My plant has seems to have stopped taking on water since i defoliated it

Your growing in coca right? That has no nutritional value to it at all apart from what you add, the leaves work as storage for your plant which it will use all stored nutrients during the final phase of flower, by removing those leaves your removing all the work you’ve done from feeding which can stunt the growth, but also with not as many leaves on her now she no longer has the need for the same amount of water as she’s been reduced by 30% in size so you should adjust your water accordingly, I find it’s best once you hit flower to not remove any leaves unless they have already been consumed by the plant and are dying off already, hope this helps