Seedlings Streching !!

[Grey Wolf]

Greetings one and all, glad to have joined this wonderful site!
As you can see from these 2 photos, my seedlings seem to have stretched some what. They were about 3 1/2 inches tall, when they showed signs of their second leaves. The stems look very thin, and I am wondering what could be the cause of this?? I don't know yet the PH value of my water supply, but will be testing it soon. As to the strain, well they are bag seed, so don't really know, but they could be Brainstorm. I have had these seeds stored for about 2 years, in a cool place, in a old 35 mm film case.
Any ideas, or words of wisdom, will be most welcome.
Keep up the good work...
Thanks!
Grey Wolf......

 

[redeyesurprise]

Looks like you need to lower your light, seedlings are stretching trying to get closer to the "sun". I'd recommend burying a good portion of those stems as well. Be careful while you do that as not to pinch any of them off. Roots will grow from the buried stem and having more under the soil will help keep your babies from becoming top heavy and falling over.

Good luck and welcome to the best forum around.

 

[supermanlives]

lower light. replant deeper in new pot

 

[Guest02345]

lower your lights some. when you transplant bury the stalk a few inches up. the stalk will grow roots.

 

[RetroGrow]

or get a stronger light.....

 

[Grey Wolf]

Thanks for the advice Guys!! OK next question, what about the soil?? Would something with peat be a good way to go??
It gets cold during the nights here, so I am ganna keep them indoors the whole time........
Thanks again.
Grey Wolf...........

 

[e_24]

A lot of places I've been to say peat is lame. Go with fox farms, promix or the like. Just add some extra perlite, and you're in business!

 

[Scorp1on]

lower the light or add more, also I always use a fan on seedlings, I plant my seed in 16oz beer cup in soilless so when they grow they already have some wind blowing on them, this make my stem grow bigger and they streech less.

Ive been doing this with 400w MH or 1000w MH and i got good result everytime

 

[budlover123]

In my experience peat is great for any kind of seed, and also specifically good for starting marijuana seeds in. It's good to add some lime to your soil if you use extra peat moss to help avoid soil pH issues as the peat moss becomes acidic as it breaks down.

keep it easy and under the radar, peat moss can be found practically anywhere that sells gardening supplies.

 

[Grey Wolf]

Thanks for that info, will try that one out, and keep you posted!
Grey Wolf........

 

[supermanlives]

peat is not lame and is what promix is made of. peat ,lime and perlite and possibly vermiculite are the basis of most soil mixes. and yes you can mix your own easilly

 

[supermanlives]

A lot of places I've been to say peat is lame. Go with fox farms, promix or the like. Just add some extra perlite, and you're in business!

those places just wanted your money. peat is fine if ammended. stop going to those places

 

[green_thumb...]

those places just wanted your money. peat is fine if ammended. stop going to those places

+1

Most places don't want you to mix your own cuz they make less money.

I've been using subcools supersoil recipe with great success on cuts with only water.

 

[okanogan green]

Hi there. If you like you may look into the Super Soil Mix from Subcool. Google it if you have not seen it in the Grow Mags. Dynomite for growing where you use water or the odd manure tea to feed. Works better with soil but also is great using peat based Sunshine mixes or premix. Regards.

** As for the stretch, yes the little ones are craving the stronger light so they reach for it. Bring the light closer or get a stronger bulb or light source as the plants will stop stretching when they get the light they need. Second the motion to transplant a little deeper to bury the longer stem as it will indeed grow roots when it is under the surface.

 

[jessica d]

Lots of great advice just thinking i should mention the color of light. A blue spectrum is best for getting seedlings to have less stretch. Cool white or Daylight bulbs work best and very close to the youngsters. MH bulbs are also very good at keeping things compact

 

[stihgnobevoli]

everyone here has given good advice so far, nothing i can add really just summation.

blue light keeps plants from stretching more than red spectrum lights.

keep the light close, or brighter like others said.

make sure the water levels in the soil is consistent. seedlings also stretch when they dry out as the roots are looking, digging for water. in a short pot they will stretch up also.

keep the heat undercontrol as too much heat causes plants to stretch also.

good luck with your grow.

also why do people always say peat sucks blah blah blah, get promix or xyz soilless mix...which is 90%+ PEAT!

just parroting shit without even knowing wtf they're saying... sad.

 

[SneakySneaky]

Read this. https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=112662

And stop asking if you can use dog food as nutes. You need to do a lot of reading to get an understanding of what the plants want. Asking as u go with no idea what your doing is only setting yourself up for failure and lots of wasted time. You wouldn't enter a triathlon not knowing how to bike or swim would u? Then learn what the plants needs and how to provide it. There are many threads that answer all these simple questions, see the link above. If after you've read that and gave a question we'll be happy to help. Nobody's gonna hold your hand and do it for u, do step up and get your learn on. Welcome to grow club