First grow ever. Defoliation guidelines

[The_Mozart]

Hello growers, I'm running an auto in DWC and this is my first plant I've ever grown. Box is 80x80cm

I know there are many different opinions/schools about defoliation, but since I've done some LST the plant's looking pretty bushy.

My question is, should I help my plant to expose bud sites? (sorry, actually I don't even know which are the bud sites... )
I've already slowly defoliated it in the bottom 4-5 times removing something like 100ish leaves in total. After 2-3 days it's always bushy as before.
I'm scared to over stress it and wondering if I should just leave it and let it grow.

Day 40 from sprout. I guess i'm in pre-flowering stage since I see a couple of pistils here and there.

Thanks in advance.

 

[St. Phatty]

If it's your first grow, why bother ?

You'll probably get some decent bud. Mission Accomplished !

It's against the rules to stress out over pot growing. It's supposed to be mellow.

 

[The_Mozart]

Thanks St. Phatty, yeah I will stop bothering. Just the usual newbie overthinking and worrying. Trying to do my best.

 

[VerdantGreen]

Leave it alone is my advice. some people do defol but i have grown many plants that look like that with no defol at all. Plant looks good.
VG

 

[flylowgethigh]

I agree with leaving the plant alone for now. It looks ready to flip to 12/12 if you haven't yet. It looks great for a first effort.

 

[Koondense]

If it's an auto flowering plant, leave her alone.
When she stops stretching, only then remove the low in-canopy growth to maximize air circulation. By then you'll learn what bud sites are, they will be obvious
So far the plant looks very good.

Cheers

 

[The_Mozart]

Thanks guys! Yes she's an auto.

So glad to hear from experts. It seems my dedication and efforts are paying off so far (finger crossed).

 

[Creeperpark]

Mozart, when a person removes a leaf they are also removing the plant's breathing system. Plants use leaves as solar collectors to collect food, but also they breathe in and out through the stomata on the underside of the leaf. If you remove "too many" the plant may have problems transpiring the gases and moisture. Your plant is moving a lot of water throughout its system using DWC principles through these tiny pores and looks good. I would stop taking leaves now.

Nearly all land plants use the same pores — called stomata — to take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Stomata are tiny, microscopic and critical for photosynthesis. Thousands of them dot on the surface of the plants. Google

 

[The_Mozart]

Mozart, when a person removes a leaf they are also removing the plant's breathing system. Plants use leaves as solar collectors to collect food, but also they breathe in and out through the stomata on the underside of the leaf. If you remove "too many" the plant may have problems transpiring the gases and moisture. Your plant is moving a lot of water throughout its system using DWC principles through these tiny pores and looks good. I would stop taking leaves now.

Nearly all land plants use the same pores — called stomata — to take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Stomata are tiny, microscopic and critical for photosynthesis. Thousands of them dot on the surface of the plants. Google

Thanks man. Yeah I stopped!

 

[Rodehazrd]

These folks know how it’s done look’s like you’re in good shape not over fed it’s hard to keep the hand’s off such a beautiful thing you sure it’s your first?
roadhazard

 

[Jock420]

Great looking plant. What light are you using &what size of extraction
starting similar size closet myself