ive been told my plants are stretching because of my light issues. This is my first time growing and I know my lights are not that great. I have been using a over 100 watt halo worklight, a couple small lamps and a florescent tube. As well as two florescent tubes in the ceiling . I do not have any proper fixtures or know how to set up lights. any ideas how i can do this?

my previous thread with pictures is here

Miracle Grow All Purpose 24-8-16

thanks if you can help!!

I'm a noobie, so use discretion when reading this.

To make a CFL fixture, I went to Lowes and bought 2 42-watt CFL's, a Y-adapter for light sockets, and a cheapo $11 gooseneck desklamp. Total investment per fixture is about $37.

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You need to get rid of the halogen light. It emits too much heat. Get to the store and get some cfls. They screw into a standard light socket, so get creative and put a bunch over your plants. Keep them close to the plants. About 2 inches away. If you have about $120 to spend you can get a 400 watt hps from htg supply. You can also use a MH conversion bulb in it for veg. Hi-Tech Garden Supply.

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Uh, what were we talking about??

hey rako thats the same fertilizer that im using


I suggest U get rid of the halogen light, and replace it with 100w of cfls instead. they produce a more useable range of spectrums for the plants to grow and can get fairly close without burning the plants. The fluoro tubes in teh ceiling probably are too far to help the growth of the plants so it'll probably be best to cut them off and save some money in electriciy. Plants really dont need much light during vegetative growing, a couple CfLs is enough for quite a few plants, I have 6 CFL's on 12 plants and they are looking fine.

but you most definitely want to stop the stretching, a little stretching is good so that it will be easier to water and feed the plants without spilling anything on them, but in general you want the nodes as close as possible. Sometimes its strain related too, most indica's stay pretty bushy, while sativa's can stretch like crazy!


Check out these pics of my plants, notice both of them have 7 nodes (working on the 8th) and the indica is less than 6inches tall and the sativa is almost 8 inches tall!:
Indica:


sativa:


thats how you want your plants to be, but you must have the lights at the right intensity and the right distance to be like that.

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This is how you would like an indica to look

y u gotta shit on me like that ngt?

Im just playin lol

but hey Im only on day 21 so cut me some slack lol I'll be there soon

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Hey, Spittn4cash. How much food are you giving it? The little spoon/gallon or the big spoon?
You know what I'm talking about!

lol yeah
the little side of the spoon/per gallon. i'd rather be on the safe side. its easier to rememdy under-fed plants than over-fed plants
U know?

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also use the same ferts, did any of you guys noticed the plants dont smell as strong after a couple of feedings, or is it just mine?

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how long should it take for the second nodes to sprout from the stem and how far should they be from the first one at the top? ive been usin a 500w halogen light for the first week(its 22 inches aay from the 3 sprouts) and am waiting for another week or two for my mh to show up