Weekend update.. day 30 of 12/12. The room is filling in beautifully. Recycled nutrient solution is working well, things look healthy and not under or overfed in anything in particular. Amazing how fast the leaves grow back. But importantly, where they grow back.
My theory behind this is that fan leaves are necessary, but that doesn't mean stripping them is complete bro science. Removing older less efficient leaves during the plants time of transition allows more efficient newer leaves to replace them and do the work to uptake the most nutrients where they are better utilized for bud production during the flower cycle. Sort of like a corporate restructuring... out with the old and in with the the new lol.. All the while, greatly increasing airflow and gas exchange, and improving light penetration to every budsite. Two important things to consider when the plants are growing this fast and fill the room this densely.
Sure it might sound like bro science but in my mind, results don't lie. And this doesn't look too bad to me for a 3 week veg and 4 weeks in flower.
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Remember this lady?
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Here is what she looks like now
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My take on defoliation is that it's a very valuable tool when growing in a high output hydroponic garden that doesn't have a cec. Next grow I plan to strip them even harder for sure.