Why no conclusive side by side defoliation topics

Status
Not open for further replies.

fartoblue

Well-Known Member
I have been continuously growing for around 5 years now. First few grows I didn't really defoliate and things went OK. I then started to defoliate every grow. My grows haven't improved as much as I would have liked taking my 5 years experience into consideration. I occasionally get 1grm per watt but not very often, maybe I am just not a great grower, some of my grows have been quite bad.

I have tried most defoliation technique's. Complete strip at 3 weeks, handful of leaves every few days, and last grow or 2 the Kyle Kushman technique, etc etc.

Seen many topics on side by side defoliation vs non defoliation but the topics all seem to cut short and not finish.

I am often tempted not to defoliate (just lollipop) but all I can see at 2 weeks into flower is a sea of leaves some as big as my head and I can't hold myself back.

Any conclusive evidence (non scientific just experienced growers real life results with clones) that defoliation helps or hinders.
 

WubbaLubbaDubDub

Well-Known Member
I have been continuously growing for around 5 years now. First few grows I didn't really defoliate and things went OK. I then started to defoliate every grow. My grows haven't improved as much as I would have liked taking my 5 years experience into consideration. I occasionally get 1grm per watt but not very often, maybe I am just not a great grower, some of my grows have been quite bad.

I have tried most defoliation technique's. Complete strip at 3 weeks, handful of leaves every few days, and last grow or 2 the Kyle Kushman technique, etc etc.

Seen many topics on side by side defoliation vs non defoliation but the topics all seem to cut short and not finish.

I am often tempted not to defoliate (just lollipop) but all I can see at 2 weeks into flower is a sea of leaves some as big as my head and I can't hold myself back.

Any conclusive evidence (non scientific just experienced growers real life results with clones) that defoliation helps or hinders.
I don’t actively look for science to back the minimal defoliation I do. probably could, I honestly might learn something.
I have have my experience growing over the years(weed and vegetables)

the only cutting of plants I do nowis the first 3-4 branches near the soil that they put out from seed I will pinch them off leaving the fan leaves to suck up light.
After that topping if I fancy it.
Other than that, leave the leaves alone, if the plant is sucking energy out of lower leaves let it happen and pick up any dry dead leaves daily when you check on the plants.
No need to shock or stunt plants taking away all its leaves

-edit- go to your garden and take all the leaves off your eggplant and tomato so the sun really gets to the fruit...you’ll be sad you did
 

70's natureboy

Well-Known Member
I defoliated one plant last year on my outdoor grow. I just took off the big fans from the main stalk and maybe a few more to let the lower branches get some sun. That plant grew very slow after that and the other 11 plants kept on growing like normal. I didn't weigh the difference in weight but it was easy to see just my looking at it that the yeld would be down 30-40%. I showed it to all my buddies. I'm glad I didn't have time to defoliate more plants.
 

ElGrandeMongo

Well-Known Member
This? I was close on the name :lol:

I'd like to do my own version of this. I've got my next 2 grows lined up already but maybe this would be a fun project around Xmas time to run from clone
 

Zephyrs

Well-Known Member
I have been continuously growing for around 5 years now. First few grows I didn't really defoliate and things went OK. I then started to defoliate every grow. My grows haven't improved as much as I would have liked taking my 5 years experience into consideration. I occasionally get 1grm per watt but not very often, maybe I am just not a great grower, some of my grows have been quite bad.

I have tried most defoliation technique's. Complete strip at 3 weeks, handful of leaves every few days, and last grow or 2 the Kyle Kushman technique, etc etc.

Seen many topics on side by side defoliation vs non defoliation but the topics all seem to cut short and not finish.

I am often tempted not to defoliate (just lollipop) but all I can see at 2 weeks into flower is a sea of leaves some as big as my head and I can't hold myself back.

Any conclusive evidence (non scientific just experienced growers real life results with clones) that defoliation helps or hinders.
Defoliation is such a hot subject. I not sure why. But one side of the fence will go to their grave convinced that crazy amounts of de-fol, Somehow gives them better buds. And peeps on the other side swear up and down (usually wi pics included) that defoliation is Very detrimental to your final yeild. My take is it grows fan leaves for a reason. Food Factories for the final flowers......
 

OldMedUser

Well-Known Member
I find as long as the tips of side branches are getting good light and I strip the lower, small branches on them that are just going to produce popcorn the tops of those branches grow much bigger buds than what unstripped ones do. If the outer fan leaves are getting light then I'll leave those but snip out the little bud site in there. Fan leaves more under cover get snipped. Basically selective lollipopping.

ANY healthy leaf that is getting good light is contributing to the plant. To defoliate outdoors is really counterproductive.

;peace:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top