How to keep my plants shorter and thicker?

Hey everyone!

I am trying to figure out how to keep my plants shorter and thicker/denser than they have been in my past few cycles..

I have (3) 5'x5'x7.5' tents each with a 1000 watt light in them. Two are hps and one is a metal halide, and the metal halide is a dimmable ballast.

I have been keeping between 6-10 plants in each tent at all times, each in 3 gallon pots.

Now what I am having trouble with is my plants have been generally tall and lanky, with branches that end up drooping because they cannot support themselves. They turn out a decent crop but I am looking to grow shorter, denser and thicker plants.

On average I'd say my plants end up being at least 3 feet tall, but I have seen the exact same setup done with around 12-15 plants that were shorter but thicker and sturdier, not as sprawled out and tall as mine.

I do not lower my veg light at all, and I understand that may be a part of the problem, but I do not know how close I should be lowering my veg lights to the plants.

Also, should I lower the flowering lights to be closer to the plants?


I also have been using no nutrients until my most new cycle, in which I am using Bud Candy and B-52 for the veg cycle and a combo of advanaced nutrients brand nutes for flower cycle.


Thank you very much to anyone who contributes!!!! It is deeply appreciated.



p.s. - i can post pics of plants if needed to understand what I am talking about

sounds like you may be growing sativa, or sativa dom strains, which are taller, and lankier.. if you grew indica, or indica dom strains, they tend to stay shorter and bulkier for the most part..
you could also look into lst, low stress training, where you tie down the plants to keep them short ..

imo, bud candy isn't a great veg nute, i'd look for something suited more for veg growth with a better npk ratio than bud candy..

A 3-footer at finish IS a small plant. I specialize in indicas and try to keep my plants around 40-48 inches at harvest. I prop them up so they are as close to my 1000W bulb as possible without getting too close. Place the back of your hand over the plant part closest to the bulb. If your hand feels the warmth uncomfortably you are too close. If you want to ensure short plants top them at about 3 weeks into veg. I also will FIM the second, third and maybe the fourth nodes from the top at the same time. This cuts down on height and forces the plant to grow bushier. 'Tell the truth dude, sounds like you could give this OG some hints on keeping 'em short! BigSteve.

LST, topping, super cropping, shallow and wider pots, fewer larger plants plus many ways to keep your plants short. Time for you to do some research. Unless you want me to hold your hand . Oh and scrog.