So, just some comments about today. I've been slowly defoliating daily, picking off leaves here and there that I see are blocking bud sites below. When I went in to put some TangleFoot around the base of the plants a few days ago- there was so much crap up and down the main stem, I had it in the back of my mind to do one "last" defoliation, especially around the center of the plant. I woke up, had the energy and went at it.
The good thing now is, I now know what I'm doing, what leaves to remove and which to leave. But a good guideline is to remove:
1. any unhealthy or yellowing leaves
2. the largest leaves on the plant
3. leaves with deep purple stems
4. leaves that are aimed straight up
5. lower crap from the bottom 1/4 of the plant (that is behind the rest of the plant)
Use these guidelines and you'll be way ahead of the ballgame from the start, even if you don't have a clue what you're doing. It took me 3 1/2 hours sitting on my ass to do 24 plants, it's a time consuming proposition. BUT, now the light can reach far down the branches and no more defoliation will be necessary.