Outgrowing my tent...bend over stems?

Rhino30 · Jul 19, 2020

Newbie here on my second grow, this Maple Leaf Indica is just beginning flowering (a week into 12/12) and really starting to fill up my 2x2‘ tent. The taller branches/stems are getting close to the lights and I’m foreseeing a height issue down the road, as I can only raise my lights another 12” at most.

How should I approach this? Should I bend over the taller stems?

I’m planning to move this to a larger tent once the plants in that one are harvested, but that’s a couple weeks out.

Thanks in advance for tips, you guys rock!

Apalchen · Jul 19, 2020

I pinch the stems on the tall ones. You just pinch til you feel it kinda snap but not enough to snap the top off just the stuff inside the stem. Next time I recommend using a trellis on that rack you have there.

You can tie them down if you want I guess in that small space that wouldn't be that much work. My room is much bigger so if I accidentally pinch too hard and it breaks off Im not that worried about it. But just do it easy and you shouldnt break anything. I get kinda rough handed when doing a whole room full and might break 1 in 100 that I pinch.

I think the term is called supper cropping if you want to research it some.

macsnax · Jul 19, 2020

Rhino30 said:
Newbie here on my second grow, this Maple Leaf Indica is just beginning flowering (a week into 12/12) and really starting to fill up my 2x2‘ tent. The taller branches/stems are getting close to the lights and I’m foreseeing a height issue down the road, as I can only raise my lights another 12” at most.

View attachment 4628841

How should I approach this? Should I bend over the taller stems?

I’m planning to move this to a larger tent once the plants in that one are harvested, but that’s a couple weeks out.

Thanks in advance for tips, you guys rock!

Probably not a good idea to flower all those together in that space. They're going to get a bit bigger once you flip. I would clone one and do some defoliation on the others. As it looks now, I see mold and height issues in your future. You could even clone two of them and cut the other two in half height wise. This would make yielding plants that have plenty of air flow.

Rhino30 · Jul 19, 2020

Apalchen said:
I pinch the stems on the tall ones. You just pinch til you feel it kinda snap but not enough to snap the top off just the stuff inside the stem. Next time I recommend using a trellis on that rack you have there.

You can tie them down if you want I guess in that small space that wouldn't be that much work. My room is much bigger so if I accidentally pinch too hard and it breaks off Im not that worried about it. But just do it easy and you shouldnt break anything. I get kinda rough handed when doing a whole room full and might break 1 in 100 that I pinch.

I think the term is called supper cropping if you want to research it some.

Yes, I recall reading about that, thanks for the specific instructions!

Apalchen · Jul 19, 2020

He is already a week into flower he will be fine. Just needs to pinch the tops and defoliate hard around day 18-21. He only has two more weeks of stretching for most strains.

I always grow really crowded tents or rooms and just lollipop and defoliate hard and get better numbers than the majority of people.

Ideally you should have canopy wall to wall and 2 ft deep to maximize a space. A lil less deep for less powerful lights and a little deeper for double ended 1k.

Rhino30 · Jul 19, 2020

Apalchen said:
I pinch the stems on the tall ones. You just pinch til you feel it kinda snap but not enough to snap the top off just the stuff inside the stem. Next time I recommend using a trellis on that rack you have there.

You can tie them down if you want I guess in that small space that wouldn't be that much work. My room is much bigger so if I accidentally pinch too hard and it breaks off Im not that worried about it. But just do it easy and you shouldnt break anything. I get kinda rough handed when doing a whole room full and might break 1 in 100 that I pinch.

I think the term is called supper cropping if you want to research it some.

Like this?

Also, which direction should I bend them?

Apalchen · Jul 19, 2020

Rhino30 said:
Like this?
View attachment 4628872
Also, which direction should I bend them?

Yeah man just like that. They will most likely stand back up most of the way but be slowed down and give others a chance to catch up. Bend towards the most open area you can find.

Apalchen · Jul 19, 2020

I love it when new people aren't afraid to rough up a plant a lil bit. Trust me they benefit from it. That top will be a little smaller than if it was left alone but the over all weight added from an even canopy will way more than make up for it.

I recommend getting on Instagram and just adding weed accounts, look for commercial growers as well as tent growers. Scrolling looking through pictures of the process is one of the best ways to learn and see different styles and tips you might want to implement. The commercial grows have huge even canopies and that's always the goal for best yield.

Props on not being afraid to hurt your "baby" like most new growers who don't understand how much yield it's costing them.

Just Be · Jul 19, 2020

It might not be doable right now but before your next run I'd reconfigure the hangers for your lamp. With these Mars Hydro lights, it's easy enough to create a single hanging point by cinching the cables together with a plastic zip tie. Doing so will also eliminate the need for the ratchet hangers and the hanging space that they require. Something like this..

