Defoliation on super bushy plants

Hey guys.

A while ago I made a thread on possible root problems, if anyone who was there can remember it. The roots have seemingly recovered and there haven't been any new problems so far. It's looking quite good and my two plants have grown quite bushy in the process. Both have assumed a kind of christmas-tree shape.
Now I want to help them get as much light evenly spread as possible. Since I'm still an amateur and I don't want to overdo it on the defoliation process, I wanted to get some helpful hints from you guys.

This is #1 before defoliation and about a week back:


This is her after I pruned back a lot of the lower growth which didn't really receive light:


This is #2 before:


And after:


I've not touched some of the bigger lower leaves which are attached to strong branches, because I didn't want to overdo the pruning or maybe delay it until week 2-3 of flowering. Right now they are exactly 1 week into flower and I've let them veg for 6 weeks because of the root problems. I don't have much personal experience but from what I've discovered on the internet so far, they seem to be quite healthy and also very bushy, right?

So, is there anything I missed, is there kind of a general rule or something? Any help would be greatly appreciated, because I want to max the yield as much as possible.

Peace

my rule is to get to know the cannabis cultivar, allow it to grow as it pleases. If you need more light, install more light.
If you want a smaller plant top it. You can train, twist, bend, chop, defoliate too, but why? I'd get real good at growing
them first, then get good at training them.
they look good, nice recovery!

chemphlegm said:

my rule is to get to know the cannabis cultivar, allow it to grow as it pleases. If you need more light, install more light.
If you want a smaller plant top it. You can train, twist, bend, chop, defoliate too, but why? I'd get real good at growing
them first, then get good at training them.
they look good, nice recovery!

Click to expand...

Thanks, bud. Good to hear that they seem to do well.

Yeah, I agree with you on the part of getting to know it first and then train it on the next runs. I would also just follow that rule of thumb if it wasn't for me wanting to maximize yield even now because of financial stuff. I know, not a very good foundation to start a grow on but frankly, I simply don't have a choice.
I didn't and of course I won't really "train" them anyway or I would have just manifolded at the start I guess, but I hope defoliating a bit where the light doesn't shine isn't too stressful for the ladies.
I will get "better" light for my next run if this one turns out successful and right now, I'm on a 400W adjust-a-wings' that seems to be doing the job quite ok. My space is limited and the bushy ladies started to touch each other, which was another reason that I defoliated a bit.

Anyway, I trust your compliments, but can/should I touch them again one last time in about a week to get rid of all the lower growth that steals energy or should I just leave them now as they are? And what about some of the bigger fan leaves in the middle that literally have no other growth attached to them? Is there a general rule for these? They are quite big, receive a lot of light but they won't receive any flowers. Or are they required for the plant to get energy and then distribute it to the flowers elsewhere?

NO growth on your plant steals energy from any other plant part. Removing all the leaves except the top cola wont make that top cola any bigger, better, or more potent. Those bottom leaves are engines for the whole plant. Sure some bottom growth can be removed, I do this, but nothing to with plant concentration, energy stealing or any other myth. Horticultural habits dictate my lollipopping. I water with a water wand and it splashes, I like to see my top soil at a glance. I like massive air flow under plant canopy= my reasons.

other than that I remove leaves that are no longer functioning. you could alternatively bend leaves and branches out of the way if you feel like it. Each leaf isnt corresponding to the nearest bud, doesnt work like that. The most common notion found in beginner gardens that fail is yield consideration. Your yield will be less than you expected. Your weed will be less potent than you wanted, and wont stink the way you thought it would..if weight is your goal right now. Best ways you can increase yields =
More mh/hps light, air conditioner, heat, dehumidifier, more air flow, c02 augmentation, correct watering /feeding habits.
much as I shave my ass......my head hair never grew faster. Removing leaves wont cause more yield, healthier plants, or faster growth. Pinching meristem ends will cause hormones to message new lower growth to begin.