Defoliate or not?

Would you defoliate these girls? They are almost 6 weeks into 12/12. I see a lot of buda underneath the top leaves.

So would it be a dis/advantage to take off a lot of the leaves ?

I just leave it

No.. leave them..

I'd thin the leaves out a bit to allow more light to get through the canopy. Not a lot of removal, but very selective. That's just how I roll, but you'd probably be just as well off leaving it alone. Don't go heavy on it if you do at all, be gentle.

It really depends on your grow style. I worry more about defoliating before the bloom stretch. Incase an issue occurs and u need em. But late in bloom it can only help get those lower bud sites light. Plus it helps on trimming later. Indoor plants don't need as many fans. I would do only 20-30% to keep from shocking plant. I think u r golden either way. The best of growing champ they look great.

I strip everything under the net any little shoots Or leafs I take off they are pointless and only take away from everything above the net which I don’t take anything away from until it’s showing signs of dying or something like that

I remove as many water leaves as I can by day 43 of bloom. I only do that because I worry about air movement below the tops and I don’t want to get rot, but I also live in a pretty humid place

They are probably sticky as hell by week 6.

So a lot of great points me personally hell yes but like homie said it depends on you’re grow style don’t go over board jut remove the one’s that are blocking the bottom buds

Bottom of the canopy.

Growing under a shaded leaf...

I don't understand why every new grower can't wait to pull leafs off the plants?

Star Dog said:

Bottom of the canopy.
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Growing under a shaded leaf...
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I don't understand why every new grower can't wait to pull leafs off the plants?

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Because that bud won't amount to anything once it's dried.

I think that's more of a pruning issue than defoliation situation though. Usually when I remove leaves the buds that were shaded are lighter green and more leafy than the buds that are getting plenty of light.

lusidghost said:

Because that bud won't amount to anything once it's dried.

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I thought it was quite nice for 43 days and grown in the shade, anyhow when it was ready it was fine i don't keep larfy buds.

Star Dog said:

I thought it was quite nice for 43 days and grown in the shade, anyhow when it was ready it was fine i don't keep larfy buds.

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It's definitely frosty. My point is I don't defoliate to give light to anything below my scrog net, I do it to give as much light as possible to everything above it.

Think of it more as a gentle pruning to allow more light to penetrate into the canopy. I prune anything that can be seen from below the canopy that is not getting light. This allows more light and better airflow in my tent.

Star Dog said:

Bottom of the canopy.
View attachment 5189123
Growing under a shaded leaf...
View attachment 5189124
I don't understand why every new grower can't wait to pull leafs off the plants?

Click to expand...

I've seen some strains or growing environments that actually the bottom buds mature faster then the top of the canopy. When they give the light ppfd reading or chart from light specs they also account for reflections from tent. So not having your room stuffed attributes to air flow and light hitting lower spots from different angles.

I just came here to read others opinions, but I'll leave mine too. If they were my plants I'd take as small amount of leaves blocking bud sites as possible and clean up the bottom to help with watering. I really like what @Grow Monster said yesterday. This was a good thread to read through, thanks for posting.

If your canopy RH is fine, I'd leave everything as is also. Do you have any air circulation beneath the canopy? That's one thing I'd make sure of before those colas get any bigger.

Leave them alone, older leaves will fall off on they're own.......i would consider some smaller fans on the floor pointing through the lower canopy though.....

You can always tuck fan leaves as needed rather than remove them.