Defoliation: Hi-Yield Technique?

[bs0]

Defol continues to kick ass in my spot. Each progressive harvest has surpassed the previous, with the most recent result being ~21z from 600w hps. I take more and more leaves each time, and have recently begun simply doing my trimming about 1 week before harvest while the plant is still growing. The crops look ugly as sin, but goddamn you can't argue with popcorn being replaced with 1g-2g nugs.

 

[superbolan]

It seems like just about everyone who has tried it is getting results and the only people saying it doesn't work have not tried it. I am thankful i took the leap of faith and gave it a try.

 

[ashash1212]

I suppose those against this can't argue against the fact that it will help those experiencing humidity related issues. rather then reinvesting more money if one could easily remove some fan leaves whilst keeping the same yeild then theres no problem

 

[ashash1212]

it would make sense to leave the bottom part of the plant mostly alone, only trimming the fan leaves that block other budsites and also to mop up any run away photons, after all if your paying for them, the plant might as well eat .

 

[smokefrogg]

i was at a caregivers place over the weekend and he does this too

thing is, he leaves the stem attached

i always chop the stem, i am of the attitude that leaving it can increase the chance of bud rot, and it's going to die and fall of anyways so why not take it off?

 

[angel4us]

outdoor defoliation????

outdoor defoliation????

anybody ever do a side by side outside defoliation experiment with good ol momma sun?????

 

[Dave Coulier]

i was at a caregivers place over the weekend and he does this too

thing is, he leaves the stem attached

i always chop the stem, i am of the attitude that leaving it can increase the chance of bud rot, and it's going to die and fall of anyways so why not take it off?

Leaving them on allows the plant to remove any sap thats left over. It contains water, sugars, hormones, and other good stuff. I know its ugly to leave them sticking way out there, but there is still stuff there the plant can get. Once its withered up would then be the best time to remove them.

 

[buddin_904]

It seems like just about everyone who has tried it is getting results and the only people saying it doesn't work have not tried it. I am thankful i took the leap of faith and gave it a try.

i feel the same!

 

[ibjamming]

I'd like to see more "side by side" comparisons...

 

[El Toker]

I'd like to see more "side by side" comparisons...

Me too. I've noticed that most of the photos seem to be of plants that haven't been trained and are growing straight upwards, an inherently flawed strategy for anyone using artificial lighting. I can see how defoliation would drastically increase the yield from the lower part of the plant in that case. I'm not convinced that someone growing under a scrog or LST or other training method would see much benefit.

 

[YosemiteSam]

About a week or so into flower. I literally removed a kitchen trash bag full of leaf. There is no question that light is much more even on the plants...the canopy was already so dense that you could not see down through it.

I purposely left considerably more branches on the plants than I normally would.

Not a side by side but I will definitely see what I see.



Edit...the plants are maybe 18 inches tall at this point and should quit stretching around 2 ft. I did take some of the bottom branches off completely. I am thinking this will allow good light on all my buds vs say the top ft or so which has been my experience in this type of grow.

 

[mrdizzle]

I'd like to see more "side by side" comparisons...

whats stopping you bro? IF you grow, then pluck leafs off one plant and do a test yourself. I for one, have to see it to believe when it comes to my plants, and im sure everyone else is the same. so seeing side by sides of someone elses grow arent going to do it for you, go into your grow room and see it for yourself

 

[Greyskull]

anybody ever do a side by side outside defoliation experiment with good ol momma sun?????

DONT DO IT!!!!!
outside the light isnt the same as it is indoors...

defoliating is best used as an indoor technique
start in veg and carry thru flower
a few leaves per plant daily reduces stress BUT as the pics detail many many folks (including me ive done it too) just strip plants at one time and still see increased girth in the sights...

 

[ibjamming]

whats stopping you bro? IF you grow, then pluck leafs off one plant and do a test yourself. I for one, have to see it to believe when it comes to my plants, and im sure everyone else is the same. so seeing side by sides of someone elses grow arent going to do it for you, go into your grow room and see it for yourself

I'd rather another be the guinea pig!

I'll try it...seeing IS believing. Most "miracles" aren't...so I'm not all that optimistic.

 

[GrnMtnGrwr]

I'm not convinced that someone growing under a scrog or LST or other training method would see much benefit.

Have you read any of the OP's posts? He trains heavily... a plant doesn't grow naturally into a 32" cube.

 

[VerdantGreen]

Me too. I've noticed that most of the photos seem to be of plants that haven't been trained and are growing straight upwards, an inherently flawed strategy for anyone using artificial lighting. I can see how defoliation would drastically increase the yield from the lower part of the plant in that case. I'm not convinced that someone growing under a scrog or LST or other training method would see much benefit.

i agree with most of this. defol. may be one way of getting a higher yield, but its not the only way.

VG

 

[depotman]

im a few weeks into flowering my 2 ladies. can i take off some of the fan leaves now, at the top

 

[dubdi3mond]

depotman from what ive read here, if you have not done this from the start of veg, then it would not be beneficial for you to pull leaves now

 

[k33ftr33z]

Thanks but I wasn't asking as in actually being in that situation. I was just using that as an example to try to illustrate my point that it's the closeness of the light as much as it is removing leaves. I'm concerned because I see alot of people who have read this thread now running around preaching that removing leaves is the answer and it's not, it's only part of the answer.

My setup utilizes intensive training to minimize height in order to maximize the light reaching all the growth. Yes, I think that the height factor is one that needs to be considered. Mine finish under 30" and using 2x600w + 1x400w in 5'x8' tunnel. Tunnel height is 32" from base to reflector bottom. I like this setup for maximizing the least amount of light.

Removing leaves is only a part of the regimen to manage crowding and grow fewer plants that yield more from a given space.

You mentioned that you had not the time to read the whole thread but your concerns and clarifications have mostly been dealt with and proper warnings given.

 

[k33ftr33z]

Umm plucking leaves doesn't improve penetration. Penetration is just another way of talking about the inverse squared rule that says everytime the light doubles it's distance from the source, the energy it contains is reduced by a factor of 4. Plucking the leaves does not increase the strength of the light it's still going to be practically useless after a foot from the light or less. It would be better to leave what few leaves are there to absorb as much of the little bit of light coming off the fluoros.

This is exactly the kind of thing that concerns me. Someone gets good results with their own training method and calls it defoliation and preaches it to everyone. People listen and focus on the word defoliation and the next thing you know you got people thinking that ripping out leaves will improve growth even under the weakest bulb possible to use.

Ummm...I have to disagree, HK. Light penetration is exactly what this technique is all about...and I use the weakest bulbs possible...well at least no 1k's. Most of my management principles are derived from avoiding the use of overpowered lighting because of heat...and a desire to get the most out of lighting instead of assuming it is too weak to produce quality buds. Most of my buds are nowhere near a foot from the bulbs. The bulk of the bud is at least mostly 2-3' away from the source.
Your contribution, obvious grow experience and concerns are valid. It is difficult to convey the results but just a little experimentation on your part to fimliarize yourself with it would help alleviate concerns. There is no risk in playing with a clone to view results. Resist the temptation to set up a horse race with a leafy sister. This isn't about who gets how tall in 2 weeks. It's about creating more budsites, branches and a stouter stature than a leafy stretch queen.