Defoliating in flower in week 4

[AlmightyJumpman]

I’m day 7, week 4 in flower. they stopped stretching a few days ago and now the branches are stiff. What do I do with the little lives in the center? Clip them off? I read somewhere to not clip the little baby leaves, they are covering a few buds sites but is it worth it? I thought the point of this was to maximize bud site visibility. Or do I forget about them and prune them off?

 

[OldOneEye]

Before defoliating

After

That's how I roll. I tend to leave all secondary leaves, you do still need photosynthesis to occur.

 

[jadins_journey]

Every body has their own style, in the end we all get some bud. Like yourself I’m a couple weeks out from flip. I defoliate bottom up leaving the top canopy

 

[AlmightyJumpman]

Before defoliating
View attachment 2383241
After
View attachment 2383249
That's how I roll. I tend to leave all secondary leaves, you do still need photosynthesis to occur.

What do you mean by secondary leaves? I did a round of defoliating around week 2 where I took some of the fan leaves towards the top, and I left the top 2 sets of leaves from the top. Looking at yours, you mean Take the fan leaves off the pre flower sites if they are blocking anything and leave the ones around the bud sites? The ones that get frosty with trichromes

 

[AlmightyJumpman]

Every body has their own style, in the end we all get some bud. Like yourself I’m a couple weeks out from flip. I defoliate bottom up leaving the top canopy View attachment 2383264View attachment 2383265

No I’m actually in flower, my week 5 of flower starts tomorrow and I got a month of bud growth, then harvest around week 9

 

[OldOneEye]

Sorry, my bad
Secondary leaves: the small leaves on on the side stems.
I take all leaves from main stems except the very top one.

 

[AlmightyJumpman]

Sorry, my bad
Secondary leaves: the small leaves on on the side stems.
I take all leaves from main stems except the very top one.

Can I take off 1 leaf ifs it’s covering bud sites? Clip a few facing inward and leave the outward facing fan leaves. Or just take both off?

 

[OldOneEye]

The best way for you to defol the plant is to just do it. If you are apprehensive.....go light. If not do what you feel comfortable with. Experience, the best teacher.
But while you do keep this in mind.
The plant needs a few small leaves at a minimum, it still needs to photosynthesis light energy.

I defoliate by feel. Sometimes I go heavy handed, sometimes not so much. Indicas usually require a heavy hand...bushy plants with lots of leaves.
Sativas have more space between bud sites and are leggier which requires less defoliation.
Hope I have helped.

 

[jadins_journey]

No I’m actually in flower, my week 5 of flower starts tomorrow and I got a month of bud growth, then harvest around week 9

By looks of the plant I was guessing 2 past flip, best of luck