Take Bottom Two Branches?

I don't think your wrong and what you do grow is great! Looking like the majority of users are saying chop the lower nodes. :D

I'm averaging 8oz with compact Autoflowers. I've been using the same set up, environment and nutes since 1997. Now that I have 5 grows with Autoflowers (all same type/size), I crush the yields when compared to other grows using the same breeder/strain/technique. If I am wrong here with my limited experience, will someone tell me to put my scissors down?!

Leave her on for now and try to bend her out of the shadows. You have an autoflower. If you are unlucky, the plant will flower early and no longer form new shoots. And please only remove the leaves that either don't get any light or shade the lower shoots too much. Autoflowers in particular need all the power they can get in the beginning since they only have a limited growth time.

I always wait to see which branches are the strongest, I ended up with the bottom branches being the fattest several times. I decide that before stretch normally.. sometimes if I can't see it yet, then after stretch.

Depends on what you are trying to achieve, six or eight colas. However, I always remove the lowest 2 branches as they never seem to develop as well as the other branches. Not sure why you are removing blades from the leaves,- just remember,- less leaves = less energy being made = less growth. It really is that simple! Or to put it another way......... Maximum amount of healthy green leaves = maximum amount of energy production = maximum growth. Anyway, in a week or so those branches will be growing out from underneath those leaves anyhow, making blade/leaf removal pointless. Those branches were relying on those very leaves to make the energy that they need to be able to grow. The small baby leaves on the branches can in no way make as much energy as just one nice big "fan" leaf. The branches will now take a bit longer to grow out from underneath those leaves due to the reduction in energy making potential that the blade removal has caused. Partial removal of plant leaves can also cause stresses (metabolic shock) that may induce negative outcomes, so I would cease using this "technique" of plant manipulation. Apparently, removing an entire leaf is less stressful to the plant than only removing parts of the leaf, but I do advocate against leaf removal for no good reason. Defoliation is really the most misunderstood principle amongst the growing community. It seems most people do it "just because", without ever thinking of what it causes and what it does and does not achieve, they just blindly follow whatever some "theory" has been distributed on the internet, right or wrong, but mostly "bro science". Reasons such as "to channel energy into the buds" don't hold water, because without the leaves there is no energy being made to "channel". Besides, a plant can not channel/divert/redirect energy, this would indicate that plants are capable of decision making, which they are clearly not capable of, as they are obviously brainless. All energy is distributed evenly throughout the entire plant, to wherever there is growth or repairs occurring. Defoliation is generally unnecessary, unless the plants are extremely crowded. Removing healthy green leaves then forcing your plant to grow new healthy green leaves seems rather like a waste of time and energy for the plant. Besides, if your plant would not need those leaves, it would not grow them in the first place! Cannabis has evolved over Millenia to become its most productive and most efficient. Getting rid of perfectly healthy, green, energy producing leaves for no good reason, is not part of that process. Here endeth my ravings! Regards, Organoman.

Yes. If they are from first node remove them. I personally never have good success with node 1 branches. I use 2 and 3.