Can I defoliate at end of flower, will it slow my plants down?

[Dbiddinger]

I want the lower buds to ripen, can I defoliate at the last week of flower to ripen the lower buds or will it delay my harvest?

 

[GNick55]

you don’t really need to do that but you can defoliate some if you want without any issues.

 

[OldOneEye]

I want the lower buds to ripen, can I defoliate at the last week of flower to ripen the lower buds or will it delay my harvest?

I defoliate late in flower about 10 days before I harvest. Especially on a bushy indica

 

[LoveGrowingIt]

Plants will defoliate themselves somewhat as they consume nutrients from the lower leaves.