Defoliation

Defoliating, in my opinion, is one of the most detrimental things you can do to any cannabis plant. Removing leaves just reduces your plants ability to make energy, thereby reducing growth and plant size, especially in autos. If your plant did not need the leaves you just removed, it would not grow them in the first place! Each leaf is like a "solar panel". Less solar panels = less energy = less/slower growth. In over 35 years of growing, I am yet to see any plant that gets rid of its own perfectly healthy and green, energy producing leaves for no reason or benefit. Defoliation is again another stupid idea where humans think they know better than the plants, and are imposing their will upon a flourishing being that has been perfecting its growth habits for Millenia. If it did not need the leaves for the fastest and bestest growth, it would not grow them in the first place. I feel sorry for defoliated plants, all that time, energy and effort, just taken away from them for no reason. What a waste. Oh well, it is what it is. Your plant will now have to spend a lot of energy re-growing those lost leaves, starting from/with a reduced capacity to make energy, slowing recovery and reducing over all size, mainly due to the limited life span of autos before they turn to flowering. Just remember in future - Maximum amount of healthy green leaves = maximum energy production = maximum growth. It is the way they have been doing it for hundreds of thousands of years. Regards, Organoman.