Autoflower defoliation

You can remove a big fan leave,, blocking the light, when there’s a top just right under. Looking from the top (picture 2/2), there’s only 4 big fan leaves that can be removed. Defoliating must be done wisely, it requires experience, knowledge and a good judgment. Keep in mind that the plants needs leaves for photosynthesis.

Hey my friend, first of all: you’re doing a good job. That plant looks healthy, green, and strong, no stress signs jumping out at all. This is just my humble opinion, so please take what resonates and trust your own instinct in the end 👇 ⸻ 🌿 What I’m seeing • Bushy structure ✔️ • Healthy color ✔️ • Looks like she’s in or just entering stretch ✔️ • No clawing, no burn, no droop ✔️ So no panic needed at all. ⸻ 🍃 About defoliation (autos + coco) You’re right to be cautious, autos don’t like heavy stress, but light, intentional defoliation is fine when done correctly. You basically have three good options, and none of them are “wrong”: ⸻ ✅ Option 1: Wait until stretch finishes • Let her finish stretching • Then do a light clean-up • Remove only: • Big fan leaves blocking bud sites • Leaves touching or stacking too tightly This is the safest route if you want zero risk. ⸻ ✅ Option 2: Light defoliation now (my personal lean) Since it’s already getting quite full: • Remove a few large fans, not many • Focus on opening the center • One session, gentle hands, done This helps: • Light penetration • Airflow • Buds “seeing” light early No need to strip her, just create space. ⸻ ✅ Option 3: Keep tucking & bending (but…) Leaf tucking works, and you’ve been doing it right 👍 But at this point, it’s very dense, so: • Tucking alone may not be enough anymore • Some leaves will keep fighting for dominance A small defoliation + tucking combo works best here. ⸻ 🚨 Important reassurance • You are not stressing her with light fan leaf removal • Slow flowering at this stage is normal, especially with bushy autos • Stretch + flower initiation can overlap and feel “slow” totally okay ⸻ 🌱 Bottom line (from the heart) There’s no strict rule here. If your gut says open her up a bit, you’re probably right. Go gentle. Go slow. One session, not daily picking. And whatever you choose, you’re not wrong. You’ve got a healthy plant and good instincts. That already puts you ahead of the game. Growers Love my friend remember this is just my humble opinion and keep us posted 💚