Will Early Leaves On Cannabis Be Defoliated?

Conducting the defoliation method of early leaves on cannabis plants can lead to potential benefits if done accurately. 

However, some growers believe defoliation harms the cannabis plant. What side of the controversy is true?

Defoliating early leaves can do more harm than good since you’re only suppose to defoliate the larger fan leaves. Defoliation is the removal of larger fan leaves to provide energy down the bottom of the plants resulting in more light, denser buds, and more airflow. 

As a cannabis grower, you may wonder will early leaves on cannabis be defoliated or will they simply be left alone. 

Will early leaves on cannabis be defoliated? We’ll dive into the factors of defoliation on early cannabis leaves and the advantages for you to have a full understanding of the method. 

Should You Defoliate Early Leaves On Cannabis?

It’s not necessary to defoliate early leaves since it’s new growth during the flowering stage and isn’t typically blocking light or airflow. You should defoliate larger leaves if you’re looking to have higher quality plants and if the plant is in the flowering stage.

Defoliating larger fan leaves blocking light from the source is more helpful. For growers who do not want higher quality, you should avoid defoliating and allow your plant to develop normally. 

There isn’t a right or wrong way to grow cannabis plants since they can still grow potent buds without defoliation. It’s not necessary to defoliate, but if you’re a beginner then you should avoid doing so. 

Defoliating Leaves On Cannabis Plants

Learning the steps to defoliating leaves on cannabis plants can provide you with the right path to having quality buds.

Here are basic steps to defoliating leaves on cannabis plants: 

1. Identify the Leaves to Remove: Take a look at your cannabis plants and look at the leaves you want to clip off. Make sure to look at the larger leaves since they are the ones blocking the light source to the bottom of the plants. 
2. Timing: A good time to defoliate cannabis leaves is in the early stage of flowering. Buds should be forming at this point. Make sure to avoid defoliating early or late in the stage. 
3. Use Clean and Sharp Tools: Make sure your pruning shears or scissors are clean and sharp. If you have dull or dirty tools, they can damage the plant and introduce the risk of infection.
4. Start with Minimal Removal: Take care to remove one fan leaf at a time to avoid shock to your plants. Avoid removing a batch of fan leaves at the same time. Remove leaves closest to buds first then move on the to outer ones. 
5. Monitor Plant Health: After defoliating, keep a close eye on the plants. Watch for any signs of stress or wilting. If you notice any adverse effects, adjust your defoliation strategy accordingly.

These can help you have a smooth defoliation procedure without harming your cannabis plant. Make sure to conduct the method accurately and carefully to avoid damaging your cannabis plants. 

There are some benefits that can provide your plants with optimal plant growth if defoliation is done accurately. 

While there are few growers who say defoliation harms the plants, they’re right if you’re defoliating early leaves in the flowering stage. 

Typically defoliating occurs on larger fan leaves blocking the light source near the bottom of the buds. 

It’s best to follow the right procedure to avoid defoliating early leaves on cannabis plants that don’t need to be taken out. 

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