Stretching issues

[Dans420]

So is the number one reason plants stretch because the light source isnt close enough to the top of the plants?

 

[Trey57]

Pretty much.

It might have something to do with what type of strain it is though.

Some have been breed to strech.

 

[chuckbane]

plants arent bred to stretch.. stretching is bad anyway you look at it,, it means you need to get your light closer... sativas will grow taller than indicas but will not "stretch" more... tighter nodes = more nodes = more bud

 

[NewGrowth]

Some strains just grow higher and stretch more. Sativa's grow higher with more internode spacing than indicas. Light is the main reason, humidity can be a factor also

 

[Trey57]

plants arent bred to stretch.. sativas will grow taller than indicas but will not "stretch" more...

I meant sativa and indica strains.... and yeah some strains are bred to be sativas which stretch(grow) taller.
Some have been bred to have both indica and sativa qualities....
Hmmmm....

 

[Dans420]

well I dont like em' stretched.....I like those short bushy pot plants

Im using (2) T5 florescents 24in. tubes (so they dont get hot hardly) how many inches from light to plant should I go?

 

[chuckbane]

funny ive grown sativas with tighter internodal spacing than most of the inidcas i see on this site... its all about controlling the light height just perfectly... and this is why using cfl in veg is a must,,, if you want to control height anyway,,, putting the light within 1/2 inch of the top will slow vertical growth... putting it over an inch away will force it to stretch more...

 

[Dans420]

Thanks bro!!! I guess the rule of thumb is put them as close as possible without burning!

Also Chuck.....I tried to tell ya my lighting system on one of my other post but something about a mod needing to check my post first? Maybe cause I threw in a link. Anyway..... like I said Im using (2) SunBlaze T5 high output Florescent strips rated at 24w and 2000 lumens each. Think these will be good for my small crop (3 plants)???

 

[chuckbane]

you need more light... the thing with lumens is that even if you have (2) 2000 lumen bulbs the plant is still only receiving 2000 lumens,, just over a larger surface area.... if you live near a wal-mart (or anything like it) they will sell CFLs that are between 40 and 50 awatts putting out somewhere about 2500 to 3500 lumens each. these are a better way to go than tube flouros if you are not going HID.. the light is more concentrated on a central area and thus can be controlled and directed easier with something such as a refective hood or "lamp shade"... the only real good use for tube flouros is vertical (side) light... turn those light the same way the plants are growing and put on on as many sides as you can.

 

[Dans420]

I see.....well I just bought these T5's today and I like em. I guess I will only know how well they are when I see my yield. I think they will be sufficient enough, im not tryin to grow the worlds best bud or even sell....just smoke for me and its in my closet so they fit good. As long as they get me some bud im ok with it lol

 

[chuckbane]

giv'er... you will want to go bigger if you do a second grow (im assuming this is your first grow)... i guarantee it

 

[Dans420]

Ya first grow......man now you got me thinkin, lol. I spent damn near $70 on those 2 T5's. I know those 40-50w floro bulbs are relatively cheap too, $20-25 for a pack of 4 or so. But then I would have to buy 3 or 4 clamp lamps for the bulbs. So your really tellin me if I do 3 of these 40-50w floros they will make THAT MUCH of a diffrence then my setup now? Enough diffrence to take back all the shit I just bought and go get more new stuff LOL??? cause im a poor 20 something year old so ya

 

[Dans420]

LOL......ok what about this. I keep my setup how it is now. But just add (1) 50w CFL to the mix, would this do the trick??? Remember its only 1-3 plants at a time.

Also....there are many many types of CFL (soft white, warm white, recessed) I guess my question is ALL CFL's will be ok for growing purposes right? I guess im just shocked that bulbs ppl use for simple light fixtures or outside patio's can be used to grow plants, lol.

 

[chuckbane]

man, the more light the better,, if you add a 50 w cfl to the mix it will pay off... for vegging you want a higher colour temp. such as 6500 k... and for flowering you want a lower temp. such as 3000 k... this is for the ideal spectrum so its not like you cant use one or the other for both