I've read a lot of different opinions about d...

It actually can be very helpful for the lower sites to get more light making them grow closer to the main cola. The thing is to do it gradually not a bunch at once that may stress the plant out.

Factors that support defoliate auto's: - The strain can handle it (look at other growdiaries with the same strain); - They are very bushy and blocking light from bud sides; - They are healthy and growing fast; - They've showed good response to LST; - Everything in your grow environment is in check, to (potential) variables that can stress them out (for example heat or high humidity); - The plants have been resillient and strong since the start of the vegative stage. In the end, it's always a judgement call. Defoliating helps light penetration which in turn helps bud development of the buds not directly at the top and therefore increases yield. However, the plants need their leaves for photosynthesis: the process that provides energy to them to produce frosty buds. Thus: removing leaves has positive and negative effects. Its a matter of finding the sweet spot, which is different for every strain, grow environment and even individual plants of the same strain. You're not in the phase yet to defoliate. Start doing some LST. Do a little defoliation when the first half of flowering stretch is completed. If they respond well, it pleads for further defoliation as said in the first alinea. Goodluck!

Hello my friend😉 I'm doing a self-flowering crop with the defoliation technique and there are all the explanations with turn the details on week 6 or 7 I know more This will answer your question normally 👍 Good luck with your culture 🤞🍀and the strength is with you💪

Look at my auto on my page I’d say if you don’t you cant unlock the plants full potential I defoliated regularly up to now and I think it’s going great I haven’t noticed the plant slowing down off it at all

It really depends how big the plant gets and how much light is being blocked by the fan leaves. For the most part i dont defoliate my autos at all but i did have to when i did a hydro auto grow. The thing became a bush and no room for aiirflow and light

From my experience its totally possible. Take a look at my diaries. I've topped, fluxed, damaged, lst dance defoliated all with no obvious problems. All plants use their leaves to photosynthesise and its all size relative. If you prune all the leaves off a young plant she will struggle to survive. If you prune most the leaves of a larger plant, she will go into shock but very quickly try to replace them. There are guides to swazzing and mass defoliation but little by little can't hurt especially if it's getting leaf heavy or no light down there. Hope this helps 🌱👍😊

you can defoliate autos of course.If you ask my opinion,it is a must for a bushy plant just like yours.it needs some defoliation to get more light to other branches.Especially indoors,it is beneficial.A few leaves every other day and your plant won't feel the stress.