To defoliate or not

HI @AlanTitchmarshMBE, Ive only got 4 auto runs done but I had exactly the same question on the first one. I would not recommend defoliating on week 3 of veg as you risk stunting or stalling veg growth which ultimately will impact your yeild. I would say wait till the side branches develop a bit more and calyx nodes will directly see light after defoliation. Depending on the phenotype/genotype expressions you get. The sativa leaning plants can be defoliated later than the smaller indicas. Good luck following your P Punch. SMF 👊 👊 👊 👌

It's a controversial subject. With auto girls little stress is best. For photo period plants, it reduces your final harvest weight. The big fan leaves supply your girl with most of her energy. If I am growing a plant that tends to get taller, I remove some, some big fan leaves. The only time I will remove any leaves is when I turn the lights back to 12 12. I try to slow the stretch some by taking some of the big fan leaves. A little stress through the stretch helps keep the stretch to a minimum. With the remainder fan leaves I tuck them in and down to let light through the plant. Just so you know I have 45 years behind me. I have tried everything in way of stress, nutrients, and ways of growing. With what I settled with gives me massive harvest weights with heavy hitting weed every time.

Defoliating large fan leaves is something I do early on. I like to LST my plant flat early. I usually start Day 9-11. (See my diary). The large fan leaves from the main stem invariably will turn and steal light going to the lower nodes. So I remove those leaves but never both from the same node. But the second leaf is usually hanging off the edge of the pot not blocking light from anything, so I let those stay. Defoliating like this helps the lower branches grow more and it gives you many more colas later for the price of two leaves and a slight slow down. No brainer. Even with an auto. Do it.