Extreme Defoliation: High-Risk Ways to Boost Cannabis Yields and Bag Appeal (2024)

Patrick BennettPublished on February 25, 2019 • Last updated February 24, 2021

Extreme Defoliation: High-Risk Ways to Boost Cannabis Yields and Bag Appeal (1)

(Leafly)

Pruning, or defoliation, is a technique that keeps your cannabis plants healthy and growing properly. By removing small amounts of foliage during various phases of the life cycle, growers can increase a crop’s yield and potency by allowing light to hit bud-producing nodes more directly.

All growers perform some light pruning, but there is a different and more advanced approach to plant training: extreme defoliation. This practice requires the mass removal of fan leaves and foliage from an entire canopy during key phases in the cultivation cycle.

We’ll talk about two prominent extreme defoliation techniques, schwazzing and back-building, and how they push the boundaries of defoliation. Coming with a high risk yet offering high rewards, these techniques polarize opinion. Neither method is recommended for beginners, and growers experimenting with these practices should do so with caution.

If you are interested in these techniques, try performing them on one plant at a time. Experimentation in the garden is highly encouraged, just be sure to start slow to reduce the odds of losing an entire crop.

Caring for your marijuana plants can be hard. Get tips and advice on how to ensure your marijuana crop thrives from the experts at Leafly.

Schwazzing

From Joshua Haupt’s 2015 book Three a Light, schwazzing takes the idea of defoliation to the next level. According to the book, this practice removes the entire canopy of fan leaves within the first few days of the flowering cycle and then again at the third week.

Joshua Haupt coined the term “schwazzing” to describe the sound of scissors and snipping that takes place during the process. The book’s title refers to getting three pounds of cannabis per light, or about twice as much yield in a harvest or even more.

By the entire canopy, he really does mean every fan leaf below the top two or three nodes. The caveat to this risky maneuver is that the stripped plants must receive proper after-care through a high concentration of nutrients following both defoliations. This is crucial to the recovery process.

By removing the fan leaves on the first day of flowering and again on day 21, the plants will be able to replenish the lost foliage before all of their energy transitions toward bud development. By supplementing with a high-nutrient feeding, the plants should push through any shock they may have undergone.

What’s the Upside to Schwazzing?

According to the book, the successful implementation of this technique can promote a massive uptick in the yield of a plant. But keep in mind, neither the book itself nor any review of schwazzing—also called heavy pruning or heavy defoliation—has given an exact explanation for why the practice is so successful.

According to the book, the successful implementation of this technique can promote a massive uptick in the yield of a plant.

Some growers suggest that the practice of removing such a large amount of foliage from a plant in this stage of its development may trigger a defense mechanism, tricking the plant into developing more buds as a survival technique.

One possible explanation points to the fact that cannabis is a wind-pollinated species, and the removal of a massive amount of fan leaves may trigger growth hormones to swell buds as a last ditch effort to receive incoming pollen from a nearby male stamen.

Another possible explanation is that the removal of fan leaves promotes airflow throughout the plant and in turn, more vigorous bud growth. However, these hypotheses have not been backed by any study.

The Downsides of Schwazzing

Despite praise and success stories, there is a high risk of crop failure with this method. When it comes to overall plant health, even the heartiest of cultivars will experience some amount of shock after this process.

Unless the grower has expertly dialed in every other aspect of their growing process—including lights, grow medium, temperature, humidity, airflow, CO2, and more—simply feeding a plant more nutrients won’t suffice.

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Even if everything is dialed in and plants are properly cared for, there is still a chance that they will die under this extreme stress. Some genetics might never fare well under such circumstances and some may handle the process better than others.

The bottom line is that although schwazzing may work under ideal circumstances, it’s not a method of defoliation that should be practiced without proper experience. This is not recommended for novice growers or anybody working with sub-par genetics or below-average equipment.

Back-Building

Whereas schwazzing increases the overall yield of a cannabis harvest, back-building aims to build a more dense structure in buds and to create a more aesthetic final product.

Back-building, bud-pinching, and bud-swelling are all terms used to describe the process of clipping the tips off of flowering colas in order to promote growth—this builds out, or causes swelling in the remaining bud.

This advanced defoliation technique needs to be performed roughly halfway through the flowering process, around 3-5 weeks in. The idea behind it is to redistribute the plant’s natural growth hormones to the power areas of the cola.

With this technique, only the very top few calyxes and pistils are snipped, and it’s important to only do one cola at a time over the span of a week or two, so that the plant isn’t thrown into stress or shock.

