stretched seedlings

dak999

Member

• Apr 20, 2009

• #1

my 8 day old seedlings have stretched to 2-3.5 inches. I had the T5 lights at 18 inches high for first 3 days. Then moved them to 10 and now 8 inches. They have stopped stretching. And are standing up, do you think that I have a problem?
Thanks for your help

 

krunchy

Active Member

• Apr 20, 2009

• #2

No, this is a common problem when using T5s and CFLs and not keeping the light close enough. On my first grow I had the same problem with T5s. On my next grow I kept them much much closer and the same strain has kept nice and bushy.

If you have big stems you can always just re-pot them a little deeper.

 

dahamma

Well-Known Member

• Apr 20, 2009

• #3

bring the lights in real close, like 2-3 inches. If it won't burn your hand after a minute it won't burn your plants

 

Boneman

Well-Known Member

• Apr 20, 2009

• #4

You should be fine.....just keep the lights as close as possible without burning them and they should stop stretching.

 

LADYF**

Member

• Apr 20, 2009

• #5

would someone please explain to me what T5's are?
a noob i am for sure but i have read one of the grow bibles..and alot of forums, but this is the first time i have seen that term...thx and happy 420 !

 

C3rtifi3d Hustl3r

New Member

• Apr 20, 2009

• #6

LADYF** said:

would someone please explain to me what T5's are?
a noob i am for sure but i have read one of the grow bibles..and alot of forums, but this is the first time i have seen that term...thx and happy 420 ![/quot

put your lights as close to the plant as you can without burning it

Click to expand...

 

DownOnWax

Well-Known Member

• Apr 20, 2009

• #7

LADYF** said:

would someone please explain to me what T5's are?
a noob i am for sure but i have read one of the grow bibles..and alot of forums, but this is the first time i have seen that term...thx and happy 420 !

Click to expand...

T5's are fluorescent tubes.

They come in sizes like T5, T8, and T12.

T5's are 5/8 of an inch, T8's are 8/8 or 1 inch and T12's are 1 1/4 inch in diameter.

It has NOTHING to do with how strong they are. HO (High Output) and VHO (Very High Output) are what you are looking for with fluorescents.

 

DownOnWax

Well-Known Member

• Apr 20, 2009

• #8

And honestly, just bury your seedlings deeper when you replant.

In my opionion seedlings need so little light at the beginning and don't really stretch. What you see is the tap root growing out of the ground because it is not deep enough. You will notice down the road that the roots will star right below the embryonic leaves (roundish ones).

So, bury it all the way up to those leaves.

 

dak999

Member

• Apr 21, 2009

• #9

Thanks everyone. Appreciate your help

 

strangerdude562

Well-Known Member

• Apr 21, 2009

• #10

dude get the lights closer, i am using t5's and I'm anywhere from 3-5 inches away.