Hey, BigDaddy
YES! This sounds like the information I was seeking to obtain.
My question is if I am doing the correct thing. The 1st paragraph of my initial post tells my current approach. The rest of the post is giving further details, and my thoughts and observations that led to my implementation the described defoliation regimen.
Being as I am still several weeks from finishing, (assuming they don’t revert to veg stage! fingers crossed here), I decided to put it to all of you here at ILGM forum, where the seed stock was obtained.
This being my first grow after 35 years of inactivity, everything has changed! I educated myself as to current tech. and methodology, and decided on making my “live soil mix” myself, and it came out beautifully, draining very well yet remaining moist, light and airy. Mix contains 15% worn castings and 8 to 10% compost, and 5 to 8% trace elements. Weekly water using organic teas and additional nutrients to feed the ladies, adding bat shit and reducing nitrogen content since flowering began. Seedlings indoors under LED, transplanted to 16 gallon cloth bags (14 - 15 gallons of soil each), and moved into a 10’ x 20’ x 7’ high greenhouse w/plastic sheet floor fastened to the greenhouse walls. All vent have fine screen. Oscillating fans keep air moving, adding air conditioning tomorrow, as temps hit 120 inside. My decision to use a sealed greenhouse was made with lessening pest problems a primary consideration, while retaining the natural lighting, humidity, and temperature fluctuations of a “natural” outdoor grow environment of equal importance.
It is my view that the very best flavors and highs are produced by plants grown in soil, and with the natural variations in lighting and climate build a “character and complexity” in the final product. I do not believe these qualities can be obtained growing under strictly controlled indoor artificially produced climate and light cycles.
Topped plants while in veg., and started defoliation of larger leaves when flowering at inner branch nodes began.
As buds begin to “stack” I remove all the larger leaves that are light blocking to the secondary flowering areas. (As opposed to main growing tips) As the budding "spreads and plumps), I have removed all leaves larger than the palm of my hand.
Well into flowering, say 1/2 to 2/3 of total flowering time (estimated), I will have almost all leaves removed, except for those growing in the buds, (1 to 3 leaf segments), at the growing tips, and leaving less than palm sized leaves growing adjacent to buds that are smaller.
This seems to be working well, this far, and the flowering appears to have out paced that of the plants that received less aggressive defoliation, both in # of bud sites, and in size of the buds. Side by side comparisons of same strains, on all three strains I am working with. GDP, Skywalker and Gold Leaf.
So, I guess my question to you, BDC, is this: Am I totally blowing it, or heading in the right direction? You, being a veteran grower who defoliates, are precisely the type person I hoped to contact. Can you give me any advice to improve my approach? Have I already done too much? Are my methods entirely wrong? Is my thinking on the subject based on inaccurate ideas?
BDC, any advice, insights, or comments, positive or critical will be received with an open mind, due consideration, and, knowing me, more questions and discussion. If you are open to an ongoing dialog, of course. Regardless, any feedback will be very much appreciated. Future plans include “skrogging”.
My goal is high yield soil grown hybreds, smooth smoking and pure tasting, perfectly cured, “Private Reserve” quality cannabis flowers. Premo Bud, is what I hope to achieve. Collective knowledge is what I hope to participate in. ILGM seems a good place to do this.
Thank you for your interest and response.
Hey, we all need a goal, right?