INTRODUCTION
I can say that some of my previous assumptions on how light penetration and defoliating light blocking leaves might actually affect growth versus what I currently believe: that more light penetration equals faster growth.
This may prove not to be true in light of new experiments.
I also wanted to mention a few points on defoliating that I have come to realize with some help. To avoid a long lecture on the subject, I am just going to provide you with evidence.
I'll start off with a quote from a fellow grower:
Now the differences between light intensity and light penetration is what I am after. Lets say you adjust some supplemental light on your plant to further penetrate the lower foliage...letting those growths be exposed to direct light for a period of time should slow stretch of that branch based on what we know. Now if we were to expose the lower growth to this light and THEN further the distance of penetration abruptly, could this possibly lead to another stretch of growth to 'search' for that direct light it was used to being exposed to?
Well this is what I am trying to figure out. Maybe it might be possible to manipulate growth rates of specific branches in order to achieve the best spread of canopy of a grow. I am currently testing the above theory currently and will be posting results in the next week or two.
This quest for knowledge on the subject was directly sparked by TheCapn, when he mentioned to me twice before that my defoliating and supplemental light is actually slowing down growth than supporting it to grow faster. Here is a small excerpt of evidence he showed me in light of this:
I can say that some of my previous assumptions on how light penetration and defoliating light blocking leaves might actually affect growth versus what I currently believe: that more light penetration equals faster growth.
This may prove not to be true in light of new experiments.
I also wanted to mention a few points on defoliating that I have come to realize with some help. To avoid a long lecture on the subject, I am just going to provide you with evidence.
I'll start off with a quote from a fellow grower:
Now the differences between light intensity and light penetration is what I am after. Lets say you adjust some supplemental light on your plant to further penetrate the lower foliage...letting those growths be exposed to direct light for a period of time should slow stretch of that branch based on what we know. Now if we were to expose the lower growth to this light and THEN further the distance of penetration abruptly, could this possibly lead to another stretch of growth to 'search' for that direct light it was used to being exposed to?
Well this is what I am trying to figure out. Maybe it might be possible to manipulate growth rates of specific branches in order to achieve the best spread of canopy of a grow. I am currently testing the above theory currently and will be posting results in the next week or two.
This quest for knowledge on the subject was directly sparked by TheCapn, when he mentioned to me twice before that my defoliating and supplemental light is actually slowing down growth than supporting it to grow faster. Here is a small excerpt of evidence he showed me in light of this:
>>>Here is a picture of a plant, with two giant fan leaves shading some premium bud spots. It sure is tempting to take off these fan leaves so those under branches can get light and grow. But if I do, it will actually make those two shaded branches grow slower. When a lower branch doesn't get light, it grows and stretches until it finds light. That's why a Christmas tree is wider at the bottom than at the top.
>>>After ONE week, look how those branches blast right thru the fan leaves.
>>>When we switch to flower, plants stretch. The reason for this, is because they are not getting as many hours of light. In the night, they are stretching for light. I know I usually error on the side of not taking off enough fan leaves during flower, but defoliating during vegetative growth is just... crazy, yo! During veg, we want that plant to get as bushy, leafy, and green as possible. Most importantly, if we are going to scrog, we want a flat top. By taking off fan leaves durning veg, or giving light to the lower growth, we actually SLOW down those branches, and they will never reach the screen.
