Seedlings got stretched, how to fix it?

[RandyL]

I got 36 seeds from a local seed supplier, a hybrid of Larry and GDP.

34 of the 36 seeds opened and grew.

Unfortunately, due to poor lighting in the first few days, they stretched out to about 4 inches tall, with a THIN stem, like 1/16" inch at the most. They fall over like a limp dick.

So I eventually got some thin bamboo sticks from a supermarket and a pack of bobby pins, which work great for clipping onto the stick with their spring action and holding the plants up straight.

Now, in better light (2 15 watt 6500 K CFLs and a window which lets in sunlight most of the day), the plants are about 6 inches tall but the super thin stems have not gotten thicker yet. They are starting to grow leaves, the best plants are about 2 inches across their biggest leaves.

I have had them in FF dirt for about 10 days, and will be adding 1/2 strength FF nutes tomorrow. Grow Big, Big Bloom, and a bit of liquid bat guano. They have been running off the nutes in the dirt until now.

How can I get these stems thickened up ASAP? I'd love to get a 4 foot dual T8 light bulb setup, but lack of cash does not permit it right now.

 

[LEDman]

You need to bury half a viagra with each seedling.

No, just kidding. Your lights are inadequate, that's why the seedlings desperately stretch for more light. Why did you attempt to grow 36(!) seedlings with just two measly bulbs? Make sure your 2x15W (you should really aim for more bulbs with a higher wattage soon, you're gonna need them anyway) are focused entirely on the seedlings and very close. Also, you should get an oscillating fan in there. Get the air moving (read: wind, not hurricane), so the seedlings form thicker stems. Of course, you'll still need the sticks to hold them up in the mean time...

As a first-aid measure, bury the seedlings deeper. You can submerge the stem as much as you like, it doesn't hurt the plant.

Have you thought about what to do with the 36 plants when they mature (odor control, light, heat, neighbors...)?

Hope that helps and good luck!

 

[sully508]

put the plants closer to the light and have a fan blowing on the stems. they get stubby. more blue spectrum orange and yellow cause stretching. but sometimes its the strain too. make sure you stress then with a fan. they will only get stronger.

 

[RandyL]

Ok, I'll do that. Thanks.

The seeds are not feminized, so out of 33 that are growing, about half will be males, so I'll only have to deal with 17-20 after they show their sex.

The plans for the veg room got changed at the last minute, which contributed to the poor light the first week or so. I think they will be ok once they start growing some.

 

[sully508]

males tend to stretch and start off taller/faster than females.
but as LEDman said. you need some 6500k 26 watt bulbs, 42 watts would be better. if your going to continue a cfl grow. you will need additional bulbs eventually. you need to keep the cfls within 5 inches of the plant/seeds or you'll see less lumuns and more stretching.
you can never have enough light. i use a 7200k 400 watt MH bulb. and 3 26 watt 6500k cfls for my seeds. and have a fan blowing on them 24 hours. 20/4 light. then going to 17/7.
sunlight is good. can't get and more light than that. until you can get more bulbs. if its possible.

 

[izzygarcia]

you should have some air flow its what makes the stem strong. if you tell me maybe just put em out in the sun and let it get some natural ligth!

 

[sully508]

yea some fresh air and sun will make them stronger. plus constant supply of ambient co2.
i got my seedlings outside and their stems are so stong now. plus they will be grown outside eventually. then they get MH at night 36000 lumuns. save money too. 6 or 8 hours of natural and 12 hours of inside light. tis the season.

 

[GrowGSL]

re-pot them deeper.

 

[sully508]

or you can repot them deeper. i agree w/ grow gsl that would take care of the problem. if that wont do it they dont deserve to live. no im just kidding. put them deeper and have the leaves like 4 inches above the soil.