The Pros and Cons of Back-Building

This technique isn’t meant to increase yields but rather to create more bag appeal by encouraging the plant to produce a more uniform and attractive final product.

The downside is that not all plants will respond appropriately to having their tips clipped off. Some plants may end up fox-tailing, creating stringy and unsightly columns of cola growth that indicate plant stress and have less bag appeal. It can also be a very time-consuming process because plants must be clipped over the course of several weeks, never all at once.

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Extreme Defoliation: High-Risk Ways to Boost Cannabis Yields and Bag Appeal (2)

Patrick Bennett

Patrick lives with his wife and daughter in Denver, where he spends his time writing, photographing, and creating content for the cannabis community.

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Extreme Defoliation: High-Risk Ways to Boost Cannabis Yields and Bag Appeal (2024)

FAQs

Can you defoliate too much? ›

While it's simple enough, there's definitely some risk involved with defoliation. Specifically, it's all too easy to over-defoliate a plant, stunt its growth, and remove nodes that could've developed some great bud. Many growers question defoliation.

Does Lollipopping increase yield? ›

Does lollipopping increase yield? Many growers have increased yields by lollipopping. We know enough about plant science to support the logic behind this type of pruning. What's even cooler is that you can combine lollipopping with topping or fimming.

What is Lollipopping? ›

Lollipopping is a pruning technique that helps your cannabis plants focus their energy on their biggest bud sites, usually around their canopies. It's easy, low-stress, and it can help you produce heavy harvests of some exceptional buds.

How long does it take for plants to recover from defoliation? ›

Defoliation in flowering stage

In about 3 days you'll see how these re-grow again, and after 7-10 days you'll have a dense foliage again. Around 3rd week of flowering: Before attacking again, be sure your plants have recovered, and started to grow again, and repeat the previous process.

Does defoliating increase yield? ›

Pruning, or defoliation, is a technique that keeps your cannabis plants healthy and growing properly. By removing small amounts of foliage during various phases of the life cycle, growers can increase a crop's yield and potency by allowing light to hit bud-producing nodes more directly.

What can increase defoliation? ›

Defoliation is defined as a widespread loss of leaves or stripping of leaves on a plant. There are many things that can cause this, such as grazing animals like deer or rabbits, insect infestation, disease, or chemical runoff from herbicides.

How do I make my buds bigger before harvest? ›

To some degree, more light translates to fatter buds and higher yields (you'll need to pay attention to the distance between your grow light and plants or your plant may suffer from light burn). Increasing light intensity is the most effective way to fatten up buds.

How do you yield bigger buds? ›

Grow More Big Buds Indoors
  1. Turn Up The Lights. ...
  2. Change Nutrients for Each Stage. ...
  3. Train Your Plants. ...
  4. Bone Up On Your Feeding. ...
  5. Control Temperature and Humidity. ...
  6. Pump Up CO2. ...
  7. Be Patient.

Does longer veg time increase yield? ›

The longer you keep your plants in the vegetative stage, the bigger your plant will be, resulting in bigger yields from plants that were vegetated longer.

What is Fimming? ›

Fimming involves pinching or cutting off around 75% of the tip of a plant. The very word FIM stands for “f*ck I missed”, and hints at how sloppy the technique appears. It looks as though the grower messed up their topping attempt!

Does topping yield more? ›

Topping or FIMing your cannabis garden will result in a greater number of cola's and a greater yield of bud – all which will need to be trimmed for consumption! In large commercial greenhouses and outdoor grow spaces, plant training can very quickly double or triple the yield.

Is Fimming better than topping? ›

The downside to topping involves cutting the main stem, which can be rather stressful for a plant. This means that plants may take some time to recover, and growth can be slowed or delayed for a while. Fimming, on the other hand, is much easier for a plant to deal with as it doesn't entail the cutting of the stem.

What to do after defoliating? ›

A defoliated tree does not need specific aftercare. When only partially defoliating a tree (for example, only pruning the top part of the tree) you better place the tree in the shadow for about a month to protect the exposed interior leaves.

Does cutting off leaves promote growth? ›

Plants will benefit from a good trimming the most during spring and summer, which are their active growing seasons. Trimming can be done to both vines and trees to encourage new, fuller growth along the plants, as well as to get rid of any yellowing or dead sections.

How late in flower can you defoliate? ›

So there are three different times we recommend defoliating during Flower: Right before you switch to 12/12. Once between the beginning of Flower and the 3-week mark. 3 weeks after beginning flower is the last time you'll want to defoliate.

