To stay or to go

[betty boo]

hi all looking for a heads up on whether anyone has removed large fan leaves during the flowering stage.could it harm my ladies that much. Obviously fan leaves are needed to transport nutrients etc but are they really that necessary until the end. Thanks for any info..

GROW WITH THE FLOW

 

[blackosprey]

On my last run with SGS Pink Salad, I tried defoliation on one of the plants, because I like experimenting and trying all kinds of different things. I modified the technique used in the defoliation thread on this board by pulling leaves at day 17 and day 40. The plant became lanky, I guess in an attempt to recuperate itself, and the final product was light an airy, and not my typical finished product (and definitely not like the other 4 females I had going). In the end, this plant yielded just over 6 grams, while the other 4 averaged 14 grams each.
I'm not saying that this is to be taken as biblical knowledge or anything like that, but this was my experience with defoliation on one auto strain. I have had some (repeat-SOME) success with defoliating photo strains, but overall, I don't feel it is worth the extra work and care needed and I don't recommend it.

 

[betty boo]

should have went looking for that thread but thanks for the info.i thought the plant would have stopped growing if leaves were cut but maybe not. Chopping leaves must hurt the girls somehow im starting to think

 

[Scottish Research]

Pink Salad? or Tossing Salads?


R.Fortune

 

[Elsweeto]

I defol all of my auto's, but Only after they have stopped getting taller and are starting to fatten up. In my experience this only improves the end product. I have never even tried taking them off before the end of the stretch because with little auto's; I've never grown the beasts people have been developing jesus they're pretty though With the little ones I know you don't want to disturb them in the growth phase they hate it.

 

[mitch_connor]

I've found Tucking leaves when they are vegging and preflowering to encourage branches to become more prominent is the better option. From days 20-30 will help.

A very gradual defoliation can be done from mid flower if I feel it will help the air movement through the canopy or help expose some budsites.

But with the smaller AF's there aren't really many fan leaves to begin with.

 

[Elsweeto]

So basically its nip/tuck whatever you fancy.

 

[Elsweeto]

Yes; as I said never pick leaves of any plant reg/auto until the flowering has reached fattening a week or so after all stem growth has stopped and the plants starts to focus on the flowers (I watch the plant not date's I'm sorry I know that doesn't help).

After this point you can strip one plant and leave the rest you'll see the difference for yourself.

The most Important thing is to allow the plant to get into the full swing of flowering without messing with it, that goes for reg/auto do not defol autos until mid/late flowering. Reg you can work away in veg, but leave them to fully recover before starting the flowering phase 2/3 weeks recovery then leave them until mid flowering.

I'm speculating here but Big-Autos will probably take well to a de-fol in late flowering given the depth of bud sites below the canopy of any tall plant.

 

[betty boo]

Thanks for some great info mitch and elsweeto. I hadn't heard of tucking before but will look into that. I have 2 russian rockets in flower that are no longer growing,they are in full swing so i might try 1 and compare in a few weeks time. First grow so im soooooo excited. With some fan leaves missing i can pop my next lil beautie Trying to post some pics hopefully this works. Remember im only a newb so go easy on me lol.. Thanks again.