Don't want stretchy plants!

[Fahn2k]

I’m in the same boat, needing an electric service upgrade.
Perhaps your light isn’t at full potential if your not on a dedicated supply/breaker.

Apart from others ideas of leaving lower sucker shoots untill after stretching,
And blue light spectrum (I use cmh),

I have found keeping day amd night temperatures close to the same helps reduce stretching.
-also why I no longer flower inside during summer.

I set my AC at 74F and leave it on in the economy mode. I usually blow the fuse when the big unit in the other room kicks into cooling mode. It's on auto. Also I never run my lights in the day to keep things cooler.

 

[Fahn2k]

This was from my 1st grow during week 6

 

[Fahn2k]

As you can see there's a lot of room for improvement. The buds did get bigger and filled in more, but who doesnt want better?

 

[Fahn2k]

You could also do some extra research on the genetics of the plants you are wanting to grow and choose one with minimal stretch

I haven't seen a seed bank that talks about stretch in the description. I usually look for plants that don't grow too tall. As a newbie I collected a mish mash of seeds. Autoflowers, Fast versions, feminized. everything is hybrid these days

Critical Purple Auto
Tangerine Dream Auto
Tangerine Dream
Dos Si Dos Auto
Avenue of Giants Fast
Killer Kush Fast
Tropicana Poison Fast
White Widow
Girl Scout Cookies
Northern Lights
OG Kush
Skywalker OG

 

[SidV]

You can reduce stretch during veg by keeping the lights on them 24/7 .

 

[Fahn2k]

You can reduce stretch during veg by keeping the lights on them 24/7 .

I ran my lights 24/7, I had grow problems as soon as I transplanted and didn't quite know what to do. I came to this site for the first time and right away instead of helping the well known members put me on blast criticizing everything they could and posting statements that didn't help or move the conversation forward. I was on my own! I had the lights 18" from the tops and moved it up to 24" thinking the light was too bright burning the plant. At the same time I started watching my watering schedule. the plants responded good and recovered and started growing properly, but they started stretching too. I brought the light back down to 18" when I flipped but by then it was too late and only got worse. As I plan my next grow I want to concentrate on strong root structure, and controlling the canopy (lollipop, LST, Defoliate). I bought a 2x2 as a kind of test bed for experimenting. To start I'll be using an Autopot single and one brand of nutrients only. Also a dimmable light that has full coverage over the entire grow area. One plant with scrog netting. In the last year I smoked 3 grams max. so quantity is not my issue. Quality and efficiency is my goal, I only have a 40x40 because I couldn't find anything smaller locally and the weed gods on this forum had me afraid to buy a cheap Chinese tent off Amazon. My Amazon Chinese tent is better quality than my overpriced American tent by the way, stay away from Agromax. Anyway thanks for the suggestion, I've tried a lot of the things suggested so far, I have to be overlooking something I did.

 

[Spark O'Matic]

If you can afford it the technology is here in LED with circuits for veg and flower and are dimmable so every stage of your plants life can be covered with one fixture. I'm new to this too and saving up and learning what equipment to buy. Keep reading, with so many factors I hadn't even thought about this place really helps.

 

[Billy the Mountain]

Minimizing the difference between day and night temperatures is an established horticultural technique to minimize stretching.

 

[Major Blazer]

Tbh your last grow doesn't seem at all stretched to the point where you can definitively blame yourself or one (or more) environmental conditions with absolute certainty. It could simply have been genetics and/or a combination of factors. More Indica heavy strains will stack tighter and yours just looks like the buds grew in a sativa-like fashion.

That said watts /sq ft is a good-ish metric. The Next Light @200w was only giving you 11w /sq ft in a 40"x40" tent. With a high efficiency LED, 25-30w /sq ft is more ideal. It's probably good you got the cheaper, dimmable light for your new space bc 50w /sq ft is pushing it for a new grower. Both seem to have enough blue too.

In my (humble) opinion though I think you need to stop looking at growing a plant as something so binary. In other words "the answer" isn't always this, or that but rather some gray area combination of factors, many of which are often outside of our control. Your plants looked good. Compared to my first few grows, they crushed them. Keep reinforcing the basics like environmentals and feedings and pick a genetic that will give you the traits you desire most. After losing all that headroom with your new tent, hopefully you go with an indica.

 

[Fahn2k]

Tbh your last grow doesn't seem at all stretched to the point where you can definitively blame yourself or one (or more) environmental conditions with absolute certainty. It could simply have been genetics and/or a combination of factors. More Indica heavy strains will stack tighter and yours just looks like the buds grew in a sativa-like fashion.

