Defoliation: Hi-Yield Technique?

[TruthOrLie]

I'm not really going to consider this the defoliation done as some of you describe, but I have had really good success doing heavy stripping all the way up to the very top bud site. I remove EVERYTHING, not just leaves which is the opposite of what this thread suggests.

I'm talking drastic where it seems very counter productive to be taking off all of the stuff we worked hard to grow for 2-4 weeks, but the results speak for themselves.

Its not popular but we let the plant grow naturally (aside from the tie down) until week 2 of flower and then stripped like shown below.

From This

To This

upskirt

May be strain permitting, but this is no sea of green. Just 24 ladies that we went wild with the scissors on.

Fuck lower hash making larf - the objective is SoQuick style colas.

lol. but you couldn't leave ONE plant foliated for comparison shot?

 

[Cheeb]

eh.. guess I could have, but that garden occurred before I had discovered this thread. Its just how we did it...didnt even think to do a comparison. I always cleared the lowers but it seemed that grow after grow I was finding myself wishing I had taken more off.

I've seen a few SOG grows on here where they were hacked right up to the very top - like little palm trees. This grow shown above I tried to replicate that since after having tied them over they had many shoots per plant as if it were a sog - at least canopy wise.

--

thats 24?! how much did you get? they look great! wthh.. i just had a dissapointing last grow.. say.. how long did you veg those? and you say 2 weeks before flipping to flower you stripped them like that? i want to do whatever possible to get a huge yield

Hard for me to really recall the details. Check the thread in my sig 5400w coco if you wanted to follow that grow. The 24 2 gallon coco bags where under 6 600w lights - there were actually 3 giant widows in the back which each had their own light - they skewed the results a bit.

Despite the pictures making it look huge, I still did not achieve 1lb per 600w light..but closer to 1lb per 1000w of light. I believe I would have gotten more but left town for a few days and came home to find the entire garden all over the place. They were not trellis netted and when one toppled the rest went too like a domino effect. Tried to stake them up, but it was just a lost cause so I harvested early. Never again. haha

Unfortunately that variety would random do weird shit and not product ANY cola formula. It was an underlying genetic fault and I had to ditch the strain. Havn't been able to re-produce those large of nugs w/ 600w lights since.

They were stripped 2 weeks INTO flower - not before. This is unpopular to cut a plant in flower, but I did it anyways as to not deal with the lower larf that was sure to come without pruning.

Cant recall veg - 3 weeks or so I'm guessing. Garden did get a dose or 2 of Bloombastic which was a sample I was given.

- -

I'll continue to strip the plants lower leaves and flower sites, but dont think I can defoliate fans as much/often as I see going on here. I get really bad hives/rash on my skin when in contact w/ the plants so I try to stay completely hands off as possible except for one massive strip down.

I have one variety which seems to do well either way. If I strip heavy I'll end up with nice ass fat tops or if I barely strip at all I'll still get around the same weight, but a lot of is sub-par nugs and really deserves in the hash bag. I actually think the weight may be more unpruned, but if its unsellable - can it really be considered more weight. Good for edibles or bubble hash, but thats about it.

Other more fluffy sativa variety definitely needs a heavy pruning or I just don't obtain any real density.

 

[moresntoil]

eh.. guess I could have, but that garden occurred before I had discovered this thread. Its just how we did it...didnt even think to do a comparison. I always cleared the lowers but it seemed that grow after grow I was finding myself wishing I had taken more off.

I've seen a few SOG grows on here where they were hacked right up to the very top - like little palm trees. This grow shown above I tried to replicate that since after having tied them over they had many shoots per plant as if it were a sog - at least canopy wise.

--

Hard for me to really recall the details. Check the thread in my sig 5400w coco if you wanted to follow that grow. The 24 2 gallon coco bags where under 6 600w lights - there were actually 3 giant widows in the back which each had their own light - they skewed the results a bit.

