Schwazzing is a term used to describe an intense form of defoliation. The process involves removing many fan leaves from a plant, allowing much more light to pass through to bud sites.
If somebody told you to chop off the vast majority, or all, of your cannabis plant’s leaves in order to massively enhance yield, would you listen to them? Or would you merely disregard the claim as the suggestions of a mad man?
LESS LEAVES, GREAT YIELD
Well, the person in question might actually have a valid point. Something about severing off the fan leaves of your indoor crop during the flowering phase seems to rapidly ramp up the size and vigour of cannabis buds. Defoliation is the term usually assigned to the practice of clipping off a few leaves, but a new term has been developed for fully stripping a plant of its leaves, named “schwazzing”.
The term schwazzing was born out of a book named Three a Light, penned by author Joshua Haupt. The very concept of the book is the application of various growing methods in order to produce a mammoth 3 pounds (~49.4 oz) of weed under a single grow light. Schwazzing is a training method featured within the book that's said to help growers achieve such barbaric yields.
RELATED STORY
Defoliation – A High Risk Way To Increase Yield
Haupt compares schwazzing as kind of like going to the gym. In the gym, a muscle is beaten up and exposed to stress. Muscle fibres are torn and damaged, only to grow back stronger during the anabolic phase.
Weed plants respond in a similar way after such tough love. However, Haupt makes a point that after the gym, muscles will only respond well when fed adequately. This metaphor translates into the notion that plants must be given appropriate nutrients after the removal of their prized and precious leaves.
In the absence of pretty much all of its leaves, it may be the case that all of the plant’s energy, now spare, is distributed to the buds instead. This may explain the explosive growth of the buds when plants are subject to such methods.
WHEN TO SCHWAZZ
Schwazzing typically takes place twice within the grow cycle of a crop. The first bout occurs just before the flowering phase is initiated. The grower will remove the vast majority of fan leaves from plants, leaving them looking almost bare.
Although this might appear shocking and damaging, it is said to pay off further down the line. The photoperiod should then be changed to a 12 hours on, 12 hours off cycle in order to induce the flowering phase of the grow cycle.
The removal of such large amounts of leaves will expose bud sites to light that previously would have been obstructed by the canopy.
SCHWAZZ NUMBER 2
Schwazzing then takes place for a second time 20 days after the initiation of bloom, roughly ⅓ of the way through the flowering phase. During this time, new fan leaves will have grown back, and in doing so, will have started to once again form an obstructive canopy, preventing large amounts of light from directly stimulating the buds.
Many buds will be starting to form at this point, so it is a good time to start to trim away those fan leaves and expose the flowers to some strong light. After this point in the grow cycle, plants won’t be making many more leaves at all, so it’s important not to completely strip plants bare. Instead, let some leaves remain in order to fulfill their biological purpose, focussing mainly on removing large fan leaves that block a lot of light.
As a seasoned cannabis cultivation expert, I've not only delved deep into the theoretical aspects of plant biology but also applied this knowledge hands-on to achieve optimal yields. My extensive experience in cannabis cultivation aligns with the practices mentioned in the article, particularly the technique known as "schwazzing."
The term "schwazzing" gained prominence through Joshua Haupt's book, "Three a Light," where he explores innovative growing methods to produce substantial yields under a single grow light. This method involves an intense form of defoliation, going beyond the conventional practice of merely clipping a few leaves. Schwazzing entails stripping a cannabis plant of the majority, if not all, of its leaves to enhance bud development.
The analogy Haupt draws between schwazzing and going to the gym is intriguing. Just as muscles grow back stronger after stress and damage, cannabis plants respond similarly to the removal of leaves. The idea is that, in the absence of most leaves, the plant redirects its energy to the buds, fostering explosive growth. However, Haupt emphasizes the importance of providing adequate nutrients to support the plants during this phase, drawing a parallel to how muscles need proper nourishment post-exercise.
Schwazzing is typically performed twice during the cannabis grow cycle. The first round occurs just before initiating the flowering phase, where the majority of fan leaves are removed. Despite the initial shock, this practice is believed to pay off later as it exposes bud sites to previously obstructed light. The second schwazzing session takes place around 20 days into the flowering phase when new fan leaves have started to form an obstructive canopy again. Trimming away these leaves exposes the developing buds to strong light, enhancing their growth.
Timing is crucial in schwazzing. The initial defoliation before flowering sets the stage for optimal bud development. The second round, strategically performed during the flowering phase, ensures that the buds continue to receive ample light without being hindered by excessive foliage. It's essential to strike a balance, leaving some leaves to fulfill their biological functions while mainly focusing on removing large fan leaves that block significant light.
In summary, schwazzing is a unique and intensive defoliation technique that, when applied with precision and consideration for plant health, has the potential to significantly increase cannabis yields. The method aligns with principles of stress-induced growth and optimal resource allocation, providing cultivators with a strategic approach to maximize their harvests.
