3 Month dwc 1 1/2 week flip opinions?

[YBGTA]

So I've been doing a 4 plant photo dwc 5 gal grow (I realize res size too small lol)

Line up

Banana (Zamnesia)
OGK (RQS)
Dynamite Diesel (RQS)
Vanilla frosting x OGK (Humbolt)

and flipped like a week and half ago and they get bushy super fast so right before flip i defoliated a little and a few days after, then let a few days go by and yesterday I defoliated them a little more to clean up what I forgot before and been taking last second clones, I do have pistils since at least 2 days ago, I know to chill out on transition and wait around 21 days or so since flip to defoliate a little and like day 41 to do again but they was super bushy and needed all the fluff and spots not getting light and airflow, how do they look?, before and afters below.

 

[Newty]

You went 3 months in veg?!
Quite awhile indoors and why the plants are starting to become unmanageable.

You don't want to do any major defoliation after Week 3 from flip so if you need to remove quite a few leaves for air flow and light penetration, week 3 is the time to do it.
After Weeks 3, you only want to remove a little here and there.

 

[YBGTA]

You went 3 months in veg?!
Quite awhile indoors and why the plants are starting to become unmanageable.

You don't want to do any major defoliation after Week 3 from flip so if you need to remove quite a few leaves for air flow and light penetration, week 3 is the time to do it.
After Weeks 3, you only want to remove a little here and there.

Right just nit pick after week 3 starts ty, I also learned real fast to have a bigger res if vegging longer lol, they drink alot.

 

[Newty]

Right just nit pick after week 3 starts ty, I also learned real fast to have a bigger res if vegging longer lol, they drink alot.

I grow in soil or peat but I myself have a bad habit of vegging to long also lol.
I've dealt with over grown plants and thick foliage more then I would like to say haha.
Sometimes you don't realize how much more they grow after flipping.

When I'm in similar situations and need to defoliate, I just start removing anything that isn't going to make it into the light. I even remove what would be budsites and branches, no point in the plant wasting energy on sites that are going to be small and immature anyways.
I always start lower on the plant and once that's cleaned up a bit, I head toward the middle.
You are going to probably have to remove some stuff you wouldn't normally want to but your main focus should be your tops and biggest branches so make sure they get good air flow, good light penetration, and room for the buds to chunk up.

Keep in mind the plants will grow some more leaves after you defoliate, you can continue to take leaves here and there but try not to do anything major after the 3rd week.

 

[amneziaHaze]

How do you manage that huge of a plant in such a small bucket??? I have a tiny one and she drinks 1.5L a day if i dont refil in 2 days half a bucket is empty.

Do a diary next time.that looks good.
I used to do 4 plants in 3x3 and after 23 days veg the box was full