Advice on light being too close

chasingwaterfalls

chasingwaterfalls

Active Member
Hi all,

I'm using a prefab blurple (advanced led xte 300, actual power draw rn is 270w) in a grow tent, so height is limited. The tops have gotten awfully close to the light - like within 6 inches.

I've been supercropping to keep the tops as far away as possible, but they keep bending right back up.

Question for you all is, what's the best course of action? (given that I already messed up, I know..) should I continue bending tops down, should I let them grow until they get bleached and hope for the best, or should I cut them?
 
chasingwaterfalls

chasingwaterfalls

Active Member
Will have pics later, don't have anything too recent!

I'm jw if anyone has experience with LEDs being too close, and if there's any thing I can do to help the plants. I've read that silica may help, and I've turned up my exhaust fan up all the way
 
chasingwaterfalls

chasingwaterfalls

Active Member
SouthCross said:
The plants are not in charge. You are. Continue to tie them down. Don't trade one problem for another in hopes it gets better.
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Haha well put. I'll figure out a way to get them to stay lower. I just wasn't sure if I should stop supercropping or LSTing after a certain point in flower
 
chasingwaterfalls

chasingwaterfalls

Active Member
rkymtnman said:
no to getting bleached or cutting.

yes to bending and tying down gently. do you have any anchor points that you can tie down to close to the floor?

have they stopped growing vertically?
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They have stopped growing for about a week. BUT, a day after bending branches down, it seemed like they popped back up and even grew a little bit above the bend.

I don't have any anchor points at the moment.. I spent a few minutes before work trying to something out, but was unsuccessful. Knowing that I should definitely work on tying them down, I'll figure it out asap today!
 
chasingwaterfalls

chasingwaterfalls

Active Member
20170824_161923.jpg20170824_161945.jpg
Had supercropped all the taller branches this morning, and these pics were just taken. Looks like they're staying down for now.

Light is now about 10 inches from the top of the canopy. Not perfect, but it'll have to do. Thanks for the help! More like moral support and hand holding haha, but it helps me tons
 
rkymtnman

rkymtnman

Well-Known Member
chasingwaterfalls said:
View attachment 3999712View attachment 3999713
Had supercropped all the taller branches this morning, and these pics were just taken. Looks like they're staying down for now.

Light is now about 10 inches from the top of the canopy. Not perfect, but it'll have to do. Thanks for the help! More like moral support and hand holding haha, but it helps me tons
Click to expand...
i know leds don't give off much heat but would a small fan blowing b/t the led and the tops be worth it? if you put your hand there, is it kinda warm?
 
chasingwaterfalls

chasingwaterfalls

Active Member
rkymtnman said:
i know leds don't give off much heat but would a small fan blowing b/t the led and the tops be worth it? if you put your hand there, is it kinda warm?
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Yeah, at <1ft it's warm. Don't have a clip fan, and I'm kind of worried about the strength of this tent, so I might pop by somewhere and pick up a cheap tiny fan.

Recall reading somewhere else, too, that minimizing heat, even with LEDs, would be helpful. Ime the light bleaching has a delayed onset, which is why I'm prematurely worried
 
graying.geek

graying.geek

Well-Known Member
chasingwaterfalls said:
View attachment 3999712View attachment 3999713
Had supercropped all the taller branches this morning, and these pics were just taken. Looks like they're staying down for now.

Light is now about 10 inches from the top of the canopy. Not perfect, but it'll have to do. Thanks for the help! More like moral support and hand holding haha, but it helps me tons
Click to expand...
If you don't have tie downs or a scrog screen, you're going to need to super crop, and it sounds like you need to be more aggressive and actually damage the stem. The stems should not be able to straighten themselves out. Roll/massage the stem between your thumb and forefinger such that you can feel a subtle crackle or snap while you bend it. I've actually used pliers on tougher stems in order to get them to see it my way. This guy gives a pretty good tutorial:


Don't let the canopy get closer than 10" until you can check with your light manufacturer specs re: minimum distances from plants. The LEDs can toast your plants pretty quick if you get them too close, and it's not due to heat but light burn. That's a different critter that can't be remedied with fans.
 
warbalig

warbalig

Well-Known Member
chasingwaterfalls said:
They have stopped growing for about a week. BUT, a day after bending branches down, it seemed like they popped back up and even grew a little bit above the bend.

I don't have any anchor points at the moment.. I spent a few minutes before work trying to something out, but was unsuccessful. Knowing that I should definitely work on tying them down, I'll figure it out asap today!
Click to expand...
use nuts and bolts or stones.
 
nfhiggs

nfhiggs

Well-Known Member
chasingwaterfalls said:
Hi all,

I'm using a prefab blurple (advanced led xte 300, actual power draw rn is 270w) in a grow tent, so height is limited. The tops have gotten awfully close to the light - like within 6 inches.

I've been supercropping to keep the tops as far away as possible, but they keep bending right back up.

Question for you all is, what's the best course of action? (given that I already messed up, I know..) should I continue bending tops down, should I let them grow until they get bleached and hope for the best, or should I cut them?
Click to expand...
When I supercrop a branch down I use gardening wire to tie it down just below the growth tip. That way only the very end turns back up.
 
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