LST Questions for apprehensive nube

[Willum]

Greetings!
I plan to introduce LST in a few days when these girls turn 3 weeks. I have been researching and am not clear about pruning bottom growth. Yes/no? If so, how much is recommended?
With my 1st grow I feel like I butchered the girls thinking I needed to remove any & all shading leaves.
This time around I want to preserve as much growth as necessary, but like the idea of clearing the bottom 1/3. However, some advise against this. Input on this as well will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again in advance!

[Caligurl]

She is way too small to worry about any defoliation. You are ok to start LST.

[Willum]

@Caligurl thank you.

[MidwestGuy]

LST is most often used to increase airflow and light penetration through the plant, neither of which your plant needs help with at this point.

LST for the sake of LST is more likely to hurt your plant than help it at this point.

[oldmarine]

I start LST training early. The newer the growth, the more flexible it is. I also defoliate. Like a whole bunch.

[Willum]

@MidwestGuy thanks for your info. Opinions vary on this, which is why I’m asking. It does seem that for every situation, set of circumstances there are multiple & often conflicting responses. The more info the better I suppose. Certainly don’t want to create stress where not necessary

[Willum]

@oldmarine that is along the lines of what I did with my first grow. Seemed to work out ok in spite of not following through with adjustments as the grow continued.

[TRF]

It’s all a personal preference as to do so or not. You will only be slowing down the growth the more you mess with causing stresses to your plants. Everybody and every plant are different so use caution when doing stressful related things. Happy growing everyone!

[MidwestGuy]

@TRF

every plant are different so use caution when doing stressful related things.

Good point. I failed to notice in the prior post that this is an auto. Autos are generally best left to do their own thing. They can be very twitchy.

[TRF]

Yeah @MidwestGuy they don’t have the time it takes to recover from the stress and that really slows down the growth no doubt.

[Willum]

@oldmarine @MidwestGuy @TRF @Caligurl
Thanks a bunch. So far the consensus seems to be leave them alone to grow as they choose?

[NYDon]

I did LST on all but 1 of my White Widow Auto-flowers. 1 of the LST plants responded excellently to it. A few of the others not so much; to the point that I removed the stays in hopes that they will just grow back straight-ish.

I plan on cloning the one that did great with it. That plant was also 1 of the 2 biggest and fastest growing of that strain. Here she is.

The 1 I left alone.

To each their own. I am not totally sure I will attempt it again any time soon. I have to refine my craft.

[Willum]

@NYDon thanks for your input. I’m growing 4 autos in 3gal pots in a 3x3x6 tent. Blueberry & Northern lights. I’m unfamiliar with either one, but what I’ve read they seem similar in how they grow. With tight quarters I am just trying to anticipate & plan a course of action.
But like I said, I’m inexperienced with only 1 grow to my credit, and just trying to improve my process understanding that strains are different as well as individual plants from the same strain.
Thanks for input!