Don't want stretchy plants!

Fahn2k

Fahn2k

Well-Known Member
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.
 
Boogierook

Boogierook

Well-Known Member
I’m not positive but I think possibly supplementing some extra blue light towards the 4000k spectrum would help. Providing more light towards this end of the spectrum may help keep ur plants shorter as they won’t be stretching out so much in search of it.
 
Tracker

Tracker

Well-Known Member
Fahn2k said:
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.
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The internodal spacing depends on the light and the genetics. Keep the qb2000 as close as 12" from the canopy once the plants are at full veg and into flower for max light intensity. Get a pure indica plant with tight internodal spacing.
 
PopAndSonGrows

PopAndSonGrows

Well-Known Member
Leave the lower growth alone, in fact do little to no defoliation at all and that usually holds back stretching. Lollipop and defol in about week 3 of flower, and this is supposed to reduce plant height. I heard/read/saw this on YouTube, 2x2 Grower channel. Also with a dimmable fixture you can drop it to below 12 inches and dim appropriately, forgot where I read that one sorry.
 
Tracker

Tracker

Well-Known Member
Boogierook said:
I’m not positive but I think possibly supplementing some extra blue light towards the 4000k spectrum would help. Providing more light towards this end of the spectrum may help keep ur plants shorter as they won’t be stretching out so much in search of it.
Click to expand...
This is true, but the SUNRAISE qb2000 is not overly yellow/red like some LEDs. It's in the 3500k-4000k color range.
 
H

higher self

Well-Known Member
PopAndSonGrows said:
Leave the lower growth alone, in fact do little to no defoliation at all and that usually holds back stretching. Lollipop and defol in about week 3 of flower, and this is supposed to reduce plant height. I heard/read/saw this on YouTube, 2x2 Grower channel. Also with a dimmable fixture you can drop it to below 12 inches and dim appropriately, forgot where I read that one sorry.
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This! Keep the lower growth until end of stretch & then cut. Also if they stretch into light you can super crop, don't be afraid to pinch those stems over!
 
H

higher self

Well-Known Member
PopAndSonGrows said:
How late into flower can one supercrop? I've read it's a herm/nanner risk after a certain point?
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I say whenever, don't think its that stressful & better than topping in flower imo. Grown many sativas that got supper cropped never had them herm, so genetics may possibly play a part. I would be weary about Chem & Cookie strains though I guess. You can be more gentle & lightly pinch the stem at multiple places vs straight bending it over
 
Fahn2k

Fahn2k

Well-Known Member
PopAndSonGrows said:
Leave the lower growth alone, in fact do little to no defoliation at all and that usually holds back stretching. Lollipop and defol in about week 3 of flower, and this is supposed to reduce plant height. I heard/read/saw this on YouTube, 2x2 Grower channel. Also with a dimmable fixture you can drop it to below 12 inches and dim appropriately, forgot where I read that one sorry.
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I left the lower growth alone on my first grow. I didnt know what I was doing and was afraid to cut worried I would stress the plants too much. I had already had watering issues that caused problems so I thought it was best to leave them alone. I did defoliate though. I think I got watering under control at this point ( I learned something), and on this next grow I want to do more as far as LST, Lollipopping and Defoliating. I'll ask more about that later.
xtsho said:
You didn't have enough light.
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Ok, as usual thanks for the statement, but that doesn't help. How about this, I have no more room for overhead lights in either tent. the 40x40 has a light that leave maybe 5" on each side, while the 2x2 has a light that's 2x2 so there's no space on any side. I have thought about lights going down the sides in each corner but I've spent too much money already. Also for some damn reason whoever built this house connected every outlet to one 20amp line. I've been blowing fuses on a weekly basis trying to run AC in the living room and the grow room. I mean every outlet in very room except the kitchen and bath! Electricians aint cheap! All the overhead lights and switches are low voltage I can't even use a cheater socket adapter. So how bout some real suggestions? I like to work with what I got cause throwing away a $539 light and buying a $1000+ dollar light that will blow more fuses is not an option. Maybe next year after I get the electrical upgraded.
 
Boogierook

Boogierook

Well-Known Member
Fahn2k said:
I left the lower growth alone on my first grow. I didnt know what I was doing and was afraid to cut worried I would stress the plants too much. I had already had watering issues that caused problems so I thought it was best to leave them alone. I did defoliate though. I think I got watering under control at this point ( I learned something), and on this next grow I want to do more as far as LST, Lollipopping and Defoliating. I'll ask more about that later.

