Should i defoliate?
- Thread starter Bsr045
- Start date
3rd Monkey
Well-Known Member
Hell yes, get plucking lol.
TintEastwood
Well-Known Member
Not as controversial as flushing. 
No right or wrong.
https://www.growweedeasy.com/defoliation#picture-proof-veg
No right or wrong.
https://www.growweedeasy.com/defoliation#picture-proof-veg
PadawanWarrior
Well-Known Member
The one on the right looks like it could use a little maybe, but the one one the left doesn't look like it needs much defoliating at all if any.
Cali.Grown>408
Well-Known Member
I do it just so I don’t run into problems down the road but I trim less then a lot of other growers. I’d trim that up a little bit especially were the least light hits
rob333
Well-Known Member
why would you pull any leaves off that are not dying ? you will lose weight its a proven fact lol its just in the u.s.a people are so thick they think there right lol
Cali.Grown>408
Well-Known Member
I read that in a Russian accent.
Only felt right to do it that way
PadawanWarrior
Well-Known Member
You obviously don't live in the US, or you wouldn't be so jealous of us.
mustbetribbin
Well-Known Member
Hi Bsr045,
I see a lot of stacked shadow area below the upper canopy, If I may suggest, I'd say selectively trimming maybe 10-15 leaves could offer a benefit to the plants, as they would be better able to utilize the the light that they are receiving from above, it's not really a good thing for only the top 20-30% of the plant to be absorbing most of the light, it's more ideal to try allow for the light to be able to cascade downwards and disperse evenly throughout the plant.
Also I've even noticed potency increases by selectively trimming plants and by super cropping, if you just let the plants grow however they want and don't interact with them at all, then they have no reason to defend themselves and will not put out as many hormones and chemicals into the buds and leaves in attempts to fend off herbaceous predators from eating the leaves and the plant itself, so if you are able to just lightly trigger this response within the plant gradually over 2-3 periods of light to medium defoliation & LST (LST during veg mostly, not flower unless for height issues etc), you can typically see and notice a boost in terpenes and other cannabinoids.
The buds of the plant is where mostly all of the thc and other active cannabinoids are released from, if no light reaches into a majority of the bud sites, then this also gives the plant no reason to defend itself from the light and UV that they are receiving, the bud sites need to recieve a decent amount of light in order to trigger this response, which is why defoliation works, the leaves are only part of the equation, a light defoliation is what I recommend to anyone whom is already several weeks into flower, if you go too heavy at it, it can add weeks to the final flowing time, so just use caution and just clear what you feel is necessary, and whatever you think/feel will allow and improve air/light flow through the plant, especially down the center.
Plants aren't designed to grow perfectly 100% of the time, they put on leaves (and new growth) to over compensate and better there chances to absorb light and complete photosynthesis, each plant puts out more excess leaves than it actually needs to survive for each individual plants own survival, many times it can be up to human interaction to balance out a plant to help it reach its ideal structure.
Also be aware plants have back up leaves that grow in to replace others that are lost or extracted in the wild; by natural growth detriments such as bugs,caterpillars,hail, herbivores, wind, drought, etc. Plants defend themselves by responding to this with replacement leaves just like a shark or crocodile with its spare teeth continuously being replaced, but only to a certain point, it's best to only remove a certain number of select leaves so that the plant is allowed to replenish itself without experiencing too much shock or disruption in its growth.
It's best to wait at least a week or 2 between trimmings so that the plant has time to heal in between, so it's best to get as much clear as you (and your plants) feel comfortable with each time, as it's better for the plant to not be in constant recovery mode.
Happy trimmings, and be sure and save the leaves for fresh Cannabis tea or fresh salad greens if you are able, lots of good healing left in those leaves.
I see a lot of stacked shadow area below the upper canopy, If I may suggest, I'd say selectively trimming maybe 10-15 leaves could offer a benefit to the plants, as they would be better able to utilize the the light that they are receiving from above, it's not really a good thing for only the top 20-30% of the plant to be absorbing most of the light, it's more ideal to try allow for the light to be able to cascade downwards and disperse evenly throughout the plant.
Also I've even noticed potency increases by selectively trimming plants and by super cropping, if you just let the plants grow however they want and don't interact with them at all, then they have no reason to defend themselves and will not put out as many hormones and chemicals into the buds and leaves in attempts to fend off herbaceous predators from eating the leaves and the plant itself, so if you are able to just lightly trigger this response within the plant gradually over 2-3 periods of light to medium defoliation & LST (LST during veg mostly, not flower unless for height issues etc), you can typically see and notice a boost in terpenes and other cannabinoids.