Should you fertilize after defoliation? ›

Do not fertilize before or after defoliating. Be careful not to over-water as the tree will not dry out as soon with no leaves to transpire water. Partial defoliation can be done on all species, but more commonly on species that cannot be totally defoliated.

Should I water after defoliating? ›

Care after defoliation

After defoliating the tree must be kept in its normal position in light. If the tree is moved to less light the new leaves may actually grow out larger than the original leaves. Watering is reduced since the tree without leaves will not require a normal amount of water.

What happens if I remove all fan leaves during flowering? ›

Your plant experiences a rapid growth spurt in the flowering stage, and any significant pruning at this stage could lead your plant into a state of shock. Any time you remove the fan leaves, growth will temporarily slow down, and nutrients can be left behind in the substrate, causing growth to pick up rapidly.

Which chemical is used for defoliation? ›

Common harvest-aiding chemical defoliants include tribufos, dimethipin, and thidiazuron.

What nutrients increase trichome production? ›

As previously stated, moderate levels of nitrogen and phosphorus work best to sustain trichome growth to the maximum level. Dumping nutrients on your plant during the second half of the flowering cycle can result in reduced cannabinoid and terpene content, thereby lowering your bud quality in both flavor and potency.

Does Lollipopping make bigger buds? ›

The philosophy of lollipopping is “less is more.” Not exactly what you would call a scientific method to boost bud production, but hey, it works. By removing the lower bud sites from a cannabis plant, all plant energy is focused on bigger, fatter buds on top.

How do you get massive colas? ›

Topping to increase the number of colas

Topping is a form of pruning and involves pruning off the branch tip of the main cola. When you top the main cola, the energy goes to the side branches. The next two lateral branches will become the main branches. Topping will increase the overall yield of your grow.

How do you make fluffy buds dense? ›

Light is perhaps the most important factor in achieving dense buds. It's needed by plants to conduct photosynthesis, create vital sugars, and grow. However, not any old lights will do. Plants need optimal intensity and the right spectrum of light to put out plump, resinous flowers.

How do you get rock hard buds? ›

Review: How to Grow Dense Buds!
  1. 1.) Provide the right amount of light.
  2. 2.) Start with a strain that tends to grow dense buds.
  3. 3.) Control temperature.
  4. 4.) Cannabis Nutrients.
  5. 5.) Expose all buds to both light and a gentle breeze.
  6. 6.) Take care of roots.
  7. 7.) Keep Humidity Under 55% RH for Last 2-3 Weeks Before Harvest.
  8. 8.)

Does more light equal more yield? ›

Light Intensity and Yields

The light intensity rule of thumb is that a 1% increase in light equals to a 1% percent increase in yield. In a study by Wageninen University, they discovered this to be true of all horticultural crops they evaluated including, fruiting (vine) crops and flowers.

How do I make my buds Fluffy? ›

Buds seem to fatten the best when they get plenty of light and fresh air. You've already taken care of light, but you should also ensure your plants get excellent airflow. Air circulation helps control humidity, prevent wet spots, and moves air through the plant and around the buds.

Is 5 week veg enough? ›

Most cultivators vegetate their plants for 4–8 weeks. After this time, a switch to 12 hours of light per day is required to initiate flowering. In contrast, autoflowering plants flower on their own.

Is 8 weeks veg enough? ›

The vegetative stage in Cannabis plants may last from 3 to 16 weeks, or even more in outdoor crops. Most growers vegetate their indoor plants for 4-8 weeks, depending on the desired plant size.

What node should I top at? ›

Your plants need to be healthy before topping so they can heal from the trauma associated with this particular training technique. It is recommended that you wait until your plants have at least four nodes before topping them, and most growers recommend topping the plant above the sixth node.

Can you FIM a plant twice? ›

Fimming More Than Once

Multiple FIM sessions are an option, but keep in mind that this is a high stress technique. That means you'll probably have to extend the vegetative stage of your grow, giving your weed plants more time to recover after each round of fimming.

Should I prune fan leaves during veg? ›

Here's what to look for when planning to remove fan leaves during veg: Leaves at the bottom of the plant that receives little light can be pruned. Fan leaves that create shadows over budding sites should be pruned to increase light penetration throughout the canopy, rather than just the tops.

How many times can a plant be topped? ›

In time, these side branches can also get topped, which will create even more side branches and make the plant bush out even more. Doing this will also create more bud sites on branches and therefore increase your yields. Generally, a plant will get topped 1-3 times during its life.

How late can you top a plant? ›

Topping is best done when the plant is very young (less than 2-3 weeks old) and has only 2-5 nodes in total. Topping is the removal of the plants 'top' growth just above a node (fig 2). Once topped, the two axillary buds immediately below the cut will then grow out into two new branches.

