Defoliate top or bottom?

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SquirrelMaster87

Member
I’m going into my third week of flower on the 31st, starting to see white pistils so I’m thinking that’s the first sign it’s in bud mode. I’m thinking I bit off a little more then I can chew, some of the under leaves that aren’t getting much light seem to be droopy. Was thinking I should clean it up a little above and below my net where the shoots don’t seem to be touching the net. Thanks again.
 

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BostonBuds

BostonBuds

Well-Known Member
I pick off the large mature fan leaves to open up space for new growth. I do it daily, a few leaves, no major trimming or stress and the plants grow strong.
 
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SquirrelMaster87

Member
BostonBuds said:
I pick off the large mature fan leaves to open up space for new growth. I do it daily, a few leaves, no major trimming or stress and the plants grow strong.
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That’s kind of what I’ve been doing, every other day I’d take a few off each plant, nothing serious. Just a couple here and there to open up space for some bud sites. Didn’t know if I should keep that up, didn’t wanna touch the top so much like verrice said their like your solar panels But i did take a few off the top. Deaf will be cleaning the bottom up quite a bit this evening.
 
Oakiey

Oakiey

Well-Known Member
Just leave the leaves alone


What they don't need will shrivel up and fall off after the plant pulls the nutrient out of them
 
Verrice

Verrice

Active Member
Oakiey said:
Just leave the leaves alone
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You will find, @SquirrelMaster87, defoliation is a bit of a contentious issue. Some believe in it, some don't. :)

I'm a believer because every time I do it, my plants explode in growth in response. Rather than daily, though, I defoliate weekly, if needed (see that other thread). I do, however, clean out new shoots that I don't want every-other-day.
 
Verrice

Verrice

Active Member
Verrice said:
Some believe in it, some don't.
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That's also one of the beauties, I think, of this... just about everything you could do has tons of ways to do it, and even more opinions on which is right. Leaves a LOT of freedom to decide, for yourself, what is best for you and your plants. What a great use of a forum, too? :D
 
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SquirrelMaster87

Member
Oakiey said:
Just leave the leaves alone


What they don't need will shrivel up and fall off after the plant pulls the nutrient out of them
Click to expand...
Verrice said:
You will find, @SquirrelMaster87, defoliation is a bit of a contentious issue. Some believe in it, some don't. :)

I'm a believer because every time I do it, my plants explode in growth in response. Rather than daily, though, I defoliate weekly, if needed (see that other thread). I do, however, clean out new shoots that I don't want every-other-day.
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Ya I kind of figured, I did a bit of research on the topic and it always seemed like a bag of mixed opinions, not sure which way I should lean. Both sides seem to have good points.
 
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SquirrelMaster87

Member
Oakiey said:
Just leave the leaves alone


What they don't need will shrivel up and fall off after the plant pulls the nutrient out of them
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That’s kind of what I’ve been noticing underneath the screen. Just doesn’t seem all that healthy compared to the top. There’s hardly any light penetrating my canopy so wasn’t sure if there was any point trying In keeping it or not. Some people seem to like the idea, some not so much.
 
Verrice

Verrice

Active Member
SquirrelMaster87 said:
not sure which way I should lean. Both sides seem to have good points.
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A couple ways I would approach that.

Before I'm at the point (i.e. before plants are growing or that big), spend time watching grows that do, and don't do, the thing I'm considering. Watch their results through to finish. Decide based on that.

If I'm already in it, then it's more of a judgement call, and I'll usually opt for the choice that I think I will learn more from. If it doesn't work out well, I'm going to grow again, and again, and again anyway, so I can just try it differently the next time. Whatever is "right" today, could be wrong tomorrow. :lol:

Either way, I track everything I do, when I do it, and how the plant responds.
 
Oakiey

Oakiey

Well-Known Member
Really how much photosynthesizing does fruit and flowers do

you want to grow a giant melon you don't pull all the f****** leaves off

Once all those fan leaves are gone they're gone forever.

Hell yeah you get an explosion of growth. Got to grow some leaves back to have a chance to grow flowers and reproduce
 
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SquirrelMaster87

Member
Verrice said:
That's also one of the beauties, I think, of this... just about everything you could do has tons of ways to do it, and even more opinions on which is right. Leaves a LOT of freedom to decide, for yourself, what is best for you and your plants. What a great use of a forum, too? :D
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I guess it would be safe to say a lot of it depends on probally a lot of different factors, genetics is probably a big one, but everyone’s grow is different, as far as their setups, nutes, knowledge, etc. Just because maybe someone did or didn’t have any success with trying something a certain way doesn’t me everyone else is going to have that same experience.
 
Verrice

Verrice

Active Member
SquirrelMaster87 said:
I guess it would be safe to say a lot of it depends on probally a lot of different factors, genetics is probably a big one, but everyone’s grow is different, as far as their setups, nutes, knowledge, etc. Just because maybe someone did or didn’t have any success with trying something a certain way doesn’t me everyone else is going to have that same experience.
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Totally! Good luck, and I hope they flower into amazing dense nugs for you, regardless of which approach you choose! Keep us updated!
 
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