Is it safe to defoliate autos

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Herb potman

Well-Known Member
Hey all was hoping for some help with defoliating autos. I red a few things ? When LST don't let leaves touch ground or each other ? Why ? And that since autos have short veg do not defoliate May stunt growth. If anyone could give some advice Wud be nice. Iam at day 21 first grow
 
speedwell68

speedwell68

Well-Known Member
I defoliate as I apply the LST. I am only on my second and third run of Autos and I take any leaves that are blocking potential top shoots. I have no idea that is good, bad or otherwise. I don't top them. My first run is starting to finish now and the results look promising. They could be better than they are but I identified lots of minor mistakes and corrected them, so these second and third runs should be better.

My main mistake was starting them off with a load of finishing photos on 12/12, the second and third runs are solely on 20/4. My other mistakes are based on my choice of medium, I tried a new medium which hasn't proven to be as good as I hoped, which led to deficiencies early on.
 
H

Herb potman

Well-Known Member
speedwell68 said:
I defoliate as I apply the LST. I am only on my second and third run of Autos and I take any leaves that are blocking potential top shoots. I have no idea that is good, bad or otherwise. I don't top them. My first run is starting to finish now and the results look promising. They could be better than they are but I identified lots of minor mistakes and corrected them, so these second and third runs should be better.

My main mistake was starting them off with a load of finishing photos on 12/12, the second and third runs are solely on 20/4. My other mistakes are based on my choice of medium, I tried a new medium which hasn't proven to be as good as I hoped, which led to deficiencies early on.
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How many leaves do u take off at a time and do u use scissors or hand(bend backwards against grain)
 
BriD

BriD

Active Member
It may be a bit tight to begin with but once they start final stretch you will wish you did not defoliate. They will spread out and be needing those fan leafs, Also ive found the leafs that grow after are a lot smaller and thinner.
 
BriD

BriD

Active Member
speedwell68 said:
I defoliate as I apply the LST. I am only on my second and third run of Autos and I take any leaves that are blocking potential top shoots. I have no idea that is good, bad or otherwise. I don't top them. My first run is starting to finish now and the results look promising. They could be better than they are but I identified lots of minor mistakes and corrected them, so these second and third runs should be better.

My main mistake was starting them off with a load of finishing photos on 12/12, the second and third runs are solely on 20/4. My other mistakes are based on my choice of medium, I tried a new medium which hasn't proven to be as good as I hoped, which led to deficiencies early on.
Click to expand...
CalMag
 
BriD

BriD

Active Member
Herb potman said:
Hey all was hoping for some help with defoliating autos. I red a few things ? When LST don't let leaves touch ground or each other ? Why ? And that since autos have short veg do not defoliate May stunt growth. If anyone could give some advice Wud be nice. Iam at day 21 first grow
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If the first leafs are touching the soil i remove them. By this time their normally yellowing anyway but there the only ones i remove. If a leaf is led on top of another leaf it will get very moist and could start rotting.
 
S

swangang69

Active Member
i can say 2 much defoliation is bad but some here and there is definitely good i dont see defoliating to add any time on to a grow even if it did in eyes would be worth at veg stage to defo to get them bud sites sitting pretty in the light and have them big bud sites growr bigger its all about the veg for autos treat it well in veg and feed less rather than more you will grow some nicee i have recently moved on from autos and they are great i loved growing them and i think growing some dopeee auto strain is pure simple growing talent.
 
BriD

BriD

Active Member
swangang69 said:
i can say 2 much defoliation is bad but some here and there is definitely good i dont see defoliating to add any time on to a grow even if it did in eyes would be worth at veg stage to defo to get them bud sites sitting pretty in the light and have them big bud sites growr bigger its all about the veg for autos treat it well in veg and feed less rather than more you will grow some nicee i have recently moved on from autos and they are great i loved growing them and i think growing some dopeee auto strain is pure simple growing talent.
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I've not had the best experience defoliating. Its not to bad if you take 2 or 3 leafs in one go and then don't touch it again, but if your taking leafs one day then taking more a few days or a week later, it really stunts there growth.

I believe it also triggers a reaction in the plant to produce smaller slender leafs, Like in nature as a reaction to having leafs eaten by animals. The plants response is to produce a high quantity of smaller leafs.
 
speedwell68

speedwell68

Well-Known Member
Herb potman said:
How many leaves do u take off at a time and do u use scissors or hand(bend backwards against grain)
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There is no set amount, just what I think is right at that moment in time. Some get defoliated more than others depending how well the light is getting in. I just gently pinch them off.
 
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