A little advice on defoliation please

[Newf]

Well I am about 4 weeks into flower and things are going good (except for a small period of heat stress 2 weeks ago). I have been taking some fan leaves here and there and with using a manifold technique this grow I am seeing about 20 colas per plant (Yay!) But, they still look too bushy to me. I have read the defol articles on GWE forum but I still have questions. Is 4 weeks into flower too late for any serious defol? Some of these smaller fan leaves have trichomes does that mean I should let them be? I am under a 600w HPS , is it also too late to lollipop and if not how far do I go? I am not going to go crazy no matter what but I do want to give these bud the best chances to grow up big and strong. Thank you in advance for any input.

Seeds: Mango Skunk and Raspberry Cough Photos from Nirvana
Light: 600w HPS
Soil: Fox Farms Ocean in 7 gal fabric pots
Nutes: Fox Farm Trio, Molasses, (ArmorSi, Cal Mag earlier on)

[Newf]

I would especially like to hear from NebulaHaze if possible. (Mostly I want to show off how far I have come since I started reading her advice on GWE last January when growing became legal here in Mass.)

[Tika]

Nice looking plants Newf.

[Newf]

Thank you Tika , but am I wrong to think they are too leafy? Or do they look just right?

[Tika]

Well N : you requested info from Nebula and darlin I sure am not her
as I am still in a quandary my self after 12 or 13 grows and retread GWE ask qw. this current grow(mine)-following Nebulas tutorial more or less after my last grow to which no advice applied to my nutrients/ and its schedule and my strains...
given that: I dont like to do anything drastic after the 3rd (or 4th) week in flower.
I DO remove or tuck leaves that are covering bud sites viewed from the top, create air flow and light below, I have 2-3 weeks til the next defol-in flower. Which relates to nothing in my last grow.
so in this lengthy blab: each grow is specific, needs certain things-certain times.
From your pictures I personally would do a defol immediately uncovering bud sites-increasing air flow..Lollipopping in flower this late from what I hear is not recommended. Do it in the 3 week before tent period.
Don'tknow that you knew Royal Nugs on the forum;he was a good middle man. Each day remove what covers buds by plucking or bending.
Again-I am still working it out myself still. After my last bushy grow-defoliating each feed-changing back to original nutrients-I am goingmore gnetly with the chief advisors echoing in my mind.
Look at your plants-access-go for it.If they are this nice-your intuition will follow through. Your connection with your plants may be more informative than seeking more information-but TRUST me I am still in the same quandary.
Trust your plants-they are good-trust yourself.

[Sheesh]

Here's my opinion: Strategically remove fan leaves that block bud sites. Try to only take one fan per pair. Don't remove any fans until they have .5 inches stem. If the strain is indica with fat leaves, remove more than a Sativa with thin leaves. If the plant has very tight node spacing, you may need to take more than if the nodes are separated a lot. Remove fans and growth on the lower portions of the plant. Make sure there is good airflow through the plant. Look at the plant from the top at a few angles. You should be able to see the base of the plant through the canopy but not a gaping hole. Those are my thoughts. Others have more and less aggressive methods. Find what works for you and remember you can always remove more leaves later but you can't put them back on . Oh yeah, see GWE for a good article on defoliating.

[Tika]

Thank you for that!!! Well advised !

[Tika]

and sorry for the type ohs! iPad and key board contradict.

[D.A.A.S.69]

Hello Newf you just got you some great advice from Tika an Sheesh . It's a little to late to go hard core now on your pretty plants but I personally would take some of those big leaves an open them up a little, your doing a good job, good luck.

[Marley]

I took off 90% of the big fan leaves until they stopped coming back. But that's just me.

[Newf]

Thank you all. This is very helpful.