Despite the pictures making it look huge, I still did not achieve 1lb per 600w light..but closer to 1lb per 1000w of light. I believe I would have gotten more but left town for a few days and came home to find the entire garden all over the place. They were not trellis netted and when one toppled the rest went too like a domino effect. Tried to stake them up, but it was just a lost cause so I harvested early. Never again. haha

Unfortunately that variety would random do weird shit and not product ANY cola formula. It was an underlying genetic fault and I had to ditch the strain. Havn't been able to re-produce those large of nugs w/ 600w lights since.

They were stripped 2 weeks INTO flower - not before. This is unpopular to cut a plant in flower, but I did it anyways as to not deal with the lower larf that was sure to come without pruning.

Cant recall veg - 3 weeks or so I'm guessing. Garden did get a dose or 2 of Bloombastic which was a sample I was given.

- -

I'll continue to strip the plants lower leaves and flower sites, but dont think I can defoliate fans as much/often as I see going on here. I get really bad hives/rash on my skin when in contact w/ the plants so I try to stay completely hands off as possible except for one massive strip down.

I have one variety which seems to do well either way. If I strip heavy I'll end up with nice ass fat tops or if I barely strip at all I'll still get around the same weight, but a lot of is sub-par nugs and really deserves in the hash bag. I actually think the weight may be more unpruned, but if its unsellable - can it really be considered more weight. Good for edibles or bubble hash, but thats about it.

Other more fluffy sativa variety definitely needs a heavy pruning or I just don't obtain any real density.

I too break out in a rash, raised bumps when I rub againts the plants! have you found anything that helps? I use long sleave shirts with rubber gloves when I must get down and dirty, but gets very hot. also the dry trichs will make me sneeze like a mother focker. It took me years to get to the point of breaking out, strange. never use to be that way.

very nice looking pics bro.

moresntoil

 

[Greyskull]

man.. did you guys get allergic to the plants?
i have a cousin whos like that... they brush up against a leaf with their arm and BAM - rash...

 

[moresntoil]

man.. did you guys get allergic to the plants?
i have a cousin whos like that... they brush up against a leaf with their arm and BAM - rash...

I believe you are correct. I have heard of people who where never allergic to poison ivy, until they have a really bad encounter with it, in one case the individual never reacted to poison ivy until he burned a bunch of it one day and had inhailed the smoke. after that he could not touch it at all without breaking out.
just so happens that I am also very sensitive to poison ivy.
but ya, it really sucks

moresntoil

 

[Texian]

Hello all! .. Let me start off by saying great thread; the 10% I have read so far. I usually read an entire thread before posting, but sometimes exceptions must be made.

It has been 30 days of 12/12. I grow in dirt, 3 gallon grow bags, and under 600 watters. Due to my limited experience with growing, I over vegged and ended up with 5' plants. To make matters worse, after 4 full weeks of flowering, I have begun to notice spotted nanners on the bottom third of a couple of the plants. I am almost certain the problem arose due to insufficient light reaching the bottom, and/or a possible light leak, maybe. After addressing all possible light leaking areas (didn't find much), and plucking off all visible nanners, would it be worthwhile to defoliate, trim, and/or completely remove all small and undeveloped lower branches 30 days in with a 65+ flowering strain? Hoping this technique might help reduce nanner spunk while also decreasing leaf and increasing fruit.

I have not done any defoliation since about 3 days before flowering, so no fan leaves have been plucked. Is it to late to adopt this techinique? If not, about how much of the plant should I defoliate at a time? Will this cause the plant to hermie even more at this stage?

Also, although I have plucked what seems to be opened pollen pods, I have not noticed any seed pods forming at the moment, and the top buds seem to be growing just fine, while the bottom third of the plants look puny.

Thank you for your time and I look forward to your responses.

 

[Glodenglow1]

I fully and completely support removal of fan leaves. My scrog is bustin out of the seems currently, and I am very aggressive with fan leaf trimming as I get into flower.

