Would you defoliate these?

Nftgrowguy said:

This is my 2x4 setup using mars hydro's sp3000 led (300w). Currently on day 19 of flower everything seems to be going well. The two plants are in a nft system ec at 1.6 at the moment, should I defoliate and lolipop tm these and if so when would be the best time? would appreciate people opinions

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As you are growing SCROG, the lower leaves will not be getting much if any light.

In my opinion*, removing the lower leaves (and buds) in this scenario has many benefits:

• Reduced humidity
• Improved airflow under the canopy which may prevent trapped pockets of humid air (possibly resulting in mould issues)
• Plant will regrow any new leaves in more optimal positions above the canopy (less likely as you're already flowering)
• Less places for bugs to hide
• Less places for nanners / balls to hide
• Better access to growing medium (generally an issue with SCROG for watering etc, though may not be a big deal as you are doing NFT)
• Less dying / dead plant matter to find and clean up toward the end of the grow

*no I do not have published research to back up these fairly logical assumptions

All LST here and never thought of the trimming I do during flower to be “defoliation” but I’ve come to the realization that I’ve been doing semi-defoliation for many years. So I have done a more meaningful defoliation at 15 to 21 days on a few plants over the last year. The buds on the harshly defoliated plant were consistently the biggest or near biggest on those plants. Some plants do go into panic mode and make as many new leaves as they can.

I'm defoliating for the first time on my flowering pair of plants. It's easy as the big fan leaves get a purple stem. Only the ones that get 'excessive' light it seems as the lower leaves keep the green stem. Been doing it a bit every day and trimming off the new flower shoots down low and in the middle.

The plants are quite happy. Cat loves the trimmings.

cherrybobeddie said:

It's a Honeycrisp world.

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I dont blossom thin any varieties. Honeycrisp included.