Theories of defoliation

newbie2323

newbie2323

Well-Known Member
One thing I've observed two months into my first grow is that of all the advice floating around the internet about growing cannabis, few topics are more vague, arbitrary and downright contradictory than that of defoliation.

Some say to remove the lower growth via lollipoping. Others advocate thinning the canopy to let light down to that growth.

The advice on when to defoliate is likewise all over the map. Little by little or all at once. Before the switch to flower; after the switch. Etc., etc.

I've read that new growth is more efficient at photosynthesis and I've read than big fan leaves are better at it.

I have a hard time believing there aren't some experienced growers on this forum with empirical experience grounded in actual plant theory who can clear this up.
 
hotrodharley

hotrodharley

Well-Known Member
newbie2323 said:
One thing I've observed two months into my first grow is that of all the advice floating around the internet about growing cannabis, few topics are more vague, arbitrary and downright contradictory than that of defoliation.

Some say to remove the lower growth via lollipoping. Others advocate thinning the canopy to let light down to that growth.

The advice on when to defoliate is likewise all over the map. Little by little or all at once. Before the switch to flower; after the switch. Etc., etc.

I've read that new growth is more efficient at photosynthesis and I've read than big fan leaves are better at it.

I have a hard time believing there aren't some experienced growers on this forum with empirical experience grounded in actual plant theory who can clear this up.
Click to expand...
Wait until you ask about flushing.
 
GBAUTO

GBAUTO

Well-Known Member
I feel that the possible benefits of defoliation depend on whether it's an indoor or outdoor grow. That big ball of fusing hydrogen in the sky creates uniform light intensity from head to toe, something that's impossible to duplicate with artificial lighting. The sun also moves across the horizon so that exposes more areas of the plant canopy to lighting. Because of that, I tend to not do as much defoliating on outdoor plants.
Indoor grows are completely different. It's impossible to provide the same uniformity of PPFD from the top of the canopy to the bottom. This creates little effective growth in the lower, interior portions of the plant. That is the primary reason I do stripping.
 
Merlin1147

Merlin1147

Well-Known Member
My theory is that so long as the plants aren’t stressed and you have good control of the environment, temp, Rh defoliating or not isn’t going to effect the final outcome. If the lower leaves aren’t getting enough light to be efficient they’re going to get pale and the plant will defoliate itself or you can encourage it. I do go in and check the lower plant for bud sites that are weak or really delayed and probably won’t do much and I trim those out leaving the fan leaf. It probably costs in yield but I don’t like trimming Larf.
 
Armyofsprout

Armyofsprout

Well-Known Member
SPLFreak808 said:
Your environment is your BIGGEST factor in how you should train/grow your plant, metabolism is governed by the whole plant not leaf by leaf, stripping a plant under high light levels will likely slow it down.
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Plenty of people strip their plants and they turn out just fine under high light.
 
SPLFreak808

SPLFreak808

Well-Known Member
Armyofsprout said:
Plenty of people strip their plants and they turn out just fine under high light.
Click to expand...
When you run a dialed room with high light levels, you dont want plants that are "just fine", they grow extra leafy under high par levels for a reason, more stomatas = more gas exchange, faster metabolism.

Not sure what your definition of defoliation really is, pruning/lollipopping ok i get it but stripping leaves (cannabis,peppers,onions ect) beyond 20% from flowering plants in a strong environment (outdoor ect) usually show negitive results.
 
T macc

T macc

Well-Known Member
I've been defoiliating every indoor grow. But I'm tired of seeing hella leafy buds. So I think I'll stop. I also read that the brix levels drop when you take leaves, which I can understand. In other words, your plants are healthier throughout the grow with its leaves

I think I'll still defoliate in veg tho and just lollipop in flower
 
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Dog Star

Dog Star

Well-Known Member
Am encounter different strains responds different on defoliation.. not all benefits from defo..

Amnesia Haze 10 week cut,4 time defoliated.. after first week of flowering,second,third and little bit in fourth
and i haved hugest yield ever under Gavita 1000 DE,it was something little over 1800 grams in organic
setup whithouth adding CO2..

Some other strains was also show good "relply" back if defoliated... but i haved also those that hated defo
and i sees they yielded lot less than usually..
 
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