Two weeks into flower. Defoliate or not?

[Hef]

Photo Diesel is doing well 2 weeks into flower. Should I just let her go or defoliate again? Currently 14” above the light, and have about 4” that I could raise the light.

 

[Ross4Twenty]

Just remove whatever is covering the bud sites

 

[imhigh]

Photo Diesel is doing well 2 weeks into flower. Should I just let her go or defoliate again? Currently 14” above the light, and have about 4” that I could raise the light.

I pick off fan leaves on in door plants. Unnecessary. They have a purpose outside for moisture catching. Then in the heat they droop out of the way for light. I run my led only 6 or 7 inches above canopy. HPS get hot so I did 12 to 14 inches. I love LED lights.

 

[Hef]

I’m now at day 21 since flipping to 12/12. I’ve been reading that a lot of people do heavy defoliation at this time. I’m not sure if I should go that direction or just let her keep growing. Any advice is appreciated.

 

[sins]

You gotta find your own way, those that defoliate will tell you too and those that don't will tell you nothing. My opinion, let me chop off your hands n see how u get on. It may work it may not that's generally the opinion on it. Topping LST etc all proven to work defoliating is more a personal thing.

 

[Hef]

You gotta find your own way, those that defoliate will tell you too and those that don't will tell you nothing. My opinion, let me chop off your hands n see how u get on. It may work it may not that's generally the opinion on it. Topping LST etc all proven to work defoliating is more a personal thing.

I’m in no hurry to defoliate. Buds are forming nicely in my opinion. I tuck leaves covering bud sites. Was just curious why so many defoliate at 21 days after flowering.

 

[sins]

I expect a lot of cases its people learning to grow and doing it because their yield Improved they keep doing it, ignoring the fact their knowledge in general was much better.

 

[mdterpz532]

I like irie Jeff's way of teaching newer growers when to defoliate during flower. Which ever leaf has a purple, or red stem, pull it. If it is old enough to have a colored stem, it's probably old enough to be blocking important sites.

Hope that helps.
I follow the same rule by the way.
I can't give any other advice.either way,
It has worked for me, and I haven't seen anything to be concerned about from doing so..

 

[Eledin]

I like irie Jeff's way of teaching newer growers when to defoliate during flower. Which ever leaf has a purple, or red stem, pull it. If it is old enough to have a colored stem, it's probably old enough to be blocking important sites.

Hope that helps.
I follow the same rule by the way.
I can't give any other advice.either way,
It has worked for me, and I haven't seen anything to be concerned about from doing so..

Nice looking plants dude. That said colored stems might appear because of several reasons.

Should You Worry About Purple Or Red Cannabis Stems? - RQS Blog

Seeing red or purple stems on your cannabis plants? Don't freak. Click here for a detailed overview of the causes behind purple or red cannabis stems.

www.royalqueenseeds.com

Right now I have a plant with a purple stem in the mid-top part of the plant. The leaf is healthy. Im not a fan of defoliating as you can see BUT bushy plants I do defoliate a bit, that one is bushy, I would probably start removing bottom leaves when they start yellowing/getting pale or maybe leaves blocking the light for entire branches. Whichever the case never defoliate more than 20% at the same time and even thats too much imo, specially in flower, you cant stunt her growth and delay harvest, also making the buds smaller. I also remove the branches from the first node unless they are at a decent height when its close to flower. Honestly, I seem to have more yield since I dont defoliate religiously and only when I think its necessary but might be because I dont have the best lights and the plants do better with more solar panels because of that.