Removing Fan Leaves in Late Flowering?

[instaGRAM]

Whats your guys opinion?? Is is safe to remove the bigger fan leaves during late flower to create light for lower bud sites, or will this hinder bud size and growth speed??

 

[vernonhazey]

i defoliate throught the whole process never a problemo

 

[FrankFoster]

defoliation isn't the debate (ITs a plant and you can trim it up when you want), its heavy defoliation late in the cycle vs. performance.

Lower bud sites will perform better late when the upper parts of the plant are cut out, or trimmed back for sure.
Lollypopping seems to create a situation where the small leafers seem to pop out towards becoming fan leafs again when you do that.

My best success is to not defol anything and let the top nuggets go all the way, then cut the bruisers out and let the remainder of the plant sit and go for another 10-15 days.

Strongest bud I ever say was from a Blue strain, the top nugget was fully grown and gone and the guy let the rest go for 25 more days. All the leaves are sugar production and also the plant will pull nitrogen from the leaves as it requires late in the stages.

A trim and a cut-back are different. I try to not touch it at all and just be patient.