Why the stretching?

[cian07]

Just wondering if a; these guys are stretching, looks pretty clear cut stretch to me, and b; why would they be stretching when I am putting them out for the whole day out side and them moving them to cfls over night? (3 cfls a couple inches above them) I can't think why they would need to stretch like this? Any ideas, comments much appreciated! Thanks

 

[canefan]

If they are outside and that close to the lights at night it is a mystery. Some plants do some strange things though. I suggest that you gently transplant that baby and bury it up to where the leaves start. The entire stem that is buried will revert to rooting, the main thing is to make sure that you don't overwater her while she is changing from stem to roots. Good Luck to you and I love moving them outside in the mornings and back at night.

 

[Uncle Ben]

View attachment 2797629Just wondering if a; these guys are stretching, looks pretty clear cut stretch to me, and b; why would they be stretching when I am putting them out for the whole day out side and them moving them to cfls over night? (3 cfls a couple inches above them) I can't think why they would need to stretch like this? Any ideas, comments much appreciated! Thanks

That's just what it's gonna do. Don't worry about it. You're going about this perfectly and it's what I do. Weather permitting I give my faves full sun, sunrise to sunset as soon as they pop the soil, and then move them inside to simulate a 20/4 photoperiod each day. If you have ANY amount of wind though, you risk breaking the trunk at this stage. Protect them from wind or any other physical damage.

High P foods promote stretch. Word to the wise, never use high P foods, ever.

If you transplant now, you greatly risk damaging that trunk and if you do it's toast. Plus there's the risk of pythium root because of the green tissue (versus older lignified tissue). When you do upcan, yes, bury it up to the first true node. Roots will produced along the buried trunk giving you much more vigor.

UB

 

[topfuel29]

Is that plant Male or female?
Males will grow taller, and faster than the females.
Usually you can ID the males from regular seed by how they grow. Spindly.

Just asking. Very true to what the other posters said in respects to your seedling.

 

[Rold2Tight]

Agree with the previous posters. Some strains just like to stretch early. As long as she doesn't do a faceplant, you're okay. Also agree that you don't want to replant now, unless absolutely necessary. I've used tie wrap material to "stake" seedings. It is so thin it doesn't bother the medium, roots, or cubes like rapid rooters. And all you need do is give the plant just a bit of support. I form a hook lightly around the stem. I "support" them until that stem thickens a bit and can be planted in a deeper container.



The 2 left from that strain are still my tallest (and still stretching) plants

Good luck with your grow.

R2T

 

[thenotsoesoteric]

Stretching happens when starting seedlings outside. But some tricks for indoor to keep short stout seedlings.

Use blue 6500k cfls, cooler temps 68-70ish, a balanced fertie not high or low in any N-P-K.

Red light or 2700k cfl will promote stretching seedlings, same goes for higher nitrogen ferties. I have no experience using a high P fertie for veg so I can't confirm or deny that one, worth looking into. Just use a 1-1-1 ratio 1/4 strength for seedlings. If you want short stout seedlings have cooler temps and blue light 6500k cfl when inside.

You can prevent all strains seedlings from stretching out of control when grown inside, but I always get the stretch under the sun. Just stake'em.