Leggy plants?

[monkeybudz]

I recently joined and am on my third grow. My first two attempts were miserable failures, but these seem to be growing pretty fast. I'm just concerned because they're not very bushy at all.

My plants were started from seed about 2 weeks ago. There are 11 of them. They're in 12 oz plasitc cups. I have a 150 w HPS and am ventilating with a 16" fan. I'm wondering if they're too "leggy" because they're 6-9" tall and just working on their 3rd or 4th set of leaves. the leaves only take up the top 1-2" of the plant. I was wondering if it could be the strain (they're from bagseed - lots of different bags from different places) or if it's something I'm doing wrong or if it's just normal and I'm paranoid of losing my plants and worried about stuff I shouldn't.

Anyway, thanks for any help/advice you can give.

 

[omega7]

First off welcome to the community, make yourself at home.

As far as the stretching you might have a sativa dominant plant there. It most likely is genetic so they are going to stretch no matter what you do.

The other thing it could be is heat. If the temps are running too high it will cause the plants to stretch. What are your temps with the lights on/off?

 

[guest123]

you may need more light mate , 150 watts is not a lot for 11 plants , dont have the light too far from the plants either , close as you can without burning , keep a nice spread around the plants ...

 

[monkeybudz]

My temps stay at about 75-78. I have the light on 24/0. It's hanging about 9" above the plants, and my hand doesn't get hot at the level of the plants.

Since I'im not sure about strains, I can't say that they're not Sativa dominant, but their leaves are about half as wide as they are long which makes me think they might be Indica. I guess I'll just have to wait it out.

As for lights, I'm planning on adding some fluoros soon, but till then the 150 w is all I have. Hopefully adding in the fluoros will help.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[deZerTomB]

add floros

add floros

get shoplights 4 ft long cool white bulbs. 150w hps will do about 2 plants most.

you can fim or top the tops. that'll slow down the tallest ones, you still gotta sex'em, so you'll lose some males and fim'ing will help show sex.

 

[monkeybudz]

Is it really OK to fim or top them this early? I'm not sure how long you're supposed to wait.

For an update:
They're 8-12" tall now and most are working on their 4th set of leaves. One has started sprouting what looks like leaves where the second set meets the stem. They're a gorgeous dark green color and seem to be happy. I'm repotting them today into 1/2-1 gal containers. Haven't managed the fluoros yet, but I'm still planning on getting them. Can't wait till I get alternating nodes and can start flowering. If they keep growing this fast, i don't know that I'll have space for them if they're gonna double in size when I flower.

Thanks again for all the help yall!

 

[Guest]

if you are growing in soil (and since this is the soil board) those 12oz cups are way too small (same size as a pop can)

odds are they are rootbound to hell by now

...I use 32oz cups to germ and early seedlings, but by day 21 they get moved into much larger containers

 

[cassini_1]

I agree with most of the others here: 1) Probably not enough light intensity, and 2) Light may be too far from the plants - they will stretch upward to it.

 

[monkeybudz]

UPDATE

UPDATE

I have added 240W of fluorescents and repotted the plants into 6"cube pots. They seem to like the new lights and their new homes. Hopefully they'll continue to grow happily.

 

[EcoNepenthe]

welcome

welcome

I made a nice setup using the same hardware.
Note the capabilities. I use Foxfarm soil and guano on my grows.

Hope this helps.

Later,
Eco


Watch em grow!!!

 

[sunnyside]

monkey, top or fim the plants, its not too early. Are all 11 leggy, or just some?

 

[monkeybudz]

Another Update

Another Update

OK, so after I repotted and added the lights, I thought "Hmm. I keep reading that these plants are pretty tough. What the hey, I'll tie 'em down today, too." So I did. They all seem to be taking all the stress pretty good, they've already started turning up towards the light. Except for the one whose stem broke. But I put tape around it and propped it up. I'm keeping my fingers crossed on that one.

To answer Sunnyside: Yes they all seemed to be kinda leggy. They are all between 8" and 1' tall and the shorter ones are working on their secod set of three tips, while the taller are working on their third. In the last couple of days however, there have been little leaves starting to grow out of the nodes and the nodes are getting closer together, so they're starting to look bushier. I'm hoping the tying (sp?) them down into more vine-like plants will help that progress.