That said watts /sq ft is a good-ish metric. The Next Light @200w was only giving you 11w /sq ft in a 40"x40" tent. With a high efficiency LED, 25-30w /sq ft is more ideal. It's probably good you got the cheaper, dimmable light for your new space bc 50w /sq ft is pushing it for a new grower. Both seem to have enough blue too.

In my (humble) opinion though I think you need to stop looking at growing a plant as something so binary. In other words "the answer" isn't always this, or that but rather some gray area combination of factors, many of which are often outside of our control. Your plants looked good. Compared to my first few grows, they crushed them. Keep reinforcing the basics like environmentals and feedings and pick a genetic that will give you the traits you desire most. After losing all that headroom with your new tent, hopefully you go with an indica.

Thanks, I agree although I don't know what you mean by "50w /sq ft is pushing it for a new grower". Don't take that the wrong way, but explain cause I'm curious to know what you mean. Do you mean the size of the grow area? I figured I would have plenty of room for error, I mean experience. My glass is half full, lol. I was thinking this morning that 4 plants in a 40x40 under the Nextlight is too many for flowering. It will do the job but not perfectly. I grabbed some 3.9 gallon Autopots hoping to limit size and bring the plants closer to the center of the tent. Then I'll try to avoid bushy plants. I can do short and bushy in the 2x2 as well as auto's, I think coverage wise it will give better results.

 

[twentyeight.threefive]

Thanks, I agree although I don't know what you mean by "50w /sq ft is pushing it for a new grower". Don't take that the wrong way, but explain cause I'm curious to know what you mean. Do you mean the size of the grow area? I figured I would have plenty of room for error, I mean experience. My glass is half full, lol. I was thinking this morning that 4 plants in a 40x40 under the Nextlight is too many for flowering. It will do the job but not perfectly. I grabbed some 3.9 gallon Autopots hoping to limit size and bring the plants closer to the center of the tent. Then I'll try to avoid bushy plants. I can do short and bushy in the 2x2 as well as auto's, I think coverage wise it will give better results.

He's referring to the required light wattage needed for a grow space.

You want about 35w of light per square foot of grow space. If you have a 2x2 tent that's 4 sq.ft. of grow space. 35w x 4 = 140w. So you're looking to use a light that draws 140w from the wall to properly cover your grow in that area. You can use a more powerful light provided that you can dim it down. Too much light can stress your plants.

Pay attention to what the light actually draws from the wall. Often light manufacturers will use incorrect numbers saying that it's a "600w" light when it may draw 150w.

 

[Fahn2k]

If you can afford it the technology is here in LED with circuits for veg and flower and are dimmable so every stage of your plants life can be covered with one fixture. I'm new to this too and saving up and learning what equipment to buy. Keep reading, with so many factors I hadn't even thought about this place really helps.

I dont know how to really respond to your comment, but here goes; Most LED's can handle a full grow. It's just a matter of how well it does in each stage of growth. If you look on the deals thread everybody and their brother is recommending lights for under $100. If you ask what's a good light to buy, everybody recommends lights above $1000. They'll tell you don't buy cheap Chinese. I was looking at Spider Farm and Mars Hydro 1000 series lights when a friend got frustrated and bought the Nextlight for me. Its American, it a good light, yeah but a light is only good when used in the right environment. My problem was I wanted a 2x2 and couldn't find one so I bought a 3x3 Agromax $170. The salesman accidentally gave me a 40x40 and I didn't realize it until it was assembled. The Agromax has a terrible zipper, always gets stuck and feels like it will break. The Nextlight Core is great for vegging a 40x40, but not flowering. If I was to do it all again I would have bought a light in the range of $800-900 that would give me up to a 5x5 area for veg and bloom. Then couple that with a $125 tent. I would also have went with a 8" fan and tall boy filter. I think odor control is overlooked by most newbies. a good salesman would tell you to control odor in the room rather than sell you something to filters air in the tent only. Don't get me wrong, the 2x2 with the so called cheap Chinese light is better optimized than the 40x40 and it is dimmable where the 40x40 isn't. I believe I can do better with the cheap set up than with the expensive set up so price goes out the window. Its not what you use but how you use it.

All that said, prioritize the light! A small light will do ok and give good penetration, but a wide light gives better area coverage although with less penetration. Veg and Bloom coverages are different by a foot so pay attention. Next priority should be odor control if you grow indoors. You my be legal but do you really want everyone who walks into your house to smell weed? Next decide how you want to grow, most people lead newbies to soil. Soil is safe but then you have to worry about gnats and other nasties. I'm switching to Promix HP, they claim it discourages gnats and has coco and perlite in it as well as mycorrhizae and fungicide.

