Improving the ripening of the lower buds and thinning/defoliating — is it necessary? Is it helpful? Day 42 of flowering.”

My last grow I did partial harvest, chopped the tops off and started drying them and let the lower parts get an extra week under the light, that seemed to help mature the lower buds.

Its best to defoliate during the first 3wks of flowering but you'll be ok if you don't take off too many.I would certainly take some off those.Is that only two plants?That canopy is nice and full.I'd take several off each one.Be careful whos advice you take on here,mine included.Id triple check everything.You should be checking with people that are trusted in the industry and remember one size does not fit all.Soil works different to coco,mineral food is different to organic and so on.You still get fools on here claiming you should never defoliate even after theyve been shown the evidence.The majority of breeders will tell you to defoliate certain strains they sell.Not all need it.A typical indica compared to a Sativa is like night and day.Yours are hybrid but theyre more indica with the wide leaves that catch more sun than the sativa.Landrace sativa grow closer to the sun so have thinner leaves so sativa don;'t need defoliating as much if ever.Youve got a little cupping going on with your leaves as well.They do it to protect themselves.Google it.It will be the light or the atmosphere.Use the light metre app on your smart phone.I have my lights as high as poss at this stage then turn them down for the last two weeks.