Rhino30 · Jul 19, 2020

Just Be said:
It might not be doable right now but before your next run I'd reconfigure the hangers for your lamp. With these Mars Hydro lights, it's easy enough to create a single hanging point by cinching the cables together with a plastic zip tie. Doing so will also eliminate the need for the ratchet hangers and the hanging space that they require. Something like this..
View attachment 4628948

I never thought of doing that! I took my wires off to gain a little more height by hooking the carabiners directly onto the light, but your way also seems to do that.

Rhino30 · Jul 19, 2020

Apalchen said:
He is already a week into flower he will be fine. Just needs to pinch the tops and defoliate hard around day 18-21. He only has two more weeks of stretching for most strains.

I always grow really crowded tents or rooms and just lollipop and defoliate hard and get better numbers than the majority of people.

Ideally you should have canopy wall to wall and 2 ft deep to maximize a space. A lil less deep for less powerful lights and a little deeper for double ended 1k.

That’s super helpful, thank you

mateobeast88 · Jul 19, 2020

Apalchen said:
I pinch the stems on the tall ones. You just pinch til you feel it kinda snap but not enough to snap the top off just the stuff inside the stem. Next time I recommend using a trellis on that rack you have there.

You can tie them down if you want I guess in that small space that wouldn't be that much work. My room is much bigger so if I accidentally pinch too hard and it breaks off Im not that worried about it. But just do it easy and you shouldnt break anything. I get kinda rough handed when doing a whole room full and might break 1 in 100 that I pinch.

I think the term is called supper cropping if you want to research it some.

SUPERCROP BABY!!!!!

mateobeast88 · Jul 19, 2020

mateobeast88 said:
SUPERCROP BABY!!!!!

You totally should research before you do this 100% but this is an awesome way to manipulate your plants. Kind of like topping without the topping, in this case your are basically pinching the branch in order to stop the race upward in this case though your plant may become more bushier. Which mean the smaller less productive stems will reach towards the sky to play catch up with the big guys.

GrowGal · Jul 19, 2020

Look into low stress training.

Rhino30 · Jul 26, 2020

Apalchen said:
He is already a week into flower he will be fine. Just needs to pinch the tops and defoliate hard around day 18-21. He only has two more weeks of stretching for most strains.

I always grow really crowded tents or rooms and just lollipop and defoliate hard and get better numbers than the majority of people.

Ideally you should have canopy wall to wall and 2 ft deep to maximize a space. A lil less deep for less powerful lights and a little deeper for double ended 1k.

I just did some pruning down below ...how’s my canopy looking? It’s about 18” deep and it’s a “1000-watt” Mars Hydro LED. I also took out all of the lower buds that were never going to be able to catch up.

Apalchen · Jul 26, 2020

Rhino30 said:
I just did some pruning down below ...how’s my canopy looking? It’s about 18” deep and it’s a “1000-watt” Mars Hydro LED. I also took out all of the lower buds that were never going to be able to catch up.
View attachment 4635430

Looks really good how many actual watts from the wall.is that light and what size tent is it again.

I think it looks great though. Did a very nice job cleaning it up.

farmingfisherman · Jul 26, 2020

Apalchen said:
Looks really good how many actual watts from the wall.is that light and what size tent is it again.

I think it looks great though. Did a very nice job cleaning it up.

1000 so called watt Mars is only a little over 100 watts at the wall. Joke they don't just call it Mar 100 watt. So miss leading but all the companies least the MIC ones seem to do the same. Op. Plants are looking great, keep up the good work!

Rhino30 · Jul 26, 2020

Apalchen said:
Looks really good how many actual watts from the wall.is that light and what size tent is it again.

I think it looks great though. Did a very nice job cleaning it up.

Thanks! It’s a 24x24x55” tent. The TSW-1000 Mars Hydro lights use 150watts. Was that the question you asked? They’re about 14” above the canopy and the specs recommend 12-18” for flowering.

It’s gonna be close, but I may eventually need to move it to my larger 32x32x63“ tent if the colas get tall enough.

Apalchen · Jul 26, 2020

Rhino30 said:
Thanks! It’s a 24x24x55” tent. The TSW-1000 Mars Hydro lights use 150watts. Was that the question you asked? They’re about 14” above the canopy and the specs recommend 12-18” for flowering.

It’s gonna be close, but I may eventually need to move it to my larger 32x32x63“ tent if the colas get tall enough.

I wouldn't move it unless it was a necessity, a few light bleached buds is more than made up by having the light closer and penetrating deeper into canopy.

I have read several post on Instagram from guys with LEDs saying that they bleached a few tops trying to stay closer to canopy but over all had better yield.

Rhino30 · Jul 26, 2020

Apalchen said:
I wouldn't move it unless it was a necessity, a few light bleached buds is more than made up by having the light closer and penetrating deeper into canopy.

I have read several post on Instagram from guys with LEDs saying that they bleached a few tops trying to stay closer to canopy but over all had better yield.

Makes sense, it’s been a super healthy plant so far and I think I’ll get a decent yield...at least for a relative newbie

Outgrowing my tent...bend over stems?

Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Member

Well-Known Member

Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Active Member

Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Member

Well-Known Member

Member

Similar threads