Method of defoliation indoor growers poll

[sgiacomo]

Hi all new here! I read Nebula Haze’s tutorial on bud based defoliation. It is excellent. One thing I didn’t read about was actually how leaves are removed. What PRIMARY method do you use when/if you remove fan leaves?

 

[Gingerbeard]

If they're little 'uns, pinching. The bigger they get the woodier they get and are good for snips. Don't pluck anything unless you get yellow, dying leaves right at the end of flowering. Although they'll die and fall of on their own and are inconsequential, there's no need to pluck them... right at the end of flowering. You can wind up pulling a long fiber strip below a healthy leaf if you pluck. It's like a string from celery. I'm not going to tell you what it's called because I don't know.
Also think about how much you're going to defoliate. If only a few leaves, pinch. If you're doing a full on, go with snips or a combo.

 

[s62]

Words of wisdom, here. Saving us noobs years of trial and error lol

 

[sgiacomo]

Absolutely s62! Thanks for all the responses and info everyone

 

[homegrown]

I personally found that after HEAVY LST from start it was much easier to use snips(i use good grooming scissors) one short 3" and a longer set 6". just for the simple fact my big mitt in there trying to pinch off leaves was causing more damage than i liked. I defoliated twice quite heavy in veg and one final time when flowers were starting. hg

 

[sgiacomo]

Nice looking plants homegrown

 

[alltatup]

Hi sgiacomo, If you re-read the tutorial, you'll see that she gives clear directions about how much to remove per week.

 

[sgiacomo]

alltatup yes I read that part thanks. Great article indeed

 

[Obi-Wan]

I guess my method is pluck so that’s what I selected in the poll. I don’t really feel like it is plucking though. I get my finger nice and close to the base of the fan leaf and I fold it down till it snaps off. It works on new and old fans alike and leaves a clean break.

 

[SoOrbudgal]

I'm a gal but I can't have to long of nails in the type of work I do so I use very small scissor.