Happy to find this topic as I’m trying to find good practice regarding defoliating myself.
I’ve started my first grow a month ago (see my journal here) in a micro space (30x30x height 70) so I have “space management” to take into account too. Also I started 2 plants in this small space and a few days ago I topped them so it’s seems I like to challenge myself 
Up to now I took off 2-4 leaves masking buds per plant couple times during veg/pre topping, an while topping I took off again 2-4 big leaves, at the bottom this time, because they started to be completely lying on the wall of the box. Now 3 days from topping it seems more big leaves are growing crazy 
So I’m kind of wondering whether I should let them be, at least for a while (never so good to stress them too much/too often), but then I might have an issue of light penetration/air circulation, or if I should try to keep it “under control” and continue to take out 2-4 leaves every week/2 weeks during veg so better air and light, at the risk of drastically slowing (/killing 
) them because of the stress…
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