
Click to expand...
Good question, forgot about the op title.......I would lean towards Robert's findings after decades of hard work on the subject. Not some internet grower

So yes, cautious is a good motto....... No plant fuckery guys apply:-P
 
Last edited:
Rickypsimer

Rickypsimer

Well-Known Member
Airwalker16 said:
I know for a fact low light levels cause herm issues. There's been nice harvests with great buds above the scrog net, perfectly flushed and done well, but underneath the net... Where it's literally ZER0 PpFd, the larf has seeds and nanners in abundance.
Yet the top is sensimilla.
Click to expand...
Wow... That would be crazy i would be pissed could it have been that strain was just highly unstable
 
Kushash

Kushash

Well-Known Member
PJ Diaz said:
Defoliation is a common practice for cotton crops. Just sayin.

Effective timing and efficient defoliation techniques maximize yield and fiber quality

PhytoGen explains how the TEAM approach to cotton defoliation — Timing, Environment, Application and Materials — delivers effective, efficient results
phytogencottonseed.com phytogencottonseed.com

View attachment 4457276
Click to expand...
That's interesting.
I skimmed that and another EDU link about it and from what I'm gathering they defoliate cotton near harvest to aid in the harvesting process. Similar to de-fanning (defoliating) before running buds through a trim machine for the sake of the machine.
 
PJ Diaz

PJ Diaz

Well-Known Member
Kushash said:
That's interesting.
I skimmed that and another EDU link about it and from what I'm gathering they defoliate cotton near harvest to aid in the harvesting process. Similar to de-fanning (defoliating) before running buds through a trim machine for the sake of the machine.
Click to expand...
There are other studies which indicate that they also get higher quality cotton fibers from the process and larger blooms. One can imagine that similar things may happen with Cannabis.
 
PSUAGRO.

PSUAGRO.

Well-Known Member
*cotton

Now we're comparing perennial cultivation methods to cannabis? I think they till cotton plants in after each season in the modern chemical age now though, not sure.... Isn't a local crop.

Again, Just try leaf stripping for yourself vs control and come to your own conclusion. Best way imo

We can argue this to death, next up P boost in flower!......ughhhhh
 
Last edited:
Kassiopeija

Kassiopeija

Well-Known Member
Airwalker16 said:
I know for a fact low light levels cause herm issues. There's been nice harvests with great buds above the scrog net, perfectly flushed and done well, but underneath the net... Where it's literally ZER0 PpFd, the larf has seeds and nanners in abundance.
Yet the top is sensimilla.
Click to expand...
You could be right. How is it in nature? Low light levels may equate to late autumn. Thus, these buds try to "hurry up" on their own. Males flower somewhat sooner, so very late in autumn female plants may not get a sex partner so "do it" on their own... ;/
Also, a plants leaves outdoors get the same strong sunlight from top to bottom. Indoorlight is impotent after a sheer meter. For a plant, that may also be unnatural stress.
from that point of view lollipopping makes alot of sense.
or willfull pollenization of bottom popcorn buds to prevent herming.
 
Hust17

Hust17

Well-Known Member
I can tell you defoiling works. I did a hard defoil at day 1 of 12/12 and I’m seeing way more potent bud sites than any of my past grows. I’m on day 21 now and just did another hard defoil. I will be doing this in all future runs.

The only issue I had was on my day 1 defoil one of my three plants ‘bled’ from about a third of the defoil sites. I think it may have been because I watered shortly after the defoil, so I’m going to give it some time to heal this time before next water. Could also just be from trimming some sites too close to the stem, but it’s weird it only happened on one of them.
 
Kassiopeija

Kassiopeija

Well-Known Member
Hust17 said:
I can tell you defoiling works. I did a hard defoil at day 1 of 12/12 and I’m seeing way more potent bud sites than any of my past grows. I’m on day 21 now and just did another hard defoil. I will be doing this in all future runs.

The only issue I had was on my day 1 defoil one of my three plants ‘bled’ from about a third of the defoil sites. I think it may have been because I watered shortly after the defoil, so I’m going to give it some time to heal this time before next water. Could also just be from trimming some sites too close to the stem, but it’s weird it only happened on one of them.
Click to expand...
one of the things to keep in mind is that a plant firstly develops roots in order to support new growth with water. (the other way round wouldnt work..)
after defol the same full set of roots is there, supporting a reduced leafcount. thats why I think a plant can grow back in no time.

