Bud growth: Direct Sunlight on Leaves or Buds?

i advise to plan things out in advanced and do whatever you can to time it out so you don't have anything shaded out. side lighting can help and there are some cool topping methods to achieve an even canopy
i like topping because it is so early in the plants life when i do it and the top is used for a clone, from there the colas split out into 2 or 4 (used uncle bens 2 or 4 top method) and as they grow i predict when to flower depending on my situation.
if you do 4 tops, as the buds gain weight , they slowly lean outwards, giving more light in the center.
this is a great way of training inside to get the best growth rate and bud production.
outside is different when you have the whole season ahead of you and a plant that is pre-vegged indoors, ready to be put in its final planter and take off.
i like the raised setup with the cage around it, and how they mainline the plants. This creates an even energy manifold and once plants are put to flower there is no defoliation
if airflow between canopy and pot is needed, it is done during veg cycle before the stalks grow out

thing i'm trying to get at is some people will say indoors they defoliate, when in fact it's okay for them to do it because of their situation. They grew a fuck load of plants in veg and need to cut stuff off because they are too big. This may increase yield and stuff so it does have a place.
with my situation the veg room is tiny, and the clone room is tiny, and i go straight to flower.
i never defoliate just plan ahead and the early top is the most ill do besides picking off a damaged leaf.

plaguedog said:

Yeah you've been growing for thirty years and you strip off what the plant uses the most to produce? Uhh, ok.

This debate is a dead horse, I won't waste my time anymore. Strip your fucking plants all you want. Could care less.

I have tried both, and taking fan leaves off a flowering plant doesn't increase your yield in any way shape or form.

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I only speak from experience, results/trials, and side by side grows with a couple of buddy's that have been growing for about the same amount of time. I don't know if this subject will ever have a clear answer one way or another, a lot of it depends on strain, my Blueberry's love it (sativa dominant), indica dominant strains don't so I don't. Either way everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I don't have an opinion unless I've tried or used a particular technique…

Here's a current, 2nd indoor grow, organic/soil, this overly stressed Blueberry was stripped at 6 weeks, grew about 50% bigger/fuller by 9 weeks after the stripping at 6 weeks, will produce 110 to 140g dry, using LED's (you know, the lighting that has no penetration according to HPS/HID growers). Still has some of the larger fan leaves if they're healthy, anything blocking light or slightly yellowing comes off.

Results and experimentation are what counts, not something you read in a freak'n book or forum.

I've done it side by side on the same strain. Didn't increase a thing, and in fact slowed growth down and had less yield. The article is hardly good advice. too many open ended variables such as "some strains work better", "pluck all leaves off at once" (yet later they state they left some on), "30% increase in yield" where is the test plant and proof? I don't buy it. Just another terrible article in an overrated rag of a magazine.

plaguedog said:

I've done it side by side on the same strain. Didn't increase a thing, and in fact slowed growth down and had less yield. The article is hardly good advice. too many open ended variables such as "some strains work better", "pluck all leaves off at once" (yet later they state they left some on), "30% increase in yield" where is the test plant and proof? I don't buy it. Just another terrible article in an overrated rag of a magazine.

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It's funny too, they mention indicas seem to like it better, I tried it on indicas' and they slowed down if anything. The some strains comment is right on, I've grown Blueberry's for years outdoor and now indoor, they thrive on it, usually do it around the 6 week mark in veg and they blow up within 2-3 weeks, then pluck them about 2-3 weeks before harvest which has always produced well - with this strain… Like anything in this game, there is no black/white, too many unknown's/variables like you say. If you find something that works for you, go for it, refine it.

I agree for the most part with what you're saying and do the same. Strip larger leaves at six wks, there are still little unexposed ones and they grow. Better light diffusion throughout the space, and therefore that benefits the plant in the end- thats my feel

the only way I can see this working is if you have a severely rootbound plant and don't have penetrating power with your lights. A HPS would glow right through a few sets of leaves enough to light the lower growth.