 

[Major Blazer]

Thanks, I agree although I don't know what you mean by "50w /sq ft is pushing it for a new grower". Don't take that the wrong way, but explain cause I'm curious to know what you mean. Do you mean the size of the grow area? I figured I would have plenty of room for error, I mean experience. My glass is half full, lol. I was thinking this morning that 4 plants in a 40x40 under the Nextlight is too many for flowering. It will do the job but not perfectly. I grabbed some 3.9 gallon Autopots hoping to limit size and bring the plants closer to the center of the tent. Then I'll try to avoid bushy plants. I can do short and bushy in the 2x2 as well as auto's, I think coverage wise it will give better results.

@twentyeight.threefive got it. I'm "warning you" essentially so that you don't crank your lamp to 100% thinking that more is always better. 35w /sq ft is definitely plenty and can grow some very very nice, full buds. Also, I've never grown in an Autopot but 3.9gal of coco can grow an absolute unit of a plant. Limiting the size of the plant will come down to the decisions you make with regard to training and time spent in veg primarily.

 

[Fahn2k]

He's referring to the required light wattage needed for a grow space.

You want about 35w of light per square foot of grow space. If you have a 2x2 tent that's 4 sq.ft. of grow space. 35w x 4 = 140w. So you're looking to use a light that draws 140w from the wall to properly cover your grow in that area. You can use a more powerful light provided that you can dim it down. Too much light can stress your plants.

Pay attention to what the light actually draws from the wall. Often light manufacturers will use incorrect numbers saying that it's a "600w" light when it may draw 150w.

Oh ok, thanks. I do pay attention to wall wattage, so I know the Nextlight pulls 190 and the Sunraise claims 200. The Sunraise is dimmable so it should work out just right.

 

[osowhom]

Hey everybody, I'm getting ready for a grow and need some advice. i need to know how to control stretch? On my first grow I got what I think is too much stretch in my plants. The internodes where up tp 3" apart on some plants. It was my first grow so I didn't worry too much I just wanted to make it to the end product successfully. For background I grew in a 40x40x60 tent, using 5 gallon buckets. My light is a Nextlight Core (190 watts at the wall). I kept the light on full, it doesn't dim, and I tried to keep it 18" above the top of the plants. The new grow will be in 2x2x48 using Sunraise QB2000 (200 watts at the wall) it's dimmable down to 25%. This grow I'll be using n Autopot with Airdome in a 3.9 gallon bucket.

is 48 the height of the tent? sorry i dont use a tent so i am not familiar

 

[osowhom]

Minimizing the difference between day and night temperatures is an established horticultural technique to minimize stretching.

i tried that with mine but the genetics said not today sir we are headed to space with bezos they went from 12 inches to 5 feet in 3 weeks lol

 

[Spark O'Matic]

I dont know how to really respond to your comment, but here goes; Most LED's can handle a full grow. It's just a matter of how well it does in each stage of growth. If you look on the deals thread everybody and their brother is recommending lights for under $100. If you ask what's a good light to buy, everybody recommends lights above $1000. They'll tell you don't buy cheap Chinese. I was looking at Spider Farm and Mars Hydro 1000 series lights when a friend got frustrated and bought the Nextlight for me. Its American, it a good light, yeah but a light is only good when used in the right environment. My problem was I wanted a 2x2 and couldn't find one so I bought a 3x3 Agromax $170. The salesman accidentally gave me a 40x40 and I didn't realize it until it was assembled. The Agromax has a terrible zipper, always gets stuck and feels like it will break. The Nextlight Core is great for vegging a 40x40, but not flowering. If I was to do it all again I would have bought a light in the range of $800-900 that would give me up to a 5x5 area for veg and bloom. Then couple that with a $125 tent. I would also have went with a 8" fan and tall boy filter. I think odor control is overlooked by most newbies. a good salesman would tell you to control odor in the room rather than sell you something to filters air in the tent only. Don't get me wrong, the 2x2 with the so called cheap Chinese light is better optimized than the 40x40 and it is dimmable where the 40x40 isn't. I believe I can do better with the cheap set up than with the expensive set up so price goes out the window. Its not what you use but how you use it.

All that said, prioritize the light! A small light will do ok and give good penetration, but a wide light gives better area coverage although with less penetration. Veg and Bloom coverages are different by a foot so pay attention. Next priority should be odor control if you grow indoors. You my be legal but do you really want everyone who walks into your house to smell weed? Next decide how you want to grow, most people lead newbies to soil. Soil is safe but then you have to worry about gnats and other nasties. I'm switching to Promix HP, they claim it discourages gnats and has coco and perlite in it as well as mycorrhizae and fungicide.

