Two questions: stem strength + lighting

[statusquo]

I am currently growing 4 skunk #2 plants and they are coming along pretty well (first grow, ~1.5 weeks since I planted them in solo cups). The only issue i have is that the seedlings are about 5 inches above the soil now and their stems are pretty weak. 3/4 of them easily stand up on their own but they are just really flimsy and one is being supported by leaning it up against my hygrometer haha. I have been bending them gently and giving them a slight draft since they breeched the soil but they just seem to be growing up too fast without any stem support. BTW i have a 250 watt hps about 2.5 feet from the top of the plants on a 20/4 cycle @ 76-80 degrees.

So is this normal at early stages and should i just tie them to some support?

Also, random tangent question, in terms of light cycles. Is it too stressful to very the plants dark time: IE 4 hours of no light at different times each day. I don't do this but it would just be alot more convenient for me considering this is a makeshift setup so light proofing is kind of annoying.

Anyways any input is appreciated, as always. Thanks!

 

[igrowdadankest]

Hey I'm not a pro rather a beginner on indoor grows but I may be able to help ya out alittle.If you were to get a fan blowing on the plants that will strengthen them up abit.You say its under a 250 well i have a 150 hps thats 14" away on seedlings and then when they get bigger like the 8-9th node i lower it to 8".So im thinking you could lower yours to about a foot or so also if you have a fan blowing on the light and the plants.Wind stress helps the stems get alot larger like i said.You may couse your plant to hermie with those funny lighting scheduels.When i have a plant flowering i put a blanket over the whole grow box to keep out light leaks.If you have light leaks during flowering it can stop the flowering process or hermie the plant also.I hope I have helped alittle.When you transplant them into larger pots you can burry the stem all the way to the round leaves

 

[statusquo]

^thanks. I am not on those lighting schedules and i figured it might cause Hermies, I was just wondering. Anyways I would lower the light but I have no cooling to speak of besides the fan which doesn't help that much (its an oscillating fan 12 inches in diameter) and im not ready to actually set up my legit grow area yet/throw down the money and time on cooling. Also, that was how I initially noticed the weakness of one of the stems. One of the plants' stems, even on the lowest setting and having the fan 4 feet away caused one of the plants to fall completely over onto the brim of the cup and it was super flimsy when I setup its support. Needless to say I moved the fan farther and directed the airflow even farther from the plants than it already was.

 

[Guest]

Buy a fluorescent shop light. They are very inexpensive.< $20.00 most places. Your seedlings will do better and have tighter node spacing. You can put them within an inch or two of the bulbs.

Don't screw with the light cycle. Pick one 18/6 20/4, whatever and stay with it. Changing it all the time is not a good idea. Save your HPS for flowering. And you are wasting your time and money right now if you don't have a plan for better ventilation later on. You cannot grow these plants without adequate ventilation, both for fresh air for your plants, AND vent heat away from your plants if temps rise much over 85 F.

MT

I just set this vegging light up. This light is more than you need but still retails for under $40.00 I had this one laying around. It is a 4 bulb 48" T-8 fixture. My seedlings like it They are closer today than in this pic. I have the shelf up a inch more now. The tops of the bigger ones are maybe 1 1.5 inches from the plexiglass diffuser. The nodes come right on top of each other if ya look closely.

 

[statusquo]

I plan on buying lights similar to the ones you have when i upgrade my growing space when I have the time/money but thanks for the advice. I'll look into those specific lights. Since I don't have a camera, all my seedlings look pretty much the same as the one in the above picture one over from the left.

 

[ItsGrowTime]

Stick with 18/6 light schedule during veg. Like already said, add a light breeze via fan and bring your light down closer to them (watch temps tho!). If you angle the fan toward the light instead of the plants you should get some light breeze to strengthen your stems. You can also add a silica additive.

 

[smokeymacpot]

yes the best way to stop stretchy seedlings is to start them under floro lighting.
and yes make a better cab and use a timer!

 

[gladysvjubb]

Bring your light down to 15 inches above the plants. I tie a 15 inch string on my light fixture and move the light as the plants grow. Also take large paper clips and bend them to make a support like the one in the lower left hand side of the pic.