The buds of the plant is where mostly all of the thc and other active cannabinoids are released from, if no light reaches into a majority of the bud sites, then this also gives the plant no reason to defend itself from the light and UV that they are receiving, the bud sites need to recieve a decent amount of light in order to trigger this response, which is why defoliation works, the leaves are only part of the equation, a light defoliation is what I recommend to anyone whom is already several weeks into flower, if you go too heavy at it, it can add weeks to the final flowing time, so just use caution and just clear what you feel is necessary, and whatever you think/feel will allow and improve air/light flow through the plant, especially down the center.
Plants aren't designed to grow perfectly 100% of the time, they put on leaves (and new growth) to over compensate and better there chances to absorb light and complete photosynthesis, each plant puts out more excess leaves than it actually needs to survive for each individual plants own survival, many times it can be up to human interaction to balance out a plant to help it reach its ideal structure.
Also be aware plants have back up leaves that grow in to replace others that are lost or extracted in the wild; by natural growth detriments such as bugs,caterpillars,hail, herbivores, wind, drought, etc. Plants defend themselves by responding to this with replacement leaves just like a shark or crocodile with its spare teeth continuously being replaced, but only to a certain point, it's best to only remove a certain number of select leaves so that the plant is allowed to replenish itself without experiencing too much shock or disruption in its growth.
It's best to wait at least a week or 2 between trimmings so that the plant has time to heal in between, so it's best to get as much clear as you (and your plants) feel comfortable with each time, as it's better for the plant to not be in constant recovery mode.
Happy trimmings, and be sure and save the leaves for fresh Cannabis tea or fresh salad greens if you are able, lots of good healing left in those leaves.
rob333
Well-Known Member
school shootings and 9/11 no thanks and do not forgot about Jesus and its my right im surprised use still even have a country lol
PadawanWarrior
Well-Known Member
Funny man. I'm still laughing.
mustbetribbin
Well-Known Member
Hey Bsr045,
I wanted to add a next and last step that I recommend to anyone defoliating while in flower, and that is to go back and check your bud sites for dried leaf stems that are left over from the defoliation, it's a good idea to go back after about a week or so and pick out what you can from within the bud sites, as the dead stem material from the trimmed leaves can lead to mold issues if you aren't careful.
A big plus to all this effort that is put into a defoliation like this, is that the bud sites that are left over are pristine and have a bold and un cluttered look to them (more light and airflow around the buds )which actually in the end leads to less work during the trim and less anxiety during the drying process.
Most of the leaf stems can be removed by hand, but other areas I'd suggest a nice pair of needle nose tweezers, self clamping are the type I prefer to use, and it can make clearing the plant of those hard to reach areas a breeze, and plus this way keeps contact to the growing bud sites to a minimum.
Another plus is less twigs in the final product once it's all dried and cured, more dense buds without any added debris, always a plus in my book.....
Happy growing everyone.
I wanted to add a next and last step that I recommend to anyone defoliating while in flower, and that is to go back and check your bud sites for dried leaf stems that are left over from the defoliation, it's a good idea to go back after about a week or so and pick out what you can from within the bud sites, as the dead stem material from the trimmed leaves can lead to mold issues if you aren't careful.
A big plus to all this effort that is put into a defoliation like this, is that the bud sites that are left over are pristine and have a bold and un cluttered look to them (more light and airflow around the buds )which actually in the end leads to less work during the trim and less anxiety during the drying process.
Most of the leaf stems can be removed by hand, but other areas I'd suggest a nice pair of needle nose tweezers, self clamping are the type I prefer to use, and it can make clearing the plant of those hard to reach areas a breeze, and plus this way keeps contact to the growing bud sites to a minimum.
Another plus is less twigs in the final product once it's all dried and cured, more dense buds without any added debris, always a plus in my book.....
Happy growing everyone.
Nizza
Well-Known Member
I dont defoliate at all I dont get the point. I may remove leaves/branches that are in the way of my watering can or get splashed by the soil when i water it.
I like to keep a canopy distance from the pot around 8" clear when the plant gets bigger to allow a channel of air between the wet soil and my buds to avoid rot
defoliating is controversial .
what it comes down to, is if you time everything right and have proper lighting/ ventilation, defoliation is un necessary. you may have a larger yield at cost of longer grow time
I like to keep a canopy distance from the pot around 8" clear when the plant gets bigger to allow a channel of air between the wet soil and my buds to avoid rot
defoliating is controversial .
what it comes down to, is if you time everything right and have proper lighting/ ventilation, defoliation is un necessary. you may have a larger yield at cost of longer grow time
rob333
Well-Known Member
is that code word for school shooting??
rob333
Well-Known Member
or false flag attacks ?
PadawanWarrior
Well-Known Member
If that's what you think, he obviously proved his point.