Need some advice on day 21 defoliation.

[Pilted]

Plant is on day 49 from seed placed in the ground, day 15 since lights been changed to 12/12. I have my defoliation coming up in a little less then a week, I am hopeful you could share some insight on how you handle your day 21 defoliation. Do you defoliate heavy, light, are there leaves that you feel are off limits like the top 4 leaves on a main stalk?

My current plan is to do very little, take off a few lower leaves that do not get light anymore, but I am not sure if taking off leaves that are getting light and producing energy, but are blocking bud sites is something I will want to remove. No wrong answers here I just want opinions on how you handle.it what works what didn't. If you have a grow where you messed up on the day 21 defoliation that would be very helpful as I seem to learn well from mistakes.

 

[Pilted]

I'm thinking about taking all leaves below this line off the main branches, then above this line maybe 5 ish leaves that are blocking bud sites, but nothing in the top 5 leaves on a main branches. Idk I feel in the past I have taken too much and it has hindered production.

 

[GoldenDragondnw]

There's many ways to go. Whichever way produces the most should be the one to take. That's all I got dude. Good luck!

 

[Pilted]

I keep telling myself buds will still grow in indirect light, I need it to have a lot of leaves to be able to produce energy to grow the buds. But then the other part of my head says naw you need the light to be on the bud sites in order for them to grow. Take more off. There is literally a war going on inside my head on how much to take off.

 

[GoldenDragondnw]

I take off leaves that block bud sites for sure.

 

[Pilted]

I take off leaves that block bud sites for sure.

Do you have an area you will not cut off like top 4 leaves on a main branch, or is there no boundaries and if it's blocking bud sites it gotta go?

 

[GoldenDragondnw]

Do you have an area you will not cut off like top 4 leaves on a main branch, or is there no boundaries and if it's blocking bud sites it gotta go?

Well mine isn't as large as yours but I try to keep the fan leaves as much as possible only take off if they are blocking bud sites.

 

[Pilted]

Well mine isn't as large as yours but I try to keep the fan leaves as much as possible only take off if they are blocking bud sites.

Thanks for the reply, your insite is very much appreciated.

 

[GoldenDragondnw]

Thanks for the reply, your insite is very much appreciated.

Hopefully it helps. Keep us updated on your trimming and grow. Soon you can post some frosty flowers too. :)

 

[Pilted]

Watching some YouTube videos on it now, a lot of these guys on YouTube are taking a lot of leaves off, everyone's buds are way more developed then mine, I still got a week to go maybe I be okay, idk I'm way far behind on bud production it seems.

 

[GoldenDragondnw]

never compare plants.

 

[GoldenDragondnw]

Honestly yours looks really good to me. But I'm also a novice.

 

[Pilted]

Honestly yours looks really good to me. But I'm also a novice.

Thanks, i still have a lot to learn but each grow getting a little better and better. One day I will have buds the size of my head, and I got a big head.

 

[F.Dupp]

I always start by removing all leaves that are growing inward, towards the main stem of the plant. Those leaves decrease light and airflow. Then I go from there.

 

[Hazedayz]

If you can’t tuck it, fuck it.

 

[Pilted]

I been tucking so much but this girl is very branchy, she has a lot bud sites in the shade. After watching a few, maybe 20 YouTube videos on day 21 defoliation, I am going to do more then I originally thought. I was going to do before I watched them.

 

[Hazedayz]

I wouldn’t go crazy. I’d start from the bottom and work your way up accordingly.

 

[Pilted]

I wouldn’t go crazy. I’d start from the bottom and work your way up accordingly.

Yeah not crazy but I'm make sure I have light penetration all the way through the plant. Leaving as many leaves as possible for energy production. I probably won't touch the top 5 leaves on each branch. Then the ones in the middle I will try to judge benefits from energy production on keeping it or if it opens up enough area I can get some of that energy production back by opening up smaller leaves and bud sites. Idk maybe it just be a couple sticks sticking out the pot when I'm done. Lmao I hope not.

 

[Hazedayz]

Yeah not crazy but I'm make sure I have light penetration all the way through the plant. Leaving as many leaves as possible for energy production. I probably won't touch the top 5 leaves on each branch. Then the ones in the middle I will try to judge benefits from energy production on keeping it or if it opens up enough area I can get some of that energy production back by opening up smaller leaves and bud sites. Idk maybe it just be a couple sticks sticking out the pot when I'm done. Lmao I hope not.

Yea sounds a good plan to me! Go for it!

 

[Harpua88]

I keep telling myself buds will still grow in indirect light, I need it to have a lot of leaves to be able to produce energy to grow the buds. But then the other part of my head says naw you need the light to be on the bud sites in order for them to grow. Take more off. There is literally a war going on inside my head on how much to take off.

It sounds like you want to do less this time around. Try going lighter, be very selective. ;)