How far down can you top a plant? ›

The general rule to follow is to cut your plant above the 5th leaf node in order to make sure that it's sturdy enough to deal with the stress. You'll also want to wait until your plants are at least 30 days old. This also leaves you with a decent amount of lower branches that can now grow outwards.

When should I start Supercropping? ›

Some growers find super cropping early on in the vegetative stage helps spark rapid growth and bigger, more structurally sound plants. If you're super cropping to help your plants better support their buds, we recommend doing so as soon as they grow their third node.

Does topping produce smaller buds? ›

Topping marijuana plants overrides the apical dominance and causes the redistribution of growth hormones to help the other shoots develop faster and produce bigger buds.

Should I harvest top buds first? ›

No Bud Should Be Picked Before Its Time

Other varieties mature from the top down, or alternately, from the outside in. For these varieties, the buds on the outside mature faster than inner buds hidden from the light. Once the outer buds are harvested, the inner branches are exposed to light and quickly ripen.

Can you take off too many fan leaves? ›

Removing Fan Leaves During The Flowering Stage

Cutting off more than 50% of the fan leaves will definitely stress your plant, so just to be safe, remove a maximum of 20-25% of the foliage.

What day of flower should I defoliate? ›

Between day 1 and 21 of flower: during the first 3 weeks of flower your marijuana plant is going through an aggressive growth period (called the stretch phase), and any defoliation or pruning during this phase stunts its growth severely.

Why we should not cut leaves in night? ›

It is a traditional superstitious belief where people consider that plucking flowers or leaves during night brings bad luck.

Should I cut brown tips off plant? ›

When you see dead leaves, dormant stems, or brown parts of leaves, cut them away. It's fine to pluck dead leaves or stems with your hands when possible, just don't pull too hard, or you may damage the healthy part of your plant. For tougher stems or to remove brown leaf tips and edges, use scissors or pruning shears.

Should I cut off big fan leaves? ›

Should you remove fan leaves? Yes, removing or pruning some fan leaves is a necessary step when cultivating cannabis healthy plants. When fan leaves become too large or abundant, they block the light and airflow to parts of the plant that can hinder trichome and cannabinoid production.

How much defoliation is too much in flower? ›

Defoliating & Pruning Autoflowers

It is also not recommended to defoliate more than 10% of your autoflowers' leaves at once, and definitely not recommended to top them, otherwise the stress can be too much and the growth will be stunted.

Can you cut off too many fan leaves? ›

Removing Fan Leaves During The Flowering Stage

Cutting off more than 50% of the fan leaves will definitely stress your plant, so just to be safe, remove a maximum of 20-25% of the foliage.

How far into flower can you defoliate? ›

Once between the beginning of Flower and the 3-week mark. 3 weeks after beginning flower is the last time you'll want to defoliate.

Should I trim off all fan leaves during flowering? ›

You can remove fan leaves during flowering in much the same way you do during veg. Prune away large leaves that are overshadowing bud sites, as well as dead or dying fan leaves. One thing to keep in mind is that you should prune in intervals, giving at least a couple weeks between each session.

How long should I veg for best yield? ›

In optimal conditions, plants should be kept in their vegetative stage for approximately 60 days. This time period should give the plant the opportunity to maximise yield and acclimatise to growing conditions.

Can buds grow without fan leaves? ›

Remember that fan leaves removed during flowering won't grow back, and removing too many can throw off the plant's energy balance, stunting bud development in turn.

How late into flowering can you lollipop? ›

WHEN TO LOLLIPOP CANNABIS. Most growers will agree that week 3 of flowering is the right time to start lollipopping. After a couple of weeks in the bloom phase, most cannabis strains will begin to display multiple bud sites along shoots.

Should I remove yellow leaves during flowering? ›

Removing all the yellow leaves is not recommended surgery, especially for young plants. Correct identification of the source of the problem and swift remedial action can restore marijuana. Senescence is when plants will naturally yellow off and die. During the final weeks of flowering do not be alarmed.

When should you start removing fan leaves? ›

Usually, growers trim the fan leaves weeks before harvest, which is a period that leads to senescence, a phase in the plant cycle when the larger leaves start fading away. It is safe to start removing these dying leaves and continue until harvest.

Do trichomes grow on fan leaves? ›

They can be identified by their mushroom-shaped structure attached to the plant without a stalk and are often located on the underside of sugar leaves and fan leaves. These trichomes produce cannabinoids throughout the lifecycle of a cannabis plant, but at much lower levels than capitate-stalked trichomes.

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