I dont do a ton of trimming prior to flower, as I am mostly training into a screen.

My last scrogs, the best buds were buds that got direct light to the bud, and not to the fan leaf. I had buds that still had fan leaves, but nno direct light and they do not fully mature.

 

[laylow]

eh.. guess I could have, but that garden occurred before I had discovered this thread. Its just how we did it...didnt even think to do a comparison. I always cleared the lowers but it seemed that grow after grow I was finding myself wishing I had taken more off.

I've seen a few SOG grows on here where they were hacked right up to the very top - like little palm trees. This grow shown above I tried to replicate that since after having tied them over they had many shoots per plant as if it were a sog - at least canopy wise.

--

Hard for me to really recall the details. Check the thread in my sig 5400w coco if you wanted to follow that grow. The 24 2 gallon coco bags where under 6 600w lights - there were actually 3 giant widows in the back which each had their own light - they skewed the results a bit.

Despite the pictures making it look huge, I still did not achieve 1lb per 600w light..but closer to 1lb per 1000w of light. I believe I would have gotten more but left town for a few days and came home to find the entire garden all over the place. They were not trellis netted and when one toppled the rest went too like a domino effect. Tried to stake them up, but it was just a lost cause so I harvested early. Never again. haha

Unfortunately that variety would random do weird shit and not product ANY cola formula. It was an underlying genetic fault and I had to ditch the strain. Havn't been able to re-produce those large of nugs w/ 600w lights since.

They were stripped 2 weeks INTO flower - not before. This is unpopular to cut a plant in flower, but I did it anyways as to not deal with the lower larf that was sure to come without pruning.

Cant recall veg - 3 weeks or so I'm guessing. Garden did get a dose or 2 of Bloombastic which was a sample I was given.

- -

I'll continue to strip the plants lower leaves and flower sites, but dont think I can defoliate fans as much/often as I see going on here. I get really bad hives/rash on my skin when in contact w/ the plants so I try to stay completely hands off as possible except for one massive strip down.

I have one variety which seems to do well either way. If I strip heavy I'll end up with nice ass fat tops or if I barely strip at all I'll still get around the same weight, but a lot of is sub-par nugs and really deserves in the hash bag. I actually think the weight may be more unpruned, but if its unsellable - can it really be considered more weight. Good for edibles or bubble hash, but thats about it.

Other more fluffy sativa variety definitely needs a heavy pruning or I just don't obtain any real density.

Cheeb....

shocked how much they still grow/stretch, i lollypop my plants at 2 weeks flower, sog style but the buds never stretch and grow as long as yours what strain is she?

Nice Buds

 

[Cheeb]

GreySkull,

I definitely developed an allergy towards growing cannabis. Trim time messes me up pretty bad. Will not even attempt it without a mask anymore as the last few harvests had me sneezing, watering eyes, n' stuff. I didnt realize how bad it really was until I started feeling it in my chest after messing with some really dry brittle hash making stuff.

Unfortunately I gotta where long sleeves always and mask up come harvest time'
Can vap/smoke, ect no problems.

Used to get poison ivy really bad as a kid, but haven't had it in years so perhaps I'll eventually build an immunity towards it... but who knows.

- -
Laylow,
Strain definitely has a lot to do with it. Afghanny Mango was what it was called when given to me.
I no longer keep it around. I could do a grow with it and produce huge colas - the very next grow it would not develop colas properly at all. Odd genetic shit I think.

Perhaps it was just really sensitive to my seasonal environments which may not have been totally ideal, but sometimes it'd produce shit like this which looked good up until around wk 3 flower - then go to shit.




ran it again and hit great yield, but a stretch inhibitor was used preventing that little mid-flower spurt that ruined the bud formation.


ya got me.. once I caught wind that a few other locals where experiencing similar things I got rid of it immediately.

