Hybrid..nah..the defoliation needs to make it damn near bare..
I second this it it scary at first bro but if you're going to defol then do it. The bottom inch or two of your plants stems should have no growth and then when you defol, the way I do it any larger fan leaf sticking way out goes as does anything covering a bud sight. I do this regardless of strain type (Sativa/Indica) and regardless of auto or photo period. My auto yields keep increasing too with defoliation and LST..........
I just defoliated last night trying not to go so over board but it's like an addiction I can't help but pulling leaves and the way the plants bounce back........
It's not for everyone and I'm not trying to convince you all I am saying is if you're going to defol then do it brother.
The two plants on the right and one not in the pic were defol'd yesterday the one back left was like three days ago maybe four would have to check my log and I left her more stripped than her sisters.
Defoliation also helps with air circulation and to prevent diseases/illness that can come from leaves laying on each other "sweating" etc.
This is what my experience has taught me. A lot of people give me crap about defol but a lot of folks do SCROG or their version of it and completeley clean out the lowere halfs of canopy's etc, you don't think taking a branch off completely stresses a plant more than plucking some leaves?
Your grow style is like mine we train the plants but more natural, your nets are not a SCROG they are for support. You had figured out a long time ago that more light to the buds equals bigger buds right, same concept brother take the fan leaves off and lower the lights as far as you can without burning and watch. You will be plucking more often. In flower I defol only Day 1/21, unless I come across an issue that requires it. That's just me. But in veg, anytime they're too fat I hit them again it encourages overall growth especially from the side branches.
Hope everything is good brother! Just my $0.02