For my next grow should I keep my plants closer to the light for less stretch?
This grow I vegged for 6 weeks total, at 3.5 weeks I topped the plant but I kept a 4.5ft gap between the light the whole time as I'm a first time grower and was told to be careful with 1000 watt HPS lights.
You did good for your first time w/1000 hps.
A given amount of light can only cover so much area.
if you raise your plants higher during stretch then yes it will reduce stretch with the said plants however, all the plants on the outside will get even less light due to the intensity increase towards the middle.
If it bothers you, put up some flat white walls, make a 5x5 footprint otherwise just continue what your doing.
