Hello dear friend
THE DEFOLIATION AND THE PLANT OF CANNABIS
Defoliation is a generic term that describes the elimination of leaves on plants. The technique can be applied in different ways to achieve many different effects. Many plant species respond well to defoliation, such as cotton, chia and clover.
Defoliation involves strategically removing leaves from growing cannabis plants to locate resin production and improve yields at harvest time. Heading or topping, mainlining and lollipopping, schwazzing are well known applications of defoliation. Even cleaning by removing yellowing or damaged leaves is a form of defoliation.
Using defoliation, a grower seeks to manipulate plant growth to increase airflow and light penetration. More flowering knots receive direct light, the better they will grow and the more resin they will produce. More air circulation throughout the plant structure helps protect it from pathogens and promotes efficient gas exchange with leaf stomata.😉
The reason defoliation increases yield is always a counterintuitive mystery. There are a number of equally valid theories as to why flower growth is stimulated. In any case, the extra grams of dense heads are a strong testimony of the effectiveness of defoliation techniques.
HOW TO DEFOLORE CANNABIS
Removing the leaves can be done as easily as with a chisel or nail pressure. Many farmers shudder with horror at the idea of defoliation. They say that nature does things well and that we just have to let it grow. However, practical tests show consistently higher yields for defoliated plants. The debate continues to rage to determine if well-managed defoliation causes inconvenience.👍
When you decide to defoliate, the choice of applied technique is yours. Each one increases the yield in a similar way, only the silhouette of the plants differs. Factors to consider are genetics, volume of culture space and light intensity.👍
Defoliation in general can be used on non-trellised plants to increase light penetration and airflow, rather than using any specific technique. Leaves that interfere with light penetration are removed during the life of the plant at the choice of the grower. Even during flowering. Cannabis flowers are incredibly effective for photosynthesis and will recover soon after defoliation.
Good luck for your grow 🌱
May the force be with you 💪