defoliate or not ??

She looks great, no need to defoliate that girl. Keep using lst techniques to try and get the shape you desire 👍🌱

You can defol autos and they respond well to it too. They look very good but the lack of airflow through the structure will trap moisture and be a high risk of bud rot once the buds start to gain density. Remove all lower growth that is not going to reach the light so that beneath the plant can invite air through the limbs. Auto plants are not too different to photoperiod once rooted and growing, it is only rhe transplanting that is any real difference. You have about 6 weeks ( including stretch in flowering) , to set the foundation for what will be your main buds. Once you are through this period, the plant will get on with it and we get to wait impatiently .lol . when removing the lower popcorn and leaves , I tend to use times to do it such as week 3 to open up the plant pre flower and day 21 of flowering. this avoids leaves constantly being replaced and using up energy. The plant won't sweat losing leaves at all. be brave and trust the amazing survival abilities of these hardy , millions of years old , plant. good luck

Don't do it! If your plant did not need the leaves, it would not grow them in the first place. Your plant needs every leaf she has to be able to produce the energy she needs to grow her biggest and best flowers. Those "potential bud sites" are relying on those leaves to make the energy they need to grow those "bud sites"!! Just remember - Maximum amount of healthy leaves = maximum energy production = maximum growth and maximum health. Let her grow wild and free!! Try only ever removing yellow leaves, for by the time they are yellow, they have served their purpose. Your plant also stores many vital growth elements in her older leaves, things like carbs, sugars, amino acids etc, that she will draw upon/re-use during flowering, as it is far more efficient to do so, rather than grow flowers AND make those vital growth elements from new during flowering. So, not only does defoliation reduce your plants capacity to produce energy through photosynthesis, it also robs her of a precious resource of pre-made vital growth elements that she needs and is relying on, for use during flower development. Trust me, her flowers will be bigger and better and with better trichomes if you leave all green leaves on the plant to do their job!! She can't grow her best flowers with the reduced energy production potential that defoliation causes. Cannabis has evolved over Millenia to grow her biggest and best flowers. Getting rid of perfectly healthy, energy producing leaves is not part of that process! Hope this helps,........... Organoman. (and over the top anti-defoliation advocate!)

If the foliage is blocking bud sites, trim it back dude😉

Tougth one bro, i was in similar situation last week am doing photo growing but ye its a 50 50 question, i will say one thing thoe half my plants were lime green from lack of light and since i defoliated ive notice the lime green going darker and healther.. ethier way it looks like ur doing a great job with her good luck bro.. 👊