 

[laylow]

Have you tried that exact technique With any other strains and still got the same results?

Amzing plant when she was working for yas....

How long was the flower time on her too?

 

[shorty68]

nice pics and good info thx yaw

 

[Veno.Amana]

interesting term of use, this technique is probably older than any of us, it works wonderfully!


Veno.A

 

[moresntoil]

what do you all think about trimming about 20% of fans off in week 4 of flower just to get light down to the mid level and lower buds. will this cause a stall? if so for how long? plants are very healthy vegged for 4 wks and have plenty light.

thanks, moresntoil

 

[kingoflimbs]

DAMN this thead is overwhelming. Interesting though.
This goes against most of what I've read, but I'm willing to give it a shot. I'm in between grows right now, but looking to set up a 2'x3'-3'x4' ScrOG grow room. I'm starting with at least 3 plants each of 2 strains. I'd probably do a comparison before committing to either side of the defoliation argument. But, to the point;

How much defoliation is necessary with a ScrOG since you're already training the plant away from bud sites?
I'm also strain-shopping right now, anyone know a few that would be receptive to both ScrOG and defol?

 

[one Q]

this may have been covered already, but must share my thoughts and theory.

I think that Fans are responsible for growth/stretch. Once the plants are in flower and done stretching, then the bud leaves take over. THese are responsible for their flowers.

So remove the fans after stretch, ONLY when the bud site connected to that fan has enough bud leaves. THis way the bud leaves support the flowering of that site and no longer NEEDS the big fan.

just an observation.

 

[prowler]

Good point One Q!

And i have to remind all of those who define themselves as a novice (inlcuding me) that do not remove leaves that are not shading any bud sites just because: "Guys in this thread told that it is awesome!"

Take your time and dial in your own thoughs before applying such a HC-technique.

Peace!

 

[TruthOrLie]

this may have been covered already, but must share my thoughts and theory.

I think that Fans are responsible for growth/stretch. Once the plants are in flower and done stretching, then the bud leaves take over. THese are responsible for their flowers.

So remove the fans after stretch, ONLY when the bud site connected to that fan has enough bud leaves. THis way the bud leaves support the flowering of that site and no longer NEEDS the big fan.

just an observation.

This was my big question.

Does the plant produce EXTRA leaves to defend against predation by bugs, i.e. caterpillars?

Does the plant produce leaves because it NEEDs as many as possible?

If the plant produces EXTRA leaves, then it would make sense that when some of those EXTRA leaves are removed a vigorous response is noticed because the plant is trying to toughen up against being eaten... same as how when a growing tip is turned down the plant responds vigorously to what it believes is a fallen tree or other obstacle of some sort keeping it from standing upright.

 

[daheadies]

Somewhere in this thread within the first few pages I think there are pics of someone completely defoliating EVERY leaf of their 9 inch'ish plant. Then they show the plant a week or so later with new "smaller" leaves developed to replace the fans and all others. These new leaves will be sufficient for photosynthesis; bud spacing will be reduced, and basically the plant "freaks out" when it goes into flower and says "wtf, I am being told not to produce leaves, so I should produce some fuckin buds instead" and you wind up w/ huge nugs and fewer leaves

 

[TruthOrLie]

What I don't understand is how the plant can think its being "told" to not grow leaves.

In nature, no one tells the plant to anything, it responds to environmental cues.

What cue would trigger a "no leaf, big buds" response. The only thing I can think of is bugs.

Most bugs I've noticed have a hard time getting at buds... except maybe mites.

 

[daheadies]

EXACTLY its a evolutionary response! The plant wants to grow SOMETHING and when leaves are not allowed it surrenders its want to grow leaves and focuses on growing buds

The first time i checked out this theory I thought the same thing "bugs kill my leaves and it harms my plant, y is this different?"
-i dunno what plucking does that bugs dont.. I dont get that part.. but Im having successful results w/ defoliation and have lost crops to mites