sorry i didnt chime in on the defoliation... u will like the results!
the way i think about it is would i like a leaf or more bud lol
yes the fan leaves are the storage cells for your sugars used in creating Thc from CBD... however.... when we are supplementing our plants with the necessary nutrients than they arnt as needed. when you go out door you will not defoliate in the way you do indoors as these leaves also protect the plant from harm.
all your new top growth still has Photosynthesis and enough to make the plant grow ao at that point your just spending energy keeping low lying fan leaves alive..... my vote... put the energy towards the Buds!
i pul the bottom 1/3 before flower and at 18-21 days i clear all below the top three nodes on the limbs... than again i take all the large leaves 2 weeks before harvest.
Good luck on your endeavor!
I've a theory about fan leaf purpose. Certainly they produce sugar for growth, but unpollenated flowers don't need their output. For seed production, they're required. Their output is no doubt useful for maintainance and growth of roots, but more roots are useless after enough have grown. Maintainance of roots needs less than for growth/expansion. Water & nutes are served up nicely, no need for a huge area search. Light & air are what bud leaf & calyxes need, as long as they're green.
Dept of Agriculture should be running experimental methods, to let us know what works best and why
What we do learn is mostly anecdotal, and shared methods from other plants.
I've a theory about fan leaf purpose. Certainly they produce sugar for growth, but unpollenated flowers don't need their output. For seed production, they're required. Their output is no doubt useful for maintainance and growth of roots, but more roots are useless after enough have grown. Maintainance of roots needs less than for growth/expansion. Water & nutes are served up nicely, no need for a huge area search. Light & air are what bud leaf & calyxes need, as long as they're green.
Dept of Agriculture should be running experimental methods, to let us know what works best and why
What we do learn is mostly anecdotal, and shared methods from other plants.
Very nice information. I will be trying defoliation myself now. I've been tucking, but it is hard to keep them out of the way.
i have to disagree with the statement that more roots are useless after enough have grown.... yes i agree that with a sufficient feeding they dont "need" to have a large amount of space ie. hydro.
yet i have seen a definite correlation to root too bud ratio in soil and mixed substrates... the more space for the roots to grow the more buds can swell
look at an out door grow that is in open soil.... no boundaries for the roots and you get massive trees.... you only feed at the base of the plant and it will take all that and Still look for more room.
your roots are Very important the better the root structure the better the buds! strong Vigorous root growth was one of the traits i looked at when i was breeding my seeds as i want it to work nicely with no mercy and with Hydro as well
ooohhh boy ... im rambling.... ahhh insomnia....
Girls are looking sweet! I'm in a small area as well, and defoliation is a must. I also think side lighting in a small area makes a big difference. I have a couple questions for you, where do you get your coco? I've looked in all the garden centres and have yet to see any. Also what would you recommend for nutes for a first time coco grow? And do you ever mix nutes into your coco mix?
thx cheers
