Defoliation

Defoliation results in allowing additional light and air flow into the plant. I defoliate my autoflowers if the plant is dense and growing in high humidity to prevent mildew and bud rot, and to allow bud sites access to light for development and growth. I never take off more than 10% of total growth to prevent shocking the plant and time the action with a feeding. Good luck!

I agree with @Organoman

What Organoman said. Leaves = energy for plant to make big buds.

Don't do it, your plant needs every leaf it has to be able to make the energy required for growing her biggest and best flowers. Besides, if your plant did not need those leaves, it would not have grown them in the first place! Exposing "bud sites" and "re-directing energy" are the two most misunderstood principles in cannabis cultivation. Buds do not make energy for growth, therefore they don't need direct exposure to light. It is the leaves that make the energy that then makes the flowers grow. Secondly, plants can not "re-direct" energy, all energy is used equally where ever growth is occurring. For a plant to be able to make a conscious decision as to where the energy goes would require a brain, which plants certainly don't have. Your plants will grow their biggest and fastest with every healthy green leaf left in place to do its job of making energy. Try and only ever remove yellow leaves, for by the time they are yellow, they have served their purpose. The older leaves go yellow because the plant will re-purpose growth elements (carbs, sugars, amino acids etc) from the older leaves to be used where flower growth is occurring and this is why the older leaves go yellow. It is far more efficient for the plant to re-purpose those growth elements from the older leaves to use during flower growth, than it is to grow flowers and make growth elements from new at the same time. So not only does defoliation reduce your plants capacity to make energy, it also robs it of a vital source of pre-made growth elements that are essential for maximum flower size. Just remember - Maximum amount of healthy green leaves = maximum energy production = maximum growth and fastest growth too. It really is that simple and basic plant biology. You can do some "lollipopping" if you are keen on avoiding small inner flowers, but leaving them be won't do any harm and removing them won't make the main flowers extra big, their size is limited by genetics and size is also dictated by over all health, vigor and adequate light. I experimented with leaf pruning during my first 10-12 years of growing, before realizing leaving every leaf in place is the way to go, and for the last 25+ years never remove any leaf unless it has gone yellow/brown and believe my plants are better off this way, just as they have evolved to be in nature. Hope this helps, Organoman.

Lower sites and fan leaves that only cover bud sites. Aka selective defoliation. Happy growing and stay lit!

Only the lower leaves and sites that will not get light. This will also increase the energy towards your tops. Less than 1/3 on autos