TRICKS TO REDUCE STRETCH IN DARK PERIOD

mainliner

Well-Known Member
any veterans out there got any oldskool tips on how to minimise stretch in dark period, to shorten internodes, or is it possible, thanks, iv just switched to flower today so ill just be in time,,,if its possible,,,,thanks
 

polo the don

Well-Known Member
Do not use high P foods, grow indicas, etc. Has nothing to do with the photoperiod.
Took the words right outta my mouth.

Using high P foods, especially during stretch and transition, WILL cause excessive stretch. In fact most bloom nutes contain too much P, too much K, and not enough N. Use them sparingly. High P and K DO NOT make more bud. A healthy plant does.

Another thing is to keep using MH lights until the stretch is complete will help keep nodes close.
 

urgod

Well-Known Member
bud blood from AN works well to prevent stretch during first 1-2 week of flowering. i ran my plants on 24/7 during veg for 35 days. my california hash plant grew into 2'x3'x9" bush through LST prior to flower. after using bud blood and flipping 12/12, it didnt stretch during the first week... now its at 2'x3'x11" lol.

also stay away from superthrive in flowering, bushmaster works well too to supress height. using MH instead of HPS during the first week or two also help reduce stretch
 

jacksthc

Well-Known Member
any veterans out there got any oldskool tips on how to minimise stretch in dark period, to shorten internodes, or is it possible, thanks, iv just switched to flower today so ill just be in time,,,if its possible,,,,thanks
There is a way but it should only be done by experienced growers

how long have u been growing and how tall/bushy is the plant ?

Are you growing under hps

Whats the distance between the light and the canopy ?
 

mainliner

Well-Known Member
There is a way but it should only be done by experienced growers

how long have u been growing and how tall/bushy is the plant ?

Are you growing under hps

Whats the distance between the light and the canopy ?
i know the basics like day and night temps, it doesn't matter how long iv been growing, but its the stretch in dark that i wont to reduce,, i know less flower Nutes for 2 weeks and to use veg light,,but its the dark in interested in, my plants about 2' and has been mainlined into just 4 main colas,, and is very healthy,, what is the way your on about,, thanks
 

jacksthc

Well-Known Member
To start off
The diffence between night and day can affect how much your plant will strech, so you need to keep your temps as close as you can, for exsample day temp 30c night 25c

The distance from the top of canopy to the light will alway aftect how much the plant streches, so you need the canopy as close as you can ( 600w hps 14"above the canopy ) using fan to blow the hot air away from the canopy ( also this will blow the canopy around and make it grow thicker and stronger), to keep the canopy under 35c

now with the right temps, lots of light and heathy plants
and plants over 18" grown under hps/mh

you can cut all the larger leaves
in half on the top 6" of the canopy
this will stop the top part of plant streching and the lower growth will grow quick

you will be a amazed with the results

good luck if you want to give it a go
 
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mainliner

Well-Known Member
To start off
The diffence between night and day can affect how much your plant will strech, so you need to keep your temps as close as you can, for exsample day temp 30c night 25c

The distance from the top of canopy to the light will alway aftect how much the plant streches, so you need the canopy as close as you can ( 600w hps 14"above the canopy ) using fan to blow the hot air away from the canopy ( also this will blow the canopy around and make it grow thicker and stronger), to keep the canopy under 35c

now with the right temps, lots of light and heathy plants
and plants over 18" grown under hps/mh

you can cut all the larger leaves
in half on the top 6" of the canopy
this will stop the top part of plant streching and the lower growth will grow quick

you will be a amazed with the results

good luck if you want to give it a go
that makes sense but im on about in the dark period
 

jacksthc

Well-Known Member
that makes sense but im on about in the dark period
In the dark period, I know if the temps too far out as it can affect the heath of the plant
and this can cause the plant to stretch

lots of air flow (some oscillating fans will reduce the stretch and make the shoots stronger)

make sure you room is very dark, small amount of light can make the plant stretch
 

mainliner

Well-Known Member
In the dark period, I know if the temps too far out as it can affect the heath of the plant
and this can cause the plant to stretch

lots of air flow (some oscillating fans will reduce the stretch and make the shoots stronger)

make sure you room is very dark, small amount of light can make the plant stretch
thanks
 

Uncle Ben

Well-Known Member
Less leaves=more stretch.

Plants need at least a 15F drop between day time highs and night lows for best performance. Yes, close day to night temps will lower stretch on greenhouse tomatoes especially if applied a couple of hours before sunrise. Do not know what affect it has on cannabis. Do know that if you don't have much of a temp differential then what carbos would have been going to tissue production is used up by the plant regarding excess night time respiration.

Air flow has no affect on the stretch nor the girth of the shoots. Leaf mass plays into that.

A small amount of light has no affect on the stretch. It will inactivate the hormone accumulations that drives the flowering response - phytochrome.

jacksthc, if you don't have valid advice, please keep your anecdotal evidence to yourself.
 
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jacksthc

Well-Known Member
less leaves=more stretch

all i can say is all the main-lining growers on here must of got it wrong and all got lucky by ending up with short plants with large buds

https://www.rollitup.org/t/the-main-lining-thread.542308/

day time highs and night lows
well I said 77f- 86f (25c, 30c) alway found less stretch when the night and temps have been close
so your talking 15f and I am saying 9f, there not a lot in it lol

just tring to point out for example
86 lights on and 57 lights off the nodes would stretch as it would affect the plants heath

airflow

Oscillating fans in your grow room simulate a breeze moving the leaves and stems. This movement disrupts plant cell elongation,
causing the cells to exchange length for thicker cell walls. The plant is making natural adjustments to stand up to the breeze so that it is not flattened by the first big wind.

when the lights off the room needs to stay dark
if some light was to getting in the room some shoots could start to grow when the lights off and this will cause that part of the plant to stretch


I have no problem with you but the advice I have given mainliner was good
 

Uncle Ben

Well-Known Member
This article gives tips on how to control stretch DIF, nutrients, light, PGR's, etc. http://www.greenhousemag.com/gmpro-0410-preventing-plant-stretch.aspx

^ That paper is an example of quality info. This thread is an example of more RIU bullshit. So, if you want to learn about plant processes.....

A different, but easier approach to using DIF with similar results is to reduce the greenhouse temperature 5°F-10°F lower than the night temperature for two to three hours at dawn. Called a “cool morning pulse”, this technique reduces plant height as much as a negative DIF.

DIF has its greatest effect on height during the period of most rapid stem elongation. DIF does not have to be applied continuously throughout a crop cycle to be effective, but rather only during the period of most active vegetative growth.
 
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