Stretching? Insufficient Light? Cool Temps?

[Gringrow87]

I have these seeds sprouted and on day 11. 400W MH HID lamp and sits about 20" from tops. Slight stretching and minimal heat waves in leaves it appears. Maybe T5 fluorescent or a 600W?

 

[Gringrow87]

I have these seeds sprouted and on day 11. 400W MH HID lamp and sits about 20" from tops. Slight stretching and minimal heat waves in leaves it appears. Maybe T5 fluorescent or a 600W?

 

[Flowki]

Tbf most are not that stretchy or they'd have fell over by now. The light could probably have been a bit closer but that also would depend on the hood used. You'd have to step down a couple inch at a time until you find your particular spot. I'm guessing it would be around the 15 mark but could be wrong.

 

[Gringrow87]

Tbf most are not that stretchy or they'd have fell over by now. The light could probably have been a bit closer but that also would depend on the hood used. You'd have to step down a couple inch at a time until you find your particular spot. I'm guessing it would be around the 15 mark but could be wrong.

Tbf most are not that stretchy or they'd have fell over by now. The light could probably have been a bit closer but that also would depend on the hood used. You'd have to step down a couple inch at a time until you find your particular spot. I'm guessing it would be around the 15 mark but could be wrong.

Ya I have always had this amount of stretch going on but never topple over. Jist trying to dial in a method that keeps them shorter and stockier to stay in these pots a couple weeks extra

 

[JohnDee]

Hi Gringrow,
A certain amount of stretch seems to be inevitable. I'm using a 250w MH color temp 4000 or so at 24". Seems to allow them balanced grow. I had a 400w but it was too much. 10 years ago I used a T5-HO just 3" to 4" up and got nodes so tight...that they caused issues. So really I feel it's a matter of what you want.

Couple things guys do. Fill the pot/cup only 1/2 way so you can bury part of the stem just by filling to the top.

Also you may need to offer support re trellis or a chopstick or something...
JD

 

[Gringrow87]

Hi Gringrow,
A certain amount of stretch seems to be inevitable. I'm using a 250w MH color temp 4000 or so at 24". Seems to allow them balanced grow. I had a 400w but it was too much. 10 years ago I used a T5-HO just 3" to 4" up and got nodes so tight...that they caused issues. So really I feel it's a matter of what you want.

Couple things guys do. Fill the pot/cup only 1/2 way so you can bury part of the stem just by filling to the top.

Also you may need to offer support re trellis or a chopstick or something...
JD

Ya I always leave 2 inch depending on initial root sprout size and then bury the rest. Next they go into 6 to 8 inch deep pots. Ya very true its very dependant on genetics I fedl as some seeds just pack more initial punch before the leaves have a chance to open amd absorb light. Some stay short some stretch....just broadening my horizons of knowledge.

 

[JohnDee]

Gringrow,
Couple areas where stretch or lack thereof has been an issue. Back when I was using T5s for seedlings...I'd have problems once under 600w hps flowering lights. The top new growth would stretch considerably leaving the squat portion of the plant on the bottom. Like a fat little guy with a long neck. Very odd. So now I use MH till stretch is totally over.

Also, once I grow out a seedling and it is big enough to top...I like to clone the tops under 12/12 light so I find out early who the females are and also to kill off males
(unless needed for pollen). So if I have a plant too crammed in on itself via tight nodes...then when I top it's too short for cloning.

Just to help with your information gathering.
JD

 

[xtsho]

If you have a T5 that's what I would use for seedlings. You can get it close enough to reduce stretching. But as @JohnDee stated you can end up with super close nodes. Depending on your growing style that could be a good or bad thing.

 

[Gringrow87]

If you have a T5 that's what I would use for seedlings. You can get it close enough to reduce stretching. But as @JohnDee stated you can end up with super close nodes. Depending on your growing style that could be a good or bad thing.

