First time grower, doing it legit from the start (Need defoliation advice)

digitalpurps

digitalpurps

Member
Hello everyone!

I've been reading up for the past couple years and I've finally sprung for my first setup. Tryna go as natural as possible, got four GDP babies in soil with fox farm nuts vegging for a little over 2 weeks. Running a 4x4 tent / 400W MH and its a pretty decent environment out here, about 67 to 80 degrees. There was an article I read that GDP likes to be watered every day, but my soil hasn't been drying out quickly at all (its always moist when I do a finger test) so I have been watering every other day.

I was hoping to get some defoliation advice, I'm looking to max my yield and I think this is the best way at my level. First 2 pics are a bit into the first week, last 2 are now, after defoliation. What I am stumped about is whether or not to defoliate the smaller nodes going up each stem, I it seems to me like they are colas that will produce bud, however It seems like most people lollipop them and take them all off.

Also, is now a good time for me to FIM them? Or am I too late? They are just starting to really take off in height, and I am considering making the big one a mother..(good idea?)

Anyways thanks in advance if you can help, glad I finally joined a forum for this!

-JP

1 Week after getting the clones
IMG_0879.jpgIMG_0882.jpg
2 Weeks (defoliated)
IMG_0899.jpgIMG_0900.jpg
 
L

LITSWD

Active Member
I made this mistake myself, and I'd say don't do any defoliating until buds are growing. Towards the end of flower is when I'd be taking off leaves ad what not. And you can still top or FIM, just don't do it in flower time, bro.
 
neo12345

neo12345

Well-Known Member
Just a quick question JP, but how far away is your light from the tops of the plants as they look really stretched?
 
Y0da

Y0da

Well-Known Member
Defoliation is bad practice according to botanists as the leaves are what feed the plant by way of photosynthesis. So in effect you are retarding the plant during a critical stage of growth.
If you do feel the irresistible urge to rip your plants to pieces before they're finished, get some broccoli and do it to that instead, always helps me :)
 
digitalpurps

digitalpurps

Member
yo appreciate the feedback from everyone

I agree, I should have tried LST first, its way more convenient for my setup. My tent is barely 7' tall so I want some bushy monsters. I tied them down today with string/tape and did a different amount of pinching on each one as to see what the what the benefits are.

Bunny - I'll be checking on that post for sure, really interested to see the results!

Neo - I'm keeping the light about a foot from the tallest plant. They are about 18" right now and I agree they seem a little stretched...but I thought that was if the light is too far?

IMG_0901.jpg
 
neo12345

neo12345

Well-Known Member
Y0da said:
Defoliation is bad practice according to botanists as the leaves are what feed the plant by way of photosynthesis. So in effect you are retarding the plant during a critical stage of growth.
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That's not strictly true is it Yoda? I don't want to hijack this thread but if you have evidence to back that up then please post itin the thread mentioned above as I'd like to see it?

@JP Maybe they just haven't filled out much yet that's why they look so tall? I would let them get properly established before you defoliate, but as you've already done it just give them a couple of weeks to grow back before you do it again.
 
digitalpurps

digitalpurps

Member
Sooo this week is crazy busy for me but I just had to make a post lol. Left them alone for the weekend and came back to them flourishing! This LST is working wonders.

Right now they are just tied down with string and tape and they are already growing out of it. Should I rotate them around every week or so to penetrate all the sides? Or would that be more destructive to the new side growth?

I'm not sure at this point if this is something to only do during veg or if I should leave them like this throughout flowering. The stalks have gotten significantly thicker since doing this and I don't want to over do it. Any suggestions

PS. I probably should have posted this in the "grow journals" category, is there any way I can move the post?

PPS. I can't edit any of my previous posts anymore >.<

IMG_0906.jpgIMG_0907.jpg
 
Adjorr

Adjorr

Well-Known Member
defoliation during veg is a definate no no, but i have seen some evidence that removal of old fan leaves half way through the flowering cycle can increase yield, however i cant say from experience if it actually works. the theory behind it is that the old veg leaves are no longer feeding bud growth as that job is being fulfilled by the new sugar leaves that grow as the bud develops and that the large fan leaves end up using more energy to maintain themselves then they produce. I have been reluctant to try it though as i only do small 4-5 plant grows usually from seed so any difference in yield could be because of different phenotypes. but i cant deny the evidence ive seen has made me want to give it a try and ill likely give i a shot on my next clone only grow, but that is still several months away as im currently auditioing for a new mother plant
 
dannyboy602

dannyboy602

Well-Known Member
joe macclennan said:
I call for a thread consolidation...all defoliation threads should be merged into one big cluster$&k of a thread..cuz members don't know how to look at the board and see all the same damn topics being discussed.

except bunnies, his is the only one that has a chance of doing a good test run.

Until thread merge i'll post this info....again.

read this op.

http://www.plantphysiol.org/content/54/4/575.full.pdf+html
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How bout if I consolidate all the defoliation threads and then just delete them....hehe
 
charface

charface

Well-Known Member
At least we would know where to send snipers if they had their own sub forum

They call me donkey
 
M

MeLikeHerb

Member
Keep training them to grow around the container until the foliage covers the soil. Think along the lines of a bonsai tree. Then after they grow vertically you can decide how tall you want them before beginning to flower.
 
J

joe macclennan

Well-Known Member
charface said:
At least we would know where to send snipers if they had their own sub forum
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lol... but not in woodland camo. THere wouldn't be enough green in there ;)

dannyboy602 said:
How bout if I consolidate all the defoliation threads and then just delete them....hehe
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Hmmmm, this wouldn't work they'd just start more.....better to just corral all the loonies where we can poke and prod them from time to time.
 
neo12345

neo12345

Well-Known Member
Us loonies don't want our own section or sticky, just one single thread with no trolling. It's not a lot to ask is it? We can make our tin foil hats in peace and pull off as any leaves as we like!!
 
neo12345

neo12345

Well-Known Member
joe macclennan said:
when you are beyond reason...it is too much to ask.
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Do you really care though if I want to hang Christmas decorations on my plants because I believe the extra light reflecting off the baubles increases yield? How does it actually effect you personally?
 
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