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Greenthumb4
- 30
- 8
hi I've noticed and seen quite a few people remove all of their fan leaves a couple weeks into flowering is this something that is necessary for me if I'm trying to exceed the maximum light coverage?
Exactly what I expected ur plants to look like. Ur a beast bro. Much respect!When I talked to my plant today she said leaf me alone
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and then this one screamed, ME TOO :eek:
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just playin with my phone cam :)
last pic is @xX Kid Twist Xx bully on about day 4
hi I've noticed and seen quite a few people remove all of their fan leaves a couple weeks into flowering is this something that is necessary for me if I'm trying to exceed the maximum light coverage?
Solid info brother! Much respect!Hi bud,
The reason you have that impression is that in tents you generally want to focus on the canopy. If we have a 5x5 space, vegging the plants until they form a solid sea of green will ensure that (if done correctly) you end up with a 5x5 area, with one to two feet of bud throughout. In these SOG or SCROG (screen of green) setups, you can grow multiple strains together and keep pruning the undergrowth as only the canopy receives light. If you were to grow two monster bushes in that same area, you could potentially yield more, but it depends on plant shape. Imagine the light being a blanket over the tops of the plants. Anywhere the blanket touches is going to receive direct light. Buds will still form throughout the plant, but they will be smaller and known as "popcorn buds".
So in short, if you're doing a SCROG setup, it makes sense to prune the bottom of the plant and "lollipop" it. Otherwise I generally leave my girls natural. One exception is my Blue Velvet which has been stacking leaves like crazy but is only half the height of it's Blueberry cousins. So I cleaned out some bottom foliage hoping to get it to grow vertically a bit. I could raise the lights, but I don't want to miss out on the benefit of having an oppressive light overhead. Hope all this helps!
Bozo brings up a great point! Not all strains will be ok with you pruning them. Some depend on being able to assume their natural state and will stall out or die on you. Usually in the breeder's notes, you can find this info. Good luck!...Greenthumb, do a Google for 'defoliation for yield', and similar search terms and you will find much information on the technique. ...it works but it is an advanced technique best suited to growers with several harvests under their belt and not for new people who might overdo it.
...there are many who are vehemently against this technique so be prepared for many who will tell you 'don't do it, it can't work' so if you decide to dabble, be ready to deal with some negativity coming your way.
...and move slowly until you gain some experience in how your plants will react with your judicious pruning, it's easy to take a leaf off but it's a real bitch trying to put one back on.
good luck, bozo
...yeah, de-foliation is more about stimulting new growth through judicious pruning and less about light penetration, kinda like what happens when you top a plant.
...but, as has already been said, not all variety's take kindly to this sort of treatment so each grower who would attempt to de-foliate for increased yields should go slowly with each new strain until the plants show you whether or not they like it.
...there is MUCH documentation on the efficacy of this technique for any willing to search for it.
peace, bozo