wtf?? why would u uproot (and destroy) them?? Mine stretched...just needed more light (sun for me), lol whatever. I'm just using direct sunlight - dude i move mine around my window sills/balcony to maximise direct sunlight. If i were u i'd bury a good portion of their stem under the soil (up to close to their 2nd node/their true leaves) and either attend to the artifical lighting situation-more and/or closer (not my fortAYYYY), or put them in direct sunlight for longer.
btw mine just have direct sunlight...and let me check....mine have about 6 nodes and are about 3 inchs....