Hey Growmie, defoliating autos can be worth it, especially if they're already bushy and deep into stretch like yours at week 5, but you gotta go easy since they donât bounce back like photoperiods. Itâs best to take only whatâs needed, like big fan leaves that are blocking light to bud sites, anything touching the soil, or those inner leaves that wonât get any light and will just yellow out later. Iâd say remove no more than 10 to 15 percent of the foliage, and you can spread that over a couple of days if you're unsure. Always try to tuck before you pluck, but if leaves are crowding things, clearing them can help airflow and light reach those lower buds.