Ok, as usual thanks for the statement, but that doesn't help. How about this, I have no more room for overhead lights in either tent. the 40x40 has a light that leave maybe 5" on each side, while the 2x2 has a light that's 2x2 so there's no space on any side. I have thought about lights going down the sides in each corner but I've spent too much money already. Also for some damn reason whoever built this house connected every outlet to one 20amp line. I've been blowing fuses on a weekly basis trying to run AC in the living room and the grow room. I mean every outlet in very room except the kitchen and bath! Electricians aint cheap! All the overhead lights and switches are low voltage I can't even use a cheater socket adapter. So how bout some real suggestions? I like to work with what I got cause throwing away a $539 light and buying a $1000+ dollar light that will blow more fuses is not an option. Maybe next year after I get the electrical upgraded.
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If you haven’t already try LST. Focus on directing the plants growth horizontally instead of vertically
 
curious2garden

curious2garden

Well-Known Mod
Staff member
xtsho said:
Where did you read that? I've been supercropping for years sometimes well into flower and have never had a single plant herm.
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Same here and I've even burnt off a few colas, dropped a light on a plant et cetera. It takes some real effort to herm a plant or terrible genetics.
 
xtsho

xtsho

Well-Known Member
Fahn2k said:
I left the lower growth alone on my first grow. I didnt know what I was doing and was afraid to cut worried I would stress the plants too much. I had already had watering issues that caused problems so I thought it was best to leave them alone. I did defoliate though. I think I got watering under control at this point ( I learned something), and on this next grow I want to do more as far as LST, Lollipopping and Defoliating. I'll ask more about that later.

Ok, as usual thanks for the statement, but that doesn't help. How about this, I have no more room for overhead lights in either tent. the 40x40 has a light that leave maybe 5" on each side, while the 2x2 has a light that's 2x2 so there's no space on any side. I have thought about lights going down the sides in each corner but I've spent too much money already. Also for some damn reason whoever built this house connected every outlet to one 20amp line. I've been blowing fuses on a weekly basis trying to run AC in the living room and the grow room. I mean every outlet in very room except the kitchen and bath! Electricians aint cheap! All the overhead lights and switches are low voltage I can't even use a cheater socket adapter. So how bout some real suggestions? I like to work with what I got cause throwing away a $539 light and buying a $1000+ dollar light that will blow more fuses is not an option. Maybe next year after I get the electrical upgraded.
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Damn. $539 for a 200 watt light?

Do some significant training and keep the canopy low and even. I don't know what else to tell you.


PopAndSonGrows said:
DGC forums i believe, but again nothing definitive just "chatter" about it.
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I've never encountered it myself and supercropping has been my goto method of training for years. I'd bet that those claiming it made their plants herm did something else to stress the plants or they just grew bad genetics.
 
Fahn2k

Fahn2k

Well-Known Member
Tracker said:
This is true, but the SUNRAISE qb2000 is not overly yellow/red like some LEDs. It's in the 3500k-4000k color range.
Click to expand...
I really didnt have height problems on the first grow. I think I has lot of stretch but the plants are short. I could be a little persnickety, I'm trying to hang with you big boys out there.
 
Boogierook

Boogierook

Well-Known Member
Fahn2k said:
I left the lower growth alone on my first grow. I didnt know what I was doing and was afraid to cut worried I would stress the plants too much. I had already had watering issues that caused problems so I thought it was best to leave them alone. I did defoliate though. I think I got watering under control at this point ( I learned something), and on this next grow I want to do more as far as LST, Lollipopping and Defoliating. I'll ask more about that later.

Ok, as usual thanks for the statement, but that doesn't help. How about this, I have no more room for overhead lights in either tent. the 40x40 has a light that leave maybe 5" on each side, while the 2x2 has a light that's 2x2 so there's no space on any side. I have thought about lights going down the sides in each corner but I've spent too much money already. Also for some damn reason whoever built this house connected every outlet to one 20amp line. I've been blowing fuses on a weekly basis trying to run AC in the living room and the grow room. I mean every outlet in very room except the kitchen and bath! Electricians aint cheap! All the overhead lights and switches are low voltage I can't even use a cheater socket adapter. So how bout some real suggestions? I like to work with what I got cause throwing away a $539 light and buying a $1000+ dollar light that will blow more fuses is not an option. Maybe next year after I get the electrical upgraded.
Click to expand...
You could also do some extra research on the genetics of the plants you are wanting to grow and choose one with minimal stretch
 
Cookie Rider

Cookie Rider

Well-Known Member
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.
 
Fahn2k

Fahn2k

Well-Known Member
xtsho said:
Damn. $539 for a 200 watt light?

Do some significant training and keep the canopy low and even. I don't know what else to tell you.




I've never encountered it myself and supercropping has been my goto method of training for years. I'd bet that those claiming it made their plants herm did something else to stress the plants or they just grew bad genetics.
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Yes the light retailed for $539, no I didn't pay that much actually somebody else paid for it. I was gonna buy a Mars Hydro or Spider Farm, but he was one of those people who screamed don't buy cheap Chinese. No buy American, fuck it I'll buy the dang light for you! Ok! One thing I notice on this forum is that no matter what light you have somebody recommends something more expensive. Then when you buy a more expensive light people scream how you could have gotten a cheaper light. I got the the relatively expensive Nextlight and the relatively cheap Sunraise, both are equal in size and coverage. The cheap one is dimmable, it has fake Samsung diodes and the driver aint Meanwell. I'll post picture in a few.
 
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