Ya spot on my thoughts..... All feminized.... Will top around the 5to6 wk mark and clone them all out double the mother count.

 

[Gringrow87]

Ya spot on my thoughts..... All feminized.... Will top around the 5to6 wk mark and clone them all out double the mother count.

Going to run the 400W at 24" for another wk and then double the lights as soon as they settle into larger 6" wide extra deep bags or pots i will pop them into today/tomorrow

 

[Flowki]

Ya I have always had this amount of stretch going on but never topple over. Jist trying to dial in a method that keeps them shorter and stockier to stay in these pots a couple weeks extra

Look into 1L air pots or of similar design (but not fabric). From seed they can stay in there easily for 3 to 4 weeks and have a very good root system at the end, you can then transplant to final pot. You can also top once or twice in the 1L rooting pots depending on growth rate.

 

[Gringrow87]

Look into 1L air pots or of similar design (but not fabric). From seed they can stay in there easily for 3 to 4 weeks and have a very good root system at the end, you can then transplant to final pot. You can also top once or twice in the 1L rooting pots depending on growth rate.

Awesome thanks mr.
Ya was looking into air pots. Have 8 inch pots twice the depth of current pots but they are white.... For pure veg would they suffice in anyones experience? I have only ever used black or green pots.

 

[Roger A. Shrubber]

Awesome thanks mr.
Ya was looking into air pots. Have 8 inch pots twice the depth of current pots but they are white.... For pure veg would they suffice in anyones experience? I have only ever used black or green pots.

depends on how opaque they are. you don't want a lot of algae growing in your pots, doesn't really hurt the plants directly, but it competes for oxygen and nutrients.

 

[Gringrow87]

depends on how opaque they are. you don't want a lot of algae growing in your pots, doesn't really hurt the plants directly, but it competes for oxygen and nutrients.

Ya no they are SOLID white no light penetration at all... would promote cooler roots and slower growth if anything I assumed.

 

[Flowki]

Awesome thanks mr.
Ya was looking into air pots. Have 8 inch pots twice the depth of current pots but they are white.... For pure veg would they suffice in anyones experience? I have only ever used black or green pots.

Not something I've thought about till you asked, most pots tend to be dark so I guess that's not all coincidence. Quick check on google and the only obvious issue is temp diff as you said, I don't think that would be an issue either way since your pots will not be in direct or intense light for long anyway. I assume most bugs we are concerned with are attracted by organic triggers, not colour, so that's all I know ;p.

 

[Gringrow87]

Not something I've thought about till you asked, most pots tend to be dark so I guess that's not all coincidence. Quick check on google and the only obvious issue is temp diff as you said, I don't think that would be an issue either way since your pots will not be in direct or intense light for long anyway. I assume most bugs we are concerned with are attracted by organic triggers, not colour, so that's all I know ;p.

And as well in some other field farming practices, white plastic repels lots of bugs and as an added bonus allows for easier ID of pests

 

[Flowki]

Well in other field farming practices white plastic repels lots of bugs and as an added bonus allows for easier ID of pests

Yeah I could see that, is it because the pot reflects too much heat for them to withstand?.

It sounds like you will be aware of avoiding tap rootbound?.

 

[Gringrow87]

Yeah I could see that, is it because the pot reflects too much heat for them to withstand?.

It sounds like you will be aware of avoiding tap rootbound?.

Ya the first seedlings just started showing their first fingers in the bottoms of these 4 inch square pots.
Ya the white plastic is so bright it deters the pest. Black is actually hotter but white has benefits too. Will probably try these white pots out.

 

[Gringrow87]

well into the larger white pots they go...Looking perky and happy on day 1 transplant. Day 12 from soil break

 

[Gringrow87]

View attachment 4277618 View attachment 4277619 well into the larger white pots they go...Looking perky and happy on day 1 transplant. Day 12 from soil break

Planning on starting with Dutch Nutrients GroA and GroB... Any reccomendations?