I <3 defoliation. thanks for this thread.
The only problem, if it's a problem, is that it is fun to do..
I start and then, have a hard time stopping...
All you leafsavers, i like your humanistic aproach towards plants, but its not nice to call defoliators a bunch of dumb analphabets who cannot read there biology text books.
So a plant that has been defoliated would take significantly longer to reach maturity?
i'm on your side for this oneI can see where this would be most effective in micro gardens, but it is also easy to see how it's effectiveness would decrease as garden size increases.
Some people seem to lack basic reading comprehension skills, and read what I write as though the words meant different things than they do. I'm going to back out of this silly thread. Nothing I've said is wrong on any level. I never said anyone else was wrong, either. I just posted up some facts. Like I said over and over to the defensive person who refuses to get it, This technique might be useful as a bonsai technique in small gardens.
Regardless... bragging about how much light you have hitting the floor is funny.
Careful with those facts, Kodiak... they prefer imagination here.
I did not ignore your point, and have never suggested leaving any part of the plant shaded.Head you keep ignoring my statement! As usual when someone makes a valid point!
Which light has more intensity a 400 watt hps or a 1000 watt hps? Which one has more penetration? Which one is going to give you more bud and why? Penetration will increase your yield. Light that never reaches an area is WASTED. If light does not penetrate to an area of a plant, what happens to that part of the plant? It does not do shit, it produces waste.
I will say it for the last time. When I defoliate a few times in flower, light hits the floor after...for about a week. During that week light is reaching Further down than it ever would have. The leaves grow back, and eventually I do it again. This made my buds thick All the way down, with Zero waste.
Take the same plants, shade let the leaves stack up, and see how much penetration you have. I would rather my light hit the floor for a week and bounce of the bottom of my fully reflective tent, than to just give light to the tops. I do not just grow for a few big colas. Because that is what happens, with too many leaves. When you harvest you have 3 piles. Good, ok, and trim. When I defoliate I have 2 piles. Good and Trim.
I used to have respect for you, but that is fading fast. Calling me stupid basically. Just because you are a breeder, does not mean you are right. You do not like to be challenged, or proven wrong. But in a couple of days I will post my increased yield, and you prolly wont believe me.
I did not ignore your point, and have never suggested leaving any part of the plant shaded.
I never called you stupid. I get your explanation better now.
That the light was hitting the floor was just an irrelevant side note, and not something you were shooting for.
It will be interesting to see how much better you come out final weight/time with more small buds as opposed to few bigger ones.
Every time I've ever done the experimentation, Few bigger buds has won.
Hello GratefulHead and THANK YOU
I ordered beans and they did not arrive, so to the bagseed I went, and, since this is a good time to experiment I have followed your advice and those who confirm it. Since about 3 wks from seed I have been defoling under a 400. LST and bondage are my tactics to spread these babies out in a 2x3 E&F, until they show sex. THEY are the best I've ever seen in about a dozen grows over 8 yrs. (personal stash only) ANYWAY I'll let you know how it goes. I REALLY like the quote from Buddha.
THANKS AGAIN for your hard work and all your good generosity.
RESPECT
spangles
Like I said before I do not need a scale to tell me I increased my yield. I grow it and trim it myself everytime.
Your plants finish almost a week sooner with defoliating, so if anything that increased my yield even more!
Um, the only objective way you can truly tell if your yield increased is to weigh it.
Just cuz you trim it, and the pile looks bigger or trimming takes longer or whatever other subjective measurement you are using, does not mean your yield increased.
Maybe they finish sooner cuz there's less to finish then there would have been if you didn't defoliate. I don't understand how that increases your yield? Cuz you can get another round in quicker?
Without objective measurements all I'm seeing is a bunch of guesses.
Dude I have been growing for over a decade. If you cannot look at your plants and see the difference between your previous yields...they you do not have a good eye. If you read my posts, you would see that I am going to weigh everything, once it is dry...as always. Give me a few days, they are hanging.
I already stated that there is more bud this time and they finished sooner. Maybe they finish sooner because every part of the plant is getting light. Ever have some premature looking Larf as you go further down the stem? Wont happen if you defoliate. How does it increase yield? What weighs more, some leafy, airy buds that never get light or Dense nugs all the way down?
Do some reading before you just jump in and give your opinion. I will prove you wrong in a few days.
Hello GratefulHead and THANK YOU
I ordered beans and they did not arrive, so to the bagseed I went, and, since this is a good time to experiment I have followed your advice and those who confirm it. Since about 3 wks from seed I have been defoling under a 400. LST and bondage are my tactics to spread these babies out in a 2x3 E&F, until they show sex. THEY are the best I've ever seen in about a dozen grows over 8 yrs. (personal stash only) ANYWAY I'll let you know how it goes. I REALLY like the quote from Buddha.
THANKS AGAIN for your hard work and all your good generosity.
RESPECT
spangles