Defoliate?

[JP1]

@skudra Welcome to AFN I am from the school that does not believe in defoliating. Each leaf that the plant grows costs it energy to make it and each leaf is a little factory to make energy for the plant. Often growers defoliate just to have the plant spend a lot of energy to grow the leaves they want back. You will often hear growers say a few days latter "The plant looks like I didn't even defoliate". Well that is because the plant grew some more leaf Now that said there are times when some defoliating is beneficial to getting a good harvest. Airflow in the lowest part of the plant will help to prevent Bud Rot especially in plants with big tight buds. (I try to grow plants with more open buds and not worry about bud rot). Your plant looks to have some fairly tight buds at this stage so I recommend taking only some lower leaves to keep good air flow.

The idea that buds need light to grow is miss-understood and comes from photoperiod plant growing. Once a bud has been initiated from the node it will grow without much direct light as long as the plant has enough energy to send to it. In growing photoperiods that allow a lot of time to train and shape the plant, exposing the nodes to light will encourage a bud at that site. Autoflowering plants do not afford the time needed to train and expose the nodes instead a one time topping above the fourth node will give you the best yield.

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So what's your opinion on how this schwazzing thing works? Definitely seen it be effective on here with only leaving the sugar leaves and 1 fan leaf per branch on the plant Shouldn't it basically totally stall out once the leaves are removed? It's basically a full strip 2 weeks into flower and another full strip 2 weeks after that. The plants in the thread for it are crazy

 

[Mañ'O'Green]

So what's your opinion on how this schwazzing thing works? Definitely seen it be effective on here with only leaving the sugar leaves and 1 fan leaf per branch on the plant Shouldn't it basically totally stall out once the leaves are removed? It's basically a full strip 2 weeks into flower and another full strip 2 weeks after that. The plants in the thread for it are crazy

Yes I have seen all mannor of things that seem to work. My personal experience says 18/6 minimal defo for autos gives me the best quality and yield. Of course 12/12 for photoperiod plants.

 

[Tom Bombadil]

Ide probably just spread her out with some low stress training and pluck leaves that are completely shaded, covering bud sites, or touching the soil.

 

[Cannaficionado]

As long as you keep your defoliation light if your plant isnt in the greatest health, it shouldnt really have any negative consequences. You might stunt it a tiny bit, but it seems like autos are not as picky as they used to be.

 

[Olde School Player]

This thread's been active for a couple of weeks, but I couldn't resist when I found it. So here's my 50 cents worth.
When I first started indoor hydro about 20 years ago, I was exclusively non-feminized photoperiod plants, and selective leaf pruning was highly recommended by some of the expert growers publishing in High Times magazine at the time. I tried it during early vegetative growth & it did seem to have a beneficial effect on plant structure up until topping, and flipping from veg to bloom. After that I pretty well stopped leaf pruning. But I was running Sea of Green at the time so you'd expect that.
Fast forward to 2015-ish, going all in on autoflowers. One of the things I first noticed was how most (not all) plants I grew went batshit crazy over leaf growth. I quickly quit topping & became proficient at low stress training & selective leaf pruning. In the process my yields went through the roof.
I don't attribute my increased yields exclusively to leaf pruning; much more so to LST and a long developing ratio of balanced nutrients and additives developed over 20+ years. But I am convinced that selectively removing any leaf that shades a terminal bud node will help the plant yield when working with autoflower strains. I cant say I ever saw as impressive yields from photoperiods. And I largely attribute this leafiness to the ruderalis traits of autoflowers.
Work on your LST & don't be afraid to selectively LEAF PRUNE any fan leaves blocking light to a terminal bud. You'll be glad you did!

This is one plant - Dinafem Blue Cheese - 10.4 oz. cured. One of my smaller yields, but the first pic I came upon to post as an example of good LST and leaf pruning basics.

 

[Lil Dab]

@Rick Dirte' here he lays it out pretty plain and simple can't argue with the evidence read page 1

 

[Rick Dirte']

Dale MoG is trying to teach a worldwide forum full of growers at all different experience levels how to grow.
On top of that everybody has different setups and styles. I'm saying your situation dictates you need more airflow and light penetration.
Clean them bottoms and suckers up. Who cares about an ounce at the bottom when there could be 2 or 3 more at the top?
Experimentation leads to innovation. You watched 420autoflower grow that 1.92 lbs plant. he was feeding the same stuff you guys were and used inexpensive lighting. TRY IT! I'm going to drive up to NY with my snippers.

 

[Lil Dab]

Dale MoG is trying to teach a worldwide forum full of growers at all different experience levels how to grow.
On top of that everybody has different setups and styles. I'm saying your situation dictates you need more airflow and light penetration.
Clean them bottoms and suckers up. Who cares about an ounce at the bottom when there could be 2 or 3 more at the top?
Experimentation leads to innovation. You watched 420autoflower grow that 1.92 lbs plant. he was feeding the same stuff you guys were and used inexpensive lighting. TRY IT! I'm going to drive up to NY with my snippers.

Alright chill chill bro I'll do a side by side this next run one heavy defoliation one not

And I just check 420 is not feeding MC he is running GH jp has me looking at the home and garden cocos

 

[Rick Dirte']

I really do think it will help. You don't have to go crazy and take everything off. After 4 or 5 weeks
take some fans and open the center. I would recommend organic myself bro. :smoking:

 

[JP1]

Alright chill chill bro I'll do a side by side this next run one heavy defoliation one not

And I just check 420 is not feeding MC he is running GH jp has me looking at the home and garden cocos

Definitely diggin the h&g so far. We'll see how it flowers... But loving it at least up to this point