However, in flowering it wont grow back that many leaves but instead buds.

I just topped 2 plants from which Ive taken daily notes of all parameters incl. leaftemp.
After topping the leaftemp dropped by -4°C at both plants but the untopped controlplant stayed the same.
I think this is due to more transpiration because the reduced leadmass now has to do more work to support a relatively greater rootball.
Just my personal 2c but Ill keep an eye on that...
 
Hust17

Hust17

Well-Known Member
Kassiopeija said:
one of the things to keep in mind is that a plant firstly develops roots in order to support new growth with water. (the other way round wouldnt work..)
after defol the same full set of roots is there, supporting a reduced leafcount. thats why I think a plant can grow back in no time.

However, in flowering it wont grow back that many leaves but instead buds.

I just topped 2 plants from which Ive taken daily notes of all parameters incl. leaftemp.
After topping the leaftemp dropped by -4°C at both plants but the untopped controlplant stayed the same.
I think this is due to more transpiration because the reduced leadmass now has to do more work to support a relatively greater rootball.
Just my personal 2c but Ill keep an eye on that...
Click to expand...
Ya I’m not sure on the science, I just want the light to hit more buds basically :)

In my tent before the defoil: 28 degrees, 58 RH%
After defoil: 26 degrees, 46 RH%

Without changing any settings on anything else..
 
Airwalker16

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
Hust17 said:
I can tell you defoiling works. I did a hard defoil at day 1 of 12/12 and I’m seeing way more potent bud sites than any of my past grows. I’m on day 21 now and just did another hard defoil. I will be doing this in all future runs.

The only issue I had was on my day 1 defoil one of my three plants ‘bled’ from about a third of the defoil sites. I think it may have been because I watered shortly after the defoil, so I’m going to give it some time to heal this time before next water. Could also just be from trimming some sites too close to the stem, but it’s weird it only happened on one of them.
Click to expand...
Don't do anymore after day 21.
 
Airwalker16

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
Hust17 said:
I can tell you defoiling works. I did a hard defoil at day 1 of 12/12 and I’m seeing way more potent bud sites than any of my past grows. I’m on day 21 now and just did another hard defoil. I will be doing this in all future runs.

The only issue I had was on my day 1 defoil one of my three plants ‘bled’ from about a third of the defoil sites. I think it may have been because I watered shortly after the defoil, so I’m going to give it some time to heal this time before next water. Could also just be from trimming some sites too close to the stem, but it’s weird it only happened on one of them.
Click to expand...
And when you deFOLIATE, you wanna snip the leaf off from the stem of the leaf about a 1/2" from the main stem. Avoid plucking the whole leaf. This will prevent bleeding and possible infection.
 
Hust17

Hust17

Well-Known Member
Airwalker16 said:
And when you deFOLIATE, you wanna snip the leaf off from the stem of the leaf about a 1/2" from the main stem. Avoid plucking the whole leaf. This will prevent bleeding and possible infection.
Click to expand...
Thanks! Ya I usually do about 1/2 cm actually but my one plant, a SLH, probably needed a bit longer. It would be easier to do 1/2” anyways so I’ll try that next run!
 
Couch_Lock

Couch_Lock

Well-Known Member
PJ Diaz said:
There are other studies which indicate that they also get higher quality cotton fibers from the process and larger blooms. One can imagine that similar things may happen with Cannabis.
Click to expand...
Makes sense in theory, plants convert more energy to bud sites if less leaf is present. But I'd only defoliate once, mid way in flower. Too many times creates constant stress/ Some leaf needs to be attached to colas though, solar panels/
 
BCBLondesLEDGrowLights

BCBLondesLEDGrowLights

Well-Known Member
Defoliation will absolutely increase yield and vigor. Do it when the plants are getting bushy and crowding them selves, usually once in veg, then once when you kick em, then at 3 weeks and once again between 5-6 weeks. THis is assuming fast vigorous growth using co2. You will get less bugs and mold, and harder bigger buds and a larger yield. I've a thread on how to do it here somewhere.... happy gardening
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top