Too tall for their own good?

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captainbas

Member
Total newbie here, decided to attempt a plant on a lark. Germinated seeds, planted them in bagged soil, watered them and put 'em under a 60w bulb. This is about 6 days in and they're so tall they've started to topple. Is it too late to save them? How do you keep 'em short?
 

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Frawsti

Frawsti

Active Member
You have to keep the light closer to the plant, but with that bulb you'll burn it. Get a CFL bulb to replace yours, and I can tell you now that you will need to separate each plant into it's own pot before it becomes a problem. Right now i have my plants each in a 35gal bucket, lol
 
GreatwhiteNorth

GreatwhiteNorth

Global Moderator
Staff member
Incandescent lamps suck for growing - they burn & cause the plant to stretch as you've seen.
CFL is your friend in this case.
Also, dump the tin foil - causes hot spots. If nothing else use some flat/off white poster board for a reflector.
 
TheGrotesque

TheGrotesque

Active Member
Re-pot into individual pots, get some adequate lighting, like maybe a T5 to start out. When you re-pot bury them stems up the green leaves.

You need drainage.
 
ML75

ML75

Active Member
you need your plant closer to the light. and put a fan on it to make the stem stronger.
 
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captainbas

Member
Oh man, you are all so quick and so helpful. I love this community. I am heeding your advice and changing bulbs, bagging the tin foil, and repotting. I will come back with my results! I also have a few other seeds germinating now because this first attempt was obviously not well thought out or executed. Oopsies. Thanks, everyone :)
 
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captainbas

Member
Hi all, so I took your advice and here we are!

IMG_6447.jpgIMG_6446.jpgIMG_6449.jpgIMG_6448.jpgIMG_6450.jpg

They're getting slowly bigger. I'm concerned about the one with the 2 yellow under-leaves. What should I do to help it along?

I just started putting it on the 18 hours sun and 6 hours dark schedule. What else should I be doing now? You guys are the best. Thanks for helping a first timer!
 
Joey<3weed

Joey<3weed

Member
It would have been easier to put them into those plastic party cups(not the clear ones)with a bunch of holes poked in the bottom, 1 plant per cup. Now you should start adding alot of Daylight cfl's and keep the lights like 4 inches from your plants, with a fan blowing right above the plants and right below the lights... that should be good for now:) Good luck
 
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captainbas

Member
Thanks, Joey! Are they too big for those plastic party cups now, though? I've been reading a lot more FAQ and other posts, and it seems maybe a move up to the gallon size is where I should start heading.

You mentioned a fan-- Should the fan blow heated air? (Temp's around 72-76 with the lights on).

I'm on a 18 hours light, 6 hours dark schedule now. Still a little unsure when it's done with the "vegetative" stage and when it should move to the "flowering" stage cycle (12-12).
 
robert 14617

robert 14617

Well-Known Member
the temps are good , separate them gently and pot them into the new containers , bury them up to the first set of leaves or the round seed leaf set, the fan is just to move the air like the gentle breeze they would get outside
 
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