Hi there,
Looking for some advice on defoliating an autoflower. I have a northern lights auto at the beginning on week 5. It’s getting a bit err bushy… I’ve done a bit of lst so I’m getting around 6-8 mainish colas. Should I trim down some of the fan leaves to encourage growth on the lower stems? Not sure if I want to stress it out for minimal gain etc…Any suggestions would be appreciated!
Welcome ! nice healthy looking plant. Personally it being an auto at 5 weeks could start flowering at any day.I would tuck some of those big fan leafs under. Autos can be a little finicky. I would not do anything to slow it down at this point.
Yup, I’ve been tucking the leaves down on a daily basis now almost. Thank you!
The stems on those big fan leafs at this stage of growth are pretty flexible I tuck them down under deep. Good luck with your Northern Light one of my favorite Autos.
are you planning on scroggin that? Or is she going free willie?
Free willie at the moment. This batch is my first ever grow attempt. I’ve only read about scrog. If everything goes smoothly, I’ll get a net and try that next time for sure.
Well then you may wish to pull down the side branches and tie them to the pot sides it will open the plant some. At some point you maybwat to consder support for you tops if thenplant is unable to carry them.
If flowering has begun, the plant should have come out of veg state and plant is centered on flower. It is now safe to remove most of the larger fan leaves. This will let light into smaller buds down below. I just spent 1.5 hrs doing exactly that. This was advice given to me by
Hellraiser. Over 100 successful harvest. I figured he might know what he is doing. 
My plants look very similar to yours. Goldleaf?
I’ll do that. Thanks!
I don’t think flowering has started just yet. Very soon though I guess. If I understand correctly, there should be pistils shooting out once flowering starts. This is a RQS northern lights auto. I’ve got a royal critical and a green gelato growing next to this one. The GG I messed up a bit, but it’s still got a lot of nice buds…hence my aversion to stressing out the other two autos 
The tent’s from Zelius I think. 3x3, and sf1000.
you need to be careful about that @Hellraiser is doing that to strains he knows responds well to high stress training. If this is a first grow, it may be better to take this healthy plant from beginning to end.
I’m leaning towards that too. Low stress. Baby steps
First indoor. What a great hobby. I have had a blast and have learned so much. I ave also done alot of reading and educating myself. I have 5 Goldleaf in a 4x4 with (2) sf2000. I kind of stressed my plants by fimming twice and topped once during veg state. My tent will be slammed full with buds. I jammed a gal ziploc full today with leaves. . Sure was glad to thin them out. Now light will be able to penetrate the lower branches. I still left a ton of leaves on them. I gave them a drink when I was done and checked on then an hour later. All standing tall and looking happy.
I may be wrong but I believe you need more light before heavy flower. My sf2000 was for a 3x3. What great lights.
Yea you’re right. Definitely a lesson for next time.
Yeah what has been stated just tuck leaves, all I do is tuck leaves on mine if any fan leaves at the bottom die off or anything like that I remove them but other than that I don’t remove any leaves 
I think with autos the fan leaves help with nutrients etc these were last week 
Nice! And yea, just tucking in the leaves and tying down the lower branches to the sides for now. Seems to be growing noticeably on a daily basis now.
