then you can open a whole can o worms when it comes to defoliating as well. Most gardeners will say pruning promotes more growth. I agree to a point as with definite and indefinite plants. With a plant that goes for repeat seasons yea pruning is a great thing to promote growth and help you shape a bush, but at times I often wonder with cannabais being a 1 season wonder and the leaves being the solar panels and driver of photosynthesis isnt it counterproductive to take away the energy makers during a time when your close to flipping and the plant going into flower is at it peak of energy demands to create buds n flowers.
I will close with this, we all agree momma nature knows better than man correct???? Well I hold that thought anyway. :) So with that said ask yourself this, if momma nature knows best, then why would she thru all the dna in a plants genetics place fan leaves and such in a position that do the "unthinkable", shade those precious buds. The plants life from seed to harvest is predetermined thru the seeds dna/genetics.
If the plant has big ole fat bubba style shade leaves that shade the buds, then to my mind everyone of those leaves is needed to bring the plant to its full genetic potential, right?? Otherwise, why the hell would they be there????? Sorry didnt mean to go down the rabbit hole. Just the sort of stuff I think about...... Drives me batty and my wife battier. :D