Should i defoliate

[Troyzstang]

My great white auto is in her 3rd week of flower.
Should I thin her out or leave well enough alone?
I have a 1000 watt HSP that does penetrate fairly well.
This is my first grow and I don't want to screw this up.

Thank you.

[Gingerbeard]

I'm into third week defoliation because I know the canopy will fill back in. As far as I can glean, it's about making sure there will be enough light penetration during the reset of flowering. Not as much your current penetration. .I defoliate just before flowering and at three weeks. It's a learning process, for sure.
No link posted. There are a number of methods in the great GWE web site.

[quirk]

If you like the way your bud sites and their adjacent leaves are set up, leave 'em alone. If not, adjust and remove as required.
This is the exposure that works for me. Autos, 50 days from sprout.

[homegrown]

hey Troyzstang , nice look'n plant. Hard to tell in pic but i can see some big fan leaves blocking light to lower buds. If your feeling hesitant about trimming, just tuck the big leaves out of the way...can usually find a spot to jam them into and they'll stay put till the shorter buds catch up.

[Troyzstang]

Thank you for responding,
i have trimmed here and there but last time i did she got a real attitude. Wouldn't speak to me for days, just layed there like a spoiled bitch. I think I'll throw her back into surgery after work today.

Wish me luck.
Troy 😎

[CaptainWiese91]

Sometimes I only take one or two leaves, that’s fine. Then you are not stressing the whole plant. Instead of a full defoliate. And if it grows more in 1 week, take 1-2 more.

[PRIMO]

I'd strip the bottom third butt naked,lose all the popcorn buds, and half of the light blocking fan leaves. It's scary, but she'll come roaring back like Kyle Busch starting at the back of the pack.