Why is there so many opinions about defoliation?

I’m somewhat of a new grower and what I’m getting from this thread is prune most of the sucker branches that pop up during stretch but don’t touch the leaves?

bk78 said:

I’m somewhat of a new grower and what I’m getting from this thread is prune most of the sucker branches that pop up during stretch but don’t touch the leaves?

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I'm not sure you always want to prune "most" but choosing what to prune and what to leave is part of learning. The sucker branches or even just the inner most bud sites make perfect sense to prune, since they draw energy away from the growth you want.

Leaves produce the energy to perform the growth you want.

Many many plants need to have sucker growth pruned to improve the "fruit" production. Tomatoes being a very similar one to cannabis.

Thundercat said:

Sorry I wasn't trying act like you didn't . My post wasn't meant to correct you at all.

It was directed at the many others in this thread and all through the cannabis community that really don't get the difference.

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It’s cheaper, and easier now that it’s legal here but at 4 .......well that doesn’t really work for me lol. I’m gonna have to start growing those 20lber plants .

This shit is so simple I don't get why it's such a huge debate. Keep your canopy depth within your lights effective penetration range, that's it, indoors /outdoor, it doesn't matter. Trim all suckers/bud sites below that point, don't touch the leaves, the plant will use the lower leaves to buffer inadequate nutrients, if there are any, in flower. During or after the stretch, clean up the dead fans, trim any new lower sucker/buds below the penetration range and prune, as needed, for airflow. Pick fans as they yellow after that. If you're removing leaves to get better lower bud production, you don't have enough light and are just trading off bigger top buds for equal weight, or less, bud production down the whole stem. Every reputable side by side I've read, and there aren't many that control the necessary variables, shows less yield on fully, or near fully, defoliated crops. It's a freaking leafy plant, more leaves = more transpiration = more nutrient flow = potential for larger flowers, assuming the rest of your grow is dialed in.

WeedFreak78 said:

This shit is so simple I don't get why it's such a huge debate. Keep your canopy depth within your lights effective penetration range, that's it, indoors /outdoor, it doesn't matter. Trim all suckers/bud sites below that point, don't touch the leaves, the plant will use the lower leaves to buffer inadequate nutrients, if there are any, in flower. During or after the stretch, clean up the dead fans, trim any new lower sucker/buds below the penetration range and prune, as needed, for airflow. Pick fans as they yellow after that. If you're removing leaves to get better lower bud production, you don't have enough light and are just trading off bigger top buds for equal weight, or less, bud production down the whole stem. Every reputable side by side I've read, and there aren't many that control the necessary variables, shows less yield on fully, or near fully, defoliated crops. It's a freaking leafy plant, more leaves = more transpiration = more nutrient flow = potential for larger flowers, assuming the rest of your grow is dialed in.

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Question. At what point would I stop removing the sucker branches.

*wintermute* said:

Wow.

Y'all are really pushy about your ignorance. Maybe you should have googled it?

Broccoli
Kale
Cauliflower
Cabbage
Mustard
Brussel Sprouts
Turnips
Collards

Heard of any of those? They're brassicas, Y'all are proud of your ignorance. That's chill. I grow hundreds of pounds of weed a year. Completely by myself. And I am a small grower. Heavyweights pull a ton a month. And guess what? They all defoliate their entire canopy. Probably though, the guy with 6 plants in a closet knows better, huh? DIY grow tent trolls really help guys like me get money. So honestly, keep disseminating your willful ignorance. $$$$$$$$$$ for me. cheers

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I would be ashamed to admit I've grown that long without grasping basic plant biology concepts like photosynthesis and transpiration.

bk78 said:

Question. At what point would I stop removing the sucker branches.

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WeedFreak78 said:

... During or after the stretch, clean up the dead fans, trim any new lower sucker/buds below the penetration range and prune, as needed, for airflow.....

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Stop when it stops growing new suckers, which happens once the stretch ends. Could be anywhere from week 2 on, depending on overall flowering time.

WeedFreak78 said:

This shit is so simple I don't get why it's such a huge debate. Keep your canopy depth within your lights effective penetration range, that's it, indoors /outdoor, it doesn't matter. Trim all suckers/bud sites below that point, don't touch the leaves, the plant will use the lower leaves to buffer inadequate nutrients, if there are any, in flower. During or after the stretch, clean up the dead fans, trim any new lower sucker/buds below the penetration range and prune, as needed, for airflow. Pick fans as they yellow after that. If you're removing leaves to get better lower bud production, you don't have enough light and are just trading off bigger top buds for equal weight, or less, bud production down the whole stem. Every reputable side by side I've read, and there aren't many that control the necessary variables, shows less yield on fully, or near fully, defoliated crops. It's a freaking leafy plant, more leaves = more transpiration = more nutrient flow = potential for larger flowers, assuming the rest of your grow is dialed in.

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I agree with the indoor but outdoor (and I’ve been doing it a long time) IMO doesn’t need or benefit from any removal of anything in my experience. I’ve tried it all and it really does not make any difference re yield and I’ve actually lost yield by fucking with outdoor plants. I do pinch off to spread the plant out but even that I do sparinging to keep height down. But in saying that I do always suggest people try it all and see what works for them, life’s to short to bicker about a plant that brings so many smiles lol.

i disagree with defoliation but i see why people like it
all I do is trim off the bottom branches and make new clones, and let the rest grow out. I flip them asap and see defoliation as a waste

in relation to your method i agree with the outdoor method, but in indoors also
the reason being is like the sun, your room should be designed so the light penetrates the canopy no matter the density per cu ft

a big thing i think that will settle this is time X gram per watt instead of just a gram per watt including veg time. I get that you get some bigger buds "pruning" but in my opinion trimming fan leaves off is only reducing the full output of the plant

when i cut the bottom for clones i love it because i always top off my containers and the very bottom growth is too close for comfort. It gets dirty and wet every time i water and on top of that i like a nice 6-12" channel of air between the foliage and my pots

I think the opinion is so broad because alot of it comes down to the growers needs/technique.
One technique that suits one grower wont necessarily work with the next.
Myself, it would be impossible to have so many tops without pruning/defoilation. In a confined space too many leaves can become an issue.
I believe indicas will respond to pruning better than sativas.
Perhaps its not best for the plant (pruning/defoilation) but its best for me and as long as i get good yeilds and bud thats the right technique for me.
I believe pruning directs energy towards the upper most sought after buds and does pay off, ie more ventalation, less bush, easier trimming, larger buds.
Defoilation i believe needs to be done in the correct manner, when i mention defoilation i mean selectively removing leaves at the right time. I would always give the plant time to recover, allow her to grow foilage where i want, grow mature and then selectively prune/defoilate selected leaves.
What im getting at here is perhaps its not whats best it is whats best for the grower.
Either can clearly produce good results but i am completely pro pruning and selective defoilating.
Ps i would never remove every fan leaf.