When should I stop defoliating?

DirtyStrawHat

DirtyStrawHat

Active Member
Howdy,

My 3x3 surface area is full. I have one auto-flower coming up on week 5 flower. I had been thinking about defoliating again before the last home run because it is beginning to get a little crowded.

When should be the last time I snip it out?

What physical stage traits should I see in the plant that will let me know "OK, no more snipping its time to yield"

lots of different opinions on here, also the people who say not to defoliate autos at all. I currently LST and scrog, and the plant has an even canopy, I just feel like i dont need anything thats being shaded heavy going into flower. I have never snipped this late into flower, maybe one of you have and could share some advice.
 
DailyBlastin

DailyBlastin

Well-Known Member
With autos i typically try not to cut them up or stress them due to their traits (that being said its been almost 3 years since ive run an auto) Lst alone was always my best result with them though, A long time ago (under a different username) i posted a journal thread on here proving that you can indeed successfully top/fim and even supercrop auto's, it just doesnt always give you the results you were hoping for lol. Anyway i treat defoliation like i do haircuts, no one needs a haircut every week or even every month, its okay to let your hair grow out some in between cuts, likewise with plants, you dont wanna cut em too frequently, i usually do 2 sessions of defoliation, one about week 2 of flower and another about week 7.
 
T

tslonige

Well-Known Member
DailyBlastin said:
With autos i typically try not to cut them up or stress them due to their traits (that being said its been almost 3 years since ive run an auto) Lst alone was always my best result with them though, A long time ago (under a different username) i posted a journal thread on here proving that you can indeed successfully top/fim and even supercrop auto's, it just doesnt always give you the results you were hoping for lol. Anyway i treat defoliation like i do haircuts, no one needs a haircut every week or even every month, its okay to let your hair grow out some in between cuts, likewise with plants, you dont wanna cut em too frequently, i usually do 2 sessions of defoliation, one about week 2 of flower and another about week 7.
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MY bad, I missed the Auto part, I agree with Daily. Disregard what I said, lol, bad info on my part
 
StareCase

StareCase

Well-Known Member
You might want to wait till week 4 for the first defoliation cause you are pruning sort of in the middle of the stretch. I have found that pruning and defoliation is best after stretch ... not so much for the big branches, but more so for that healthy secondary layer. I can get 2 oz of good tops per lady from that second layer. I wouldn't want to have inadvertently trimmed it off.

Recommend to let the stretch finish, see exactly where your good bud sites are - then you can go after the weak sisters and those blocking shade leaves.

One growers opinion ...
 
DirtyStrawHat

DirtyStrawHat

Active Member
DailyBlastin said:
With autos i typically try not to cut them up or stress them due to their traits (that being said its been almost 3 years since ive run an auto) Lst alone was always my best result with them though, A long time ago (under a different username) i posted a journal thread on here proving that you can indeed successfully top/fim and even supercrop auto's, it just doesnt always give you the results you were hoping for lol. Anyway i treat defoliation like i do haircuts, no one needs a haircut every week or even every month, its okay to let your hair grow out some in between cuts, likewise with plants, you dont wanna cut em too frequently, i usually do 2 sessions of defoliation, one about week 2 of flower and another about week 7.
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cool so it sounds like im due for another haircut
 
JAMEZ420

JAMEZ420

Active Member
I just trimmed the big fan leaves off my auto after she went into flowering to unblock some bud sites but what I have been reading dont wanna trim to much to lose energy and cause stress dont mind the dead plants in the back ground was other herds I was growing lol been busy for the holidays to lazy to clean them out but here she is in week 12 from sprout 20191223_084152.jpg
 
DirtyStrawHat

DirtyStrawHat

Active Member
JAMEZ420 said:
I just trimmed the big fan leaves off my auto after she went into flowering to unblock some bud sites but what I have been reading dont wanna trim to much to lose energy and cause stress dont mind the dead plants in the back ground was other herds I was growing lol been busy for the holidays to lazy to clean them out but here she is in week 12 from sprout View attachment 4442252
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i like that pot, looking frosty
 
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