Seems like a lot more work, should I just let it free grow then and defoliate?
Defoliating outdoors plants is primarily to increase air flow, as plants can mold/rot in the fall when the buds are large and humidity/rain become an issue. But in your case you want to save as many leaves as possible as they’re what make your plant grow. Also the leaves are where the plant stores excess nutrients. As the plant matures instead of taking up nutrients from the soil it starts moving (mobile) nutrients from the lower leaves to the buds. So the plant will defoliate itself, so to speak, when it’s flowering. At this point just let it do it’s thing.
If they were mine i'd just let them grow free. I've grown many autos outdoors but photos are my favorite in an out. These are autos in 1gal. pots i grew last summer, would of got bigger in 3gal.
I did a top and LST on one outside, but its a photoperiod. Probably makes a difference.
Uhh yes it does with photos, beautiful plant.
The usual advice is not to do much with autos. I don't even top mine, but I know some do. As for being outside, my understanding is the growth timing for autoflowers is predetermined genetically, so light source and other environmental factors may not matter much. That'd be my guess, anyway.
perfect, ty.
Thanks.
There is no reason not to LST. I wouldn’t top them though. My experience in topping autos had been mostly negative.
