Long, flimsy stems. [pics]

Yo this is my first grow and first post. I've been doing a LOT of research because I am a perfectionist and I need everything to be just right. This soil grow is just to get acquainted with the growing process, and starting this weekend I will be setting up my hydro set for some REAL growing. So don't be afraid to be critical; the more info I get the better my grow experience will be!

I've looked around but have not found any satisfying answer, so maybe someone who has maybe experienced this could help me out.

My babies are now 15 days old and the stems are very long and flimsy. They can barely hold their own weight. And if it rains, the water on the leaves makes the entire plant fall over and it starts growing with a bend until I prop it back upright with a stick.

I'm using Scott's pre-fertilized potting soil. They are currently in 3" pots, and I'm going to be transferring them into 10" pots today so their roots can get some growing room. (by the way, any suggestions on the best method for that?)

Lately there has been a LOT of rain on certain days and also a LOT of sun on others. I place them in the direct sunlight (on my deck that amounts to about from 11 am - 5pm), which may be a mistake because it's recently been getting +85F and I don't want them turning male or hermie. But if I put them in the shade, the leaves start drooping.

I accidentally watered them the other day with very hard tap water without letting it first sit so the chlorine and shit in it would evaporate, but there has also been a lot of rain water at least once a week. I'm thinking they may be getting overwatered but I'm not sure if my stem situation is a symptom of overwatering.

I have not been using any nutes at all.

I don't have a pH tester yet, but will soon.

That said, does this look normal? As you'll see in the pictures, they've been frail like this for a while. It's just now they are getting so tall, it's having a very hard time staying up.

Also, I feel like there should be more leaves growing? It seems so much less dense than all the other pics I've seen...

Here's a link to my journal for pics:
https://www.rollitup.org/members/dankyouverymuch-albums-first-soil-grow.html


Thanks for the help and to all those interested in DWC I have a sick setup that I will be putting together, and I will keep a journal of all of that and will update regularly.

seems like they are strectching for light when you transplant bury them almost to the first set of leaves 1-2 inches below the leaves and try to get them more light

Word. I just got a 600w MH too so once it's set up I'll throw it under there for 18/6 and hopefully that will solve it.

And yea I didn't put the seed down very far so I'll deff transplant deeper. Thanks

so r theyoutside orinside and urlite is to far away cflsshouldb rite up on em as close as u can with a fanso u dont burn ur shit 400 watters 14 to 20 inchs

and they arnt getting enough lite where u got em i didnt cur album put eminside its to late to start outdoor grow

They're outside right now and get plenty of sun but not for enough hours because I get a lot of shadows on my deck. But this weekend I'm gonna put them inside under a 600w MH. I'm plannin on startin the light out with about a foot of clearance and then drop it an inch everyday until it's at the sweetspot. Should I start higher or lower or that about right?

dankyouverymuch said:

They're outside right now and get plenty of sun but not for enough hours because I get a lot of shadows on my deck. But this weekend I'm gonna put them inside under a 600w MH. I'm plannin on startin the light out with about a foot of clearance and then drop it an inch everyday until it's at the sweetspot. Should I start higher or lower or that about right?

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I hope you have an inline cooling fan for that light, otherwise you are gonna burn those plants with only a foot clearance.
MHs put out some heat.

Stonefish said:

I hope you have an inline cooling fan for that light, otherwise you are gonna burn those plants with only a foot clearance.
MHs put out some heat.

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I've got two of these. Will that be enough? I also have a 600w hps that i'll be switching to during flowering. Will the fans be enough for that also?

My grow room is 234 ft^3, 6.5 ft tall. I can always go higher.

Yea they are stretching for the light. If you bury them to the first set of leaves and then throw them under the light they will be fine. But be very carefull of burning them!

I would start higher then a foot until they get used to the hps start at say 24 inches or so and leave it there for 2-3 days then start dropping it slowly. you probally not going to get more then 1 foot to the plants with out damage
and I pretty sure those are comp fans? if they are I dont think they are going to give you enough air flow
good luck and keep posting we will all work as a team and get you set-up

dankyouverymuch said:

I've got two of these. Will that be enough? I also have a 600w hps that i'll be switching to during flowering. Will the fans be enough for that also?

My grow room is 234 ft^3, 6.5 ft tall. I can always go higher.

Click to expand...

I personally wouldn't get any closer than 18 to 24" with either of those lights unless you have an inline fan connected to your light hood that is venting the hot air created by the light intensity out of your grow room (IOW a fan specially made to hook up to ducting that pushes air through your light hood on one side, which pushes the hot air out the other side, then a duct carrying the hot air out of the grow room ... into an attic or dryer vent or wherever you can find that will work. I'm a little stoned, so maybe I'm not explaining too great - does that make sense?