EcoNepenthe: Thanks for the link, it gives me hope.

Thanks all for the posts and the advice. I'm gonna try and borrow my sister-in-law's camera so I can post some pics for you.

 

[monkeybudz]

Update

Update

Just a quick update for yall.

All the plants seem to be growing happily. I haven't measured them since I tied them down, but they've turned up toward the light and have all gotten more leaves. I've about decided to say screw it and start 12/12 next week. If they wanna keep vegging for a while, that's ok with me, but I think a couple are just about ready, so since I don't ahve a separate place to put flowering plants, I'm just gonna switch em all and see what happens.

Oh yeah! I forgot to mention it. The plant whose stem I broke when I was tying them down has started turning a DARK purple from the break all the way to the top, with the side branches a more solid purple and purple stripes on the main stem. I'm not sure if it's a bad or good thing, but the leaves are still a really dark green and it seems to be pretty happy. Makes me wonder if I should break the rest of their stems and see if they turn purple too... hmmm... what do yall think on that one??

Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to talk to my sister-in-law yet, but as soon as I do hopefully I'll get some pics up here.

Anyway, thanks for any comments or advice as usual. Happy growing.

 

[Hitman]

Monkeybusiness

Monkeybusiness

Monkeybudz, Don't do to many things to them at once. Hps makes plants stress. How long have been vegging. Sounds very young. Create a canopy of sites so that all the tops are about the same height. You will do it over time.

 

[monkeybudz]

They're about 3 1/2 weeks old from seed. They seem to be taking it pretty well though. Still haven't decided about whether or not to start 12/12 in a week or so. 1 has started alternating nodes, I'm hoping the rest aren't far behind. I know I'm impatient to get them budding and I'm know I shouldn't be, but as this is my first shot at actually finishing a grow, I am. I'm sorry. I also don't want them to run out of space, so there's another reason I wanna start flowering.

Am I being too impatient? Will switching them to 12/12 next week hurt them? They probably won't all have alternating nodes by then, but is that OK?

As always, thanks in advance for any and all help and comments.

 

[monkeybudz]

Another update if anybody cares

Another update if anybody cares

I went ahead and switched my lights on Sunday. They've really taken off except for two have started turning yellow. I'm not sure what that's all about but I'm hopin they'll turn around and pull through for me.

Anyways, now for the good news. Two of the plants (not the two yellowing ones) have sprouted little hairs. I'm SO excited. This is my first time ever to get a plant to bud and I've got 2 girls already that I know of. It was a happy day in the life of monkey today. Another 3 have started growing what look to be buds but I'm still not totally sure on them. They might be boys but then again maybe some hairs will sprout outta there pretty soon too.

I am totally optimistic now that I have 2 girls for sure.

Still trying to get ahold of a digi so yall can see some pics...

Till next time... Happy growing!!

 

[sunnyside]

I can remember the excitement I had my first grow, and when I saw my first pube I still get week in the knees, when I think about it. Good luck and good job!!

 

[Hippo]

You should really let them get to sexual maturity before u flower, imo 4 weeks veg from seed is not enough veg time for them to be able to yeild to there potential.
I veg seeds for a minimum of 6 weeks with most strains, longer with others.
If the stem below the bottom set of leaves is quite long (say over 2") i personally would bury more of the stem for more support, a inch below the bottom leaves should be fine if im picturing it correctly in my mind
Goodluck with em anyways
Hippo

 

[monkeybudz]

thanks for the support

thanks for the support

He he he... I'm still ridiculously excited even though i found 2 boys in my garden yesterday Oh well.

Thanks for checkin out my thread... I appreciate it.

Hippo - I know i shoulda waited longer to flower but I'm a really impatient little monkey... I will next time... I figured with bagseeds and this being my first grow I wouldn't get very much anyway. Thanks for the advice on burying the stem, too. I tied them down and the legginess doesn't really matter to me this time. I will definitely do that next time.

Thanks and Happy growin!!

 

[silvercloud]

That seems a little early to flower Iagree with Hippo mine are at 8 wks an there just about ready just started to get alternating nodes one the other one I topped a week ago its going to need another week or so .GOOD LUCK with your grow!