Trimming lower bud sites?

My two autos are exploding like crazy in flower. I already did a very light defoliation of the bottom areas where the leaves were blocking airflow or going yellow (about ten fan leaves total). I also had a slowly decreasing ph problem so I lightened up the ppm a bit from ~1.45ec to ~1.0 and the ph creep is now back to normal (slow increase daily).

I’m going to do a 20% (2gal) res change and add flower nute mix, which is what I’ve been doing every 3-4 days over the past week or so. It’s working out well.

So my questions are, should I trim these lower bud sites or let them grow? How much more defoliation can/should I do? And do I need more air movement above the canopy?

Don't defoliate during flower..those leafs are your batteries

Its 100% opinions you will get from people on defoliation.
I do it
Some don't
Both swear they are right.
I've yet to see conclusive studies showing either way is better.

But, it does look likenyour girls are a bit stretchy. How far away is that LED? How big of a tent is that? What specific LED is that?

I am a fan of lollipopping and trimming lower bud sites that will never amount to anything anyways. It looks like you may want a bit more light though.

Some defoliation increases air flow and induces systemic resistance in the plant, making it less susceptible to pathogens and possibly increasing the quality/quantity of the bud. A lot of things that prompt ISR/SAR have that effect. Defoliation mimics the effect that herbivores have in nature.

Running a Mars ts1000. It was at any 80% up to last week since i had some leaves showing possible light burn but it’s been resolved and now at 100%. 20/4 light schedule. 2.3x2.3 tent.

Pics taken at minimum light output since I usually turn it down when I go work on them so I don’t burn out my eyes.

They were all really bushy until last week when flower started, then they started stretching up like crazy.

I would do a little bit of lollipoping/removing small branches/nodes near the bottom that are far below the canopy. but the plants are fairly open as well so don't need to do too much otherwise.

GTConsulting said:

Running a Mars ts1000. It was at any 80% up to last week since i had some leaves showing possible light burn but it’s been resolved and now at 100%. 20/4 light schedule. 2.3x2.3 tent.

Pics taken at minimum light output since I usually turn it down when I go work on them so I don’t burn out my eyes.

They were all really bushy until last week when flower started, then they started stretching up like crazy.

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What is your day and night temps?

I leave all the lower stuff and use it for dry ice hash. Why dispose of potential product? The main buds will still develop with the lower growth. The lower stuff doesn't steal stuff from the top.

ÒÒlegilizeitÒÒ said:

What is your day and night temps?

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It’s pretty cold here so i have a tiny 350w heater in the tent set to 76F. Humidity about 50.

Does that heater put off light
?

ÒÒlegilizeitÒÒ said:

Does that heater put off light
?

Click to expand...

It's a tiny ceramic heater, no heating element glow that I can see. afaik, Auto's aren't really affected by light. There's a very dim blue led display for the temp setting but I can barely see it myself. No indication that this tiny amount of light is affecting anything though. Nothing is "reaching" towards the heater (which I'd expect if there was a useable light source somewhere).

GTConsulting said:

It's a tiny ceramic heater, no heating element glow that I can see. afaik, Auto's aren't really affected by light. There's a very dim blue led display for the temp setting but I can barely see it myself. No indication that this tiny amount of light is affecting anything though. Nothing is "reaching" towards the heater (which I'd expect if there was a useable light source somewhere).

Click to expand...

Right, right, forgot your running autos lol

E

GTConsulting said:

It's a tiny ceramic heater, no heating element glow that I can see. afaik, Auto's aren't really affected by light. There's a very dim blue led display for the temp setting but I can barely see it myself. No indication that this tiny amount of light is affecting anything though. Nothing is "reaching" towards the heater (which I'd expect if there was a useable light source somewhere).

Click to expand...

Light in your tent won't effect an auto..you can run 24/7 if you want..I find they do need a bit of a break, I do 20/4, you defoliate autos during veg, but I find once you do it during flower it lwil lead to a bunch of nutrient issue, which then youll over compensate, causing new issues..best to get a few autos grows under your belt, then start messing with them

I'll leave them as-is for now then. Seems to be enough light penetration to hit everything so I'll just let her do her thing.

Thanks all!