DrGanjanswered grow question 4 years ago Remove leaves if they are blocking airflow or budsites, otherwise may as well leave them. The leaves are your solar panels and the more green on show to the light, the more nutrients your roots can take in. If this is an auto be careful about only defoliating what you must. Also, any remaining leaves will get consumed by the plant when you start your flush. They will start to yellow from the bottom upwards and maybe even drop off but this is fine and normal. The plant does this because there is no feed available left in the soil and it will use up what it has inside it's leaves to compensate - this can mean bigger yields.
Remember, airflow and light penetration are your goals, beyond that, leave the leaves on there!
Hope this helps :)