I dont know how to really respond to your comment, but here goes; Most LED's can handle a full grow. It's just a matter of how well it does in each stage of growth. If you look on the deals thread everybody and their brother is recommending lights for under $100. If you ask what's a good light to buy, everybody recommends lights above $1000. They'll tell you don't buy cheap Chinese. I was looking at Spider Farm and Mars Hydro 1000 series lights when a friend got frustrated and bought the Nextlight for me. Its American, it a good light, yeah but a light is only good when used in the right environment. My problem was I wanted a 2x2 and couldn't find one so I bought a 3x3 Agromax $170. The salesman accidentally gave me a 40x40 and I didn't realize it until it was assembled. The Agromax has a terrible zipper, always gets stuck and feels like it will break. The Nextlight Core is great for vegging a 40x40, but not flowering. If I was to do it all again I would have bought a light in the range of $800-900 that would give me up to a 5x5 area for veg and bloom. Then couple that with a $125 tent. I would also have went with a 8" fan and tall boy filter. I think odor control is overlooked by most newbies. a good salesman would tell you to control odor in the room rather than sell you something to filters air in the tent only. Don't get me wrong, the 2x2 with the so called cheap Chinese light is better optimized than the 40x40 and it is dimmable where the 40x40 isn't. I believe I can do better with the cheap set up than with the expensive set up so price goes out the window. Its not what you use but how you use it.

All that said, prioritize the light! A small light will do ok and give good penetration, but a wide light gives better area coverage although with less penetration. Veg and Bloom coverages are different by a foot so pay attention. Next priority should be odor control if you grow indoors. You my be legal but do you really want everyone who walks into your house to smell weed? Next decide how you want to grow, most people lead newbies to soil. Soil is safe but then you have to worry about gnats and other nasties. I'm switching to Promix HP, they claim it discourages gnats and has coco and perlite in it as well as mycorrhizae and fungicide.

I was forced to retire and medical ate my savings (cancer sucks) and 401k so for major budget I could be doing worse.

I dont know how to really respond to your comment, but here goes; Most LED's can handle a full grow. It's just a matter of how well it does in each stage of growth. If you look on the deals thread everybody and their brother is recommending lights for under $100. If you ask what's a good light to buy, everybody recommends lights above $1000. They'll tell you don't buy cheap Chinese. I was looking at Spider Farm and Mars Hydro 1000 series lights when a friend got frustrated and bought the Nextlight for me. Its American, it a good light, yeah but a light is only good when used in the right environment. My problem was I wanted a 2x2 and couldn't find one so I bought a 3x3 Agromax $170. The salesman accidentally gave me a 40x40 and I didn't realize it until it was assembled. The Agromax has a terrible zipper, always gets stuck and feels like it will break. The Nextlight Core is great for vegging a 40x40, but not flowering. If I was to do it all again I would have bought a light in the range of $800-900 that would give me up to a 5x5 area for veg and bloom. Then couple that with a $125 tent. I would also have went with a 8" fan and tall boy filter. I think odor control is overlooked by most newbies. a good salesman would tell you to control odor in the room rather than sell you something to filters air in the tent only. Don't get me wrong, the 2x2 with the so called cheap Chinese light is better optimized than the 40x40 and it is dimmable where the 40x40 isn't. I believe I can do better with the cheap set up than with the expensive set up so price goes out the window. Its not what you use but how you use it.

All that said, prioritize the light! A small light will do ok and give good penetration, but a wide light gives better area coverage although with less penetration. Veg and Bloom coverages are different by a foot so pay attention. Next priority should be odor control if you grow indoors. You my be legal but do you really want everyone who walks into your house to smell weed? Next decide how you want to grow, most people lead newbies to soil. Soil is safe but then you have to worry about gnats and other nasties. I'm switching to Promix HP, they claim it discourages gnats and has coco and perlite in it as well as mycorrhizae and fungicide.

Thanks for the info. Forced retirement, cancer treatments, Social Insecurity, for a total budget I guess I could be doing a lot worse.

 

[Major Blazer]

~200w in a 2.3'x2.3' Mars Hydro tent (so just under 40w /sq ft) as an example. Mind you I have more than a few grows under my belt but I believe this to be achievable by anybody.

 

[Fahn2k]

is 48 the height of the tent? sorry i dont use a tent so i am not familiar

Yes, I have a 40"x40"x72" and a 24"x24"x48". the 24x24x48 is an excellent tent, but I wish I would have bought the taller 56" version. If you can find one in your area look up Maxsisun for a good tent at good price. Mine was $56.

 

[Fahn2k]

I was forced to retire and medical ate my savings (cancer sucks) and 401k so for major budget I could be doing worse.

Thanks for the info. Forced retirement, cancer treatments, Social Insecurity, for a total budget I guess I could be doing a lot worse.View attachment 4948384

Looks good to me!