If/when to defoliate or prune, autos

These plants are almost exactly four weeks since sprouting, autoflowers, 2x skywalker og and 2x Runtz. Planted in ffof with no added nutrients so far.

Question for experienced growers: should I be defoliating or pruning the plants? I’ve done a little low stress training and tucking, but haven’t purposefully removed any leaves. I’m generally a minimalist. I don’t want to take them if it’s not needed, though I’d be interested in recommendations. These plants seem pretty bushy, though they are not tall.

You should look into Photoperiod plants instead, but that out of the way, I wouldn't prune or defoliate those, they're not very tall. The reason you would defoliate or prune would be to get light to places it isn't reaching, which in your case doesn't seem to be a problem. You could always trim up the lower quarter of the plants "lollipop" style.

calvin.m16 said:

You should look into Photoperiod plants instead, but that out of the way, I wouldn't prune or defoliate those, they're not very tall. The reason you would defoliate or prune would be to get light to places it isn't reaching, which in your case doesn't seem to be a problem. You could always trim up the lower quarter of the plants "lollipop" style.

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Thanks for the reply. They are short but bushy, so light is getting through. I appreciate the suggestion of photos, and I’m likely to try that for my next indoor grow after this round. I grew photos outdoors last year, and hope to start some in early spring that I can clone to bring outdoors and also keep growing in.

I will likely take some of the lower stuff that won’t develop into dense buds. I left that stuff on my last grow (first indoor in many years) and the fluff went pretty effectively into an oil, so it can be useful.

thanks though. Light is getting through, as you pointed out.