Not enough room for the 12/12 STRETCH! Help?

What's up Growers - First timer here, finally ready for 12/12, and need some serious advice! 6 Indica's (Bubblicious) growing like crazy in a Bubbleponics system with cfl's. Long story short: I waited WAY too long to order 27K lights, and once I finally did, they were backordered... And I had already commited my meager funds. Anyway, the plants just took off over the last few weeks (thanks for everyones help, esp. the Roseman), and TOOK OVER my little closet, especially after I started adding some poor man's CO2. They've grown so fat and tall that I don't think I have enough room for rest of the grow! I've read that plants can stretch like crazy, even indicas, especially in the first couple weeks of flower... True?

So, what can I do? Still in veg. until I figure it out. Not much room to tie them, but I've already started doing that with the bigger ones. How about cutting them? Is it too late? I mean, I would need to cut ALOT off of them. I don't know much about topping, but.. Is it possible to cut the main stem, like taking a huge clone, even with all the secondary branches and shoots? They've all reached almost 30", and my height limit, without some serious closet construction/destruction, is about 46".... And that's IN the lights. Yeah, I know. I'm an idiot. I think cutting them back big time before 12/12 is the only option; can anyone advise me on the best way to do it? And what NOT to do? I'm not worried about recovery time, I just want to be able to complete the grow. Thanks to ANYONE who can offer some help and advice!! PEACE -Jazzman

well your only option i think other than chopin em down would be traing the i think, International Cannagraphic Magazine Forums - LST training in detail. Why bushes are better thats how ya do it, and just bend em over anywhere u have space in the closet i guess, or take a few out and build a box for em and just keep them as mommies and use the extra room to flower what u got

You have to bend them sideways.The first time growing inside in a closet Was under 4-2 tube shop lights.Rised those lights every day and ran out of room.Didnt know what to do ,latewood said to been them over that time the plant was in the last 4 or 5 weeks to go.It worked but I learned that HID lights stops alot of stretching,but you have to deal with heat too.Tieing them down and bending is your only choice where they are at now,or move them to a bigger closet for the finish.What about 6 or 8 weeks to finish maybe.Well thats my two cents.PEACE

Thanks for the help guys, I appreciate it. I guess I'll flower 'em and see what happens; once i can sex them, and yank the guys, maybe I'll have some much needed space. That brings up another question: Can I gently tie the females over into the space I gain after pulling the males, even though they're in flower? Any thoughts? Obviously it's not the right way to do it, but, if it's my last resort...?

Also, maybe a silly Q, but: When I change out my res to Bloom nutes, should it be done at the last 12 hours of light before the first dark period, or right before the first 12 hours of darkness? .....Did that make sense? Thanks again Hoss and Toke, Peace

You can switch to Bloom nutes when you wish. The label directions say to switch when you start flowering, but I've found that pot likes more Nitrogen at the beginning, so I switch nutes on Day 7 - 10, of course, following a thorough flushing.

HTH