10 week old jack herer

Defoliate or not?

Snufaluffagus said:

Defoliate or not?View attachment 4310937 View attachment 4310938

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Why? She's already well into making buds.

Looked like side buds we're struggling.So, I just pulled the branches down with a little lst action and lightly defoliated anything that was covering up bud sites. Much better light penetration now.

Snuf,
Lovely plant. Remember that the leaves are the energy factories where all the photosynthesis occurs. So don't cut too many. I've noticed guys lollypopping and while I think it's extreme (unless under scrog net)...some prudent trimming down below won't hurt anything.
JD

Never defoliate autoflowering varieties...there are some, SOME, that can tolerate this. But more often than not, you will cause far more harm than good from pruning or defoli'ing an auto. Most of them do respond well to LST'ing, however, and some do respond well to pruning. Being too far along for pruning, I'd just do LST'ing...helps avoid the christmas tree structure, and helps to keep all of the buds at an even height. Also, cannabis naturally directs it's growth hormones to the buds that are at the heighest point on the plant. By bending down the main cola, you help redistribute these growth hormones to other bud sites and helps to create mutliple larger colas versus one dominant one.

Snufaluffagus said:

Looked like side buds we're struggling.So, I just pulled the branches down with a little lst action and lightly defoliated anything that was covering up bud sites. Much better light penetration now.

Click to expand...

Do not cut leaves, move them out of the way

Snufaluffagus said:

Defoliate or not?View attachment 4310937 View attachment 4310938

Click to expand...

Jack is a 11/12 week plant so be prepared for that.
Don't cut any leaves off, ever, all you will is reduce energy storage and the ability of the plant to breath (transpiration)