Defoliating during flower - day 54

It's perfectly safe to defol as long as you don't go overboard. Just remember it's better to have to go back later to remove more than to wish you hadn't removed so many...you can't glue them back on lol. Focus your attention mostly in the middles and work down.

Leave 'em be. Remember, .........less leaves = less energy being made = less potential growth. No need to defoliate "just because". Unless you are having massive problems controlling humidity, I would not defoliate for any other reason.....real or ghetto science. Those older leaves are also providing the plant with a readily available source of pre-made elements that it needs to grow the flowers. No leaves = less available pre-made elements = smaller flowers.......it is that simple!

Yes it is safe to do a little defoliation. Since your tent is so packed full at the moment it would be a very good thing to do at this point to help increase airflow to prevent mold growth. It looks like you may have installed your net a little early, it is fine to have one at that level but I would have put another one in to help support the plant up high. It might be time to raise the lights up a little bit, it looks like the plant grew right up there. As far as humidity during flower, you would want to keep it under 60%. This will help eliminate the potential of mold and mildew. I hope this helps.

You should ( if can ) raise lights, tops are burning. And you should lolipop ( google lolipop weed ) them, unless you want to make bubble hash or oil, all bottoms has 0 chance to develop into something nice and smokable.