So I was wondering what some options on defoliation during flower. I just switched my lights a week ago and I usually defoliate the big leaves blocking the bud sites. However this time I am trying hydro and the leaves are blowing up. Not sure if/when I should give it another good defoliation.
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Hey @Skott I rip them off throughout the flowering stage on some strains. You right about hydro blowing up during flower. They tend to blow up throughout the veg stage as well. Also don’t to afraid for take off larf too.
Week 8 of flower should take a bit more
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Thanks, for the info, I will have to upload a picture tomorrow when the lights are on.
Well definitely need pics to advise. In my opinion, a lot of people take it too far, removing a ton of fan leaves to try to develop some larf. That’s like the opposite of what these hypothetical folks should be doing. Get rid of the larf, and leave more fans.
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I agree its a balance between fan leaves and larf. I try to decide what i want to keep and dont within the 1st or 2nd week of flower and get rid of those larf sites. Then trim fan leaves as needed to keep bud sites happy. Larfs are wasted energy and fans are sugar factorys so its a balance from my experience. Good luck man
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Welcomed to the community @Skott
I will said you can defoliated 1/3 of you plants they be happy
Happy growing 
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Great @Skott ! 
They look great man.
It it was me, I’d leave all of those, for today. I’d be keeping an eye out for congestion on the back side of the larger one, but it’s fine for now.
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Ok cool thanks the big one is Maui wowie and the other two are runtz
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@Skott lots of opinions on this but in my hydro experience I defoliate almost daily starting around week 3 all the way until harvest to include branches. Never more than 30% at any one trimming and then watch to see how she bounces back before trimming again. If a fan leaf is blocking a bud site remove it, if a fan leaf is pointing inside, remove it. My grows will need 2 trellis nets, one set at 18 inch and another at 32 inch. When I start training into the second trellis I remove any growth below the first trellis to include ‘Larf’ , had to look that up never heard that term before, but it is what I always called popcorn buds. My first grows I kept these larf sites going because I was tuning in my grows and wanted everything, but now that I have things tuned in I have gotten picky about what I want to harvest. I remove any branches that she doesn’t put any energy into because I have learned over many years that no matter how much I want those branches to produce, they usually don’t.
Nice looking grow!
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Yeah there’s so many “personal opinions” lol but that’s what I’ve been doing is picking a little bit when I see them in the way. I like the idea of taking everything off from the bottom of the first trellis. My passed grows I’ve always left everything but I learned that the popcorn buds take so much energy away from the good buds. I will keep everyone posted. Thanks for the input
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I take everything I can get scissors on on day one of flower and day 21 of flower. Anything that grows back after that is a much smaller leaf. I continue to take anything big that grows towards the top if it is shading anything. Before, after, the end
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@Riskguy I might be changing my mind on my 30% rule based on your pictures. Your girl had a great comeback! I would never had thought this would have worked out so good.
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So I’ve been using the Mars hydro fc 4800, the plants that are under it just flipped 10 days ago. My question is how high should it be from the top of the plants? Right now I’m running at 14" above the canopy. Just wanted some input from anyone lol.
That was always my question. what about the light? How high? Dim it? …If you have a smart phone, get the app Photone. It takes the guess work out by measuring DLI and PPFD.
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That is a crazy transformation!! I will have to read again and try with one of mine.
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Black Widow day 47
I did a pretty good defol a week ago.
They have filled in alot in 1 week. Can I keep Trimming leaves blocking branches ?? The branches are definitely progressing nicely. @Aussie_autos @beachglass @LateNightGardner
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https://ilgm-growjournals.com/journal/443-first-in-35-years-b/week/20 Here is one of my journals that I just finished. I did that twice during flower…day 1 and day 21.
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Definitely do the bottom of the plant open it up u can lollipop ur plant
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Ur plant is looking really healthy and happy
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