Then, besides the inline, you'll want fans keeping the air moving in your grow room as well. The inline will take care of a HUGE portion of any heat issues you may have with your lights (you can also hook up a carbon filter in this line up - ours is pre-fan - to keep the grow room smell to almost nil) and the other regular room fans will keep air circulating to take care of any remaining heat issues, plus keep your plant stems healthy and thicker AND keep dense buds from getting moldy.

a computer fan to vent a grow room? I do see the CFM but seriously.. a 3cmX3cm fan is not going to vent your room, guys use them for small grows.. like 3 of those in a 2X2X2 space, with CFL's that put out WAYYYY less heat than MH. Look at a squirel cage fan, or a VERY powewrful bathroom fan..(which is pretty expensive, but it works) Mind you I am not exactly sure what 1234 ft^3 means.. I just assumed you mean it's 234 cubic feet, but that makes your room 6X6X6.5.. that ain't gonna cut it brother! My veg room is good, I only have passive air exchange as the heat and humidity are good. My flowering room is 4X3X7 84 cubic feet and I have a bathroom fan for 100CFM and may have to add another..

cowell said:

a computer fan to vent a grow room? I do see the CFM but seriously.. a 3cmX3cm fan is not going to vent your room, guys use them for small grows.. like 3 of those in a 2X2X2 space, with CFL's that put out WAYYYY less heat than MH. Look at a squirel cage fan, or a VERY powewrful bathroom fan..(which is pretty expensive, but it works) Mind you I am not exactly sure what 1234 ft^3 means.. I just assumed you mean it's 234 cubic feet, but that makes your room 6X6X6.5.. that ain't gonna cut it brother! My veg room is good, I only have passive air exchange as the heat and humidity are good. My flowering room is 4X3X7 84 cubic feet and I have a bathroom fan for 100CFM and may have to add another..

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Yea I was planning on rigging them both up to the top ducts in the tent, and leave the bottom flaps open for a passive intake. If that doesn't work, I was gonna force intake with one fan at the bottom, and put the other one at the top to draw out the hot air.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to get a hood with a vent port, but I will invest in one (with the proper fan set up) if it becomes a problem.

I was also gonna put a 6" oscillating fan inside, on the floor, to circulate the air better and give the stems a good breeze.

Stonefish said:

I personally wouldn't get any closer than 18 to 24" with either of those lights unless you have an inline fan connected to your light hood that is venting the hot air created by the light intensity out of your grow room (IOW a fan specially made to hook up to ducting that pushes air through your light hood on one side, which pushes the hot air out the other side, then a duct carrying the hot air out of the grow room ... into an attic or dryer vent or wherever you can find that will work. I'm a little stoned, so maybe I'm not explaining too great - does that make sense?

Then, besides the inline, you'll want fans keeping the air moving in your grow room as well. The inline will take care of a HUGE portion of any heat issues you may have with your lights (you can also hook up a carbon filter in this line up - ours is pre-fan - to keep the grow room smell to almost nil) and the other regular room fans will keep air circulating to take care of any remaining heat issues, plus keep your plant stems healthy and thicker AND keep dense buds from getting moldy.

Click to expand...

Ya man I know whatcha mean. I've seen that setup in most rooms but I didn't go that route on my first run mostly because it looked too intimidating to set up myself. I won't be surprised if that means I end up having heat problems because I really did cut that corner. But like I said if it starts giving me hell I'll get a new hood and the proper ducting w carbon scrubbers etc. I definitely don't want overheating! Especially since I'm doing DWC and I hear it's a bitch and a half keeping the water cool as it is.

Skunk #1 said:

I would start higher then a foot until they get used to the hps start at say 24 inches or so and leave it there for 2-3 days then start dropping it slowly. you probally not going to get more then 1 foot to the plants with out damage
and I pretty sure those are comp fans? if they are I dont think they are going to give you enough air flow
good luck and keep posting we will all work as a team and get you set-up

Click to expand...

Will do. and thanks for the encouragement

Zeke420 said:

Yea they are stretching for the light. If you bury them to the first set of leaves and then throw them under the light they will be fine. But be very carefull of burning them!

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This seems to be the consensus on the solution so thank you much! I appreciate the help fellas

The extra light has been working awesomely. Their stems are upright and strong now. No more needing to prop them up
And I put them in 10" pots and they seem much happier now. If you have frail stems this is definitely the cure.

before:



AFTER:



Hellllllz yea
Thanks guys