Yo, what’s good? It’s your boy Dan here with some tips on how to defoliate your cannabis plants for bigger and better yields. Indoor growing is all about making the most of your space and light, but sometimes those thick foliage can block the lower nodes from developing into big buds. That’s where defoliation comes in, my homies.
Now, defoliation can be a controversial method, but trust me, it’s worth it. By stripping away some of that extra foliage, you’ll be improving light penetration and airflow for your cannabis plants. And let’s be real, who doesn’t want bigger and better buds?
So first things first, let’s break down what defoliation really is. It’s basically removing excess foliage from your plant to improve light penetration and airflow. But you gotta be careful not to overdo it, my fam. Too much defoliation can stunt your plant’s growth and remove nodes that could’ve developed into some killer bud.
But why should you even bother with defoliation? Well, in nature, cannabis plants use their leaves to store nutrients for stressful times like droughts and pest infestations. But when you’re growing indoors in a controlled environment, a lot of that excess foliage becomes unnecessary. By removing it, you free up your plant’s energy and help it make better use of its limited light source. Plus, it improves airflow around your plants and reduces the risk of pests and mold.
Now, not all cannabis plants are candidates for defoliation. You only want to defoliate plants that are 100% healthy with strong, upright stems, green leaves, fast growth, and a well-draining medium. Don’t even think about defoliating plants that look frail or show symptoms of nutrient deficiencies, over or under-watering, nutrient or light burn, wind damage, or pests/disease.
When it comes to actually defoliating your plants, it’s important to know what foliage to remove and when to do it. We recommend defoliating your plants once during veg and once during flower, but if you’re a beginner, start with just one defoliation during veg. For vegging plants, remove big fan leaves that overshadow anything below them, leaves that grow towards the inside of your plant, and any old, yellowing foliage. If you’re more experienced, you can remove up to 20-25% of your plant’s foliage.
During flowering, be more careful about the foliage you remove and avoid disturbing any young buds. And remember, different strains can handle different amounts of defoliation.
So there you have it, my dudes. Defoliation is just one technique to help you get bigger and better yields from your cannabis plants. Combine it with other training techniques like LST, main-lining, lollipopping, topping, and super cropping to really finesse your grow game. Peace out!
