First grow - stem too thin?

Hi guys,

So as title says, first time growing. I'm a little worried about my stem being too weak. Plant is around 3,5 inch and its 6 days since it popped its top over the dirt. Except for the first two days, i've had a fan blowing 20 hours a day. Its fallen over a few times, so after i took the picture, I put some wire around to stabilize.

250W HPS is around 13 inch above the plant.

your light is to far away, it is reaching for the light. Put it as close as possible without burning. Put your hand under light, if it's comfortable for the back of your hand,it's good for the plant. If it burns at all.it's to close.

check out the stickied thread about repotting stretchy stems, you may find it useful

chuck estevez said:

your light is to far away, it is reaching for the light. Put it as close as possible without burning. Put your hand under light, if it's comfortable for the back of your hand,it's good for the plant. If it burns at all.it's to close.

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Hes light may also be the wrong light to go with.
250w hps is a waste for 1 seedling. 2 regular size 6500k cfls would do better with 1/5 wattage. I strongly advise you to use that instead, and the incorrect colour tempterature is also an important factor in your streching.

noham said:

Hes light may also be the wrong light to go with.
250w hps is a waste for 1 seedling. 2 regular size 6500k cfls would do better with 1/5 wattage. I strongly advise you to use that instead, and the incorrect colour tempterature is also an important factor in your streching.

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good point. agreed

noham said:

Hes light may also be the wrong light to go with.
250w hps is a waste for 1 seedling. 2 regular size 6500k cfls would do better with 1/5 wattage. I strongly advise you to use that instead, and the incorrect colour tempterature is also an important factor in your streching.

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I do have 4 plants, but that one in particular seems to be too thin.

I will try and put the light closer to the plants. Else look into repotting - thanks guys.

mmvvpp said:

I do have 4 plants, but that one in particular seems to be too thin.

I will try and put the light closer to the plants. Else look into repotting - thanks guys.

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You should still buy something 6500k: straight fluorescent, pl-l (I used 55w 4-pins and they did magic) or a metal halide if you plan to grow more than 1 time and vegetate your plants.
I would use only hps for a grow if I utilized 12/12 right from the start.

But you go veg this one with your HPS and maybe save up for vegging lights for the next time, which you can also use as supplement when flowering.

noham said:

You should still buy something 6500k: straight fluorescent, pl-l (I used 55w 4-pins and they did magic) or a metal halide if you plan to grow more than 1 time and vegetate your plants.
I would use only hps for a grow if I utilized 12/12 right from the start.

But you go veg this one with your HPS and maybe save up for vegging lights for the next time, which you can also use as supplement when flowering.

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Yeah will have to use this 250w HPS this time - more or less broke at the moment. Will seriously look into another lamp for next grow. Now time to replant

Ok i was just looking into a 250W MH lamp, and its not that expensive, and will probably fit my current ballast. Can probably spend the money when next pay check comes in Would it make a huge difference? Also how is the heat and power output consumption compared to HPS? I assume it will use less power, and therefore produce less heat? Or is it pretty much the same.

Do you plan on vegging plants while others flower?

I have never used mh, but heard it is a bit hotter. With the same ballast running the MH should cost the same as with HPS, if that's what you mean.
The pros will be, obviously: not so much stretch, more vigorous growth = shorter internodes and bushier plant.

Do you have a digital or a magnetic ballast? You need a conversion bulb if you have magnetic, in case you didnt know

noham said:

Do you plan on vegging plants while others flower?

I have never used mh, but heard it is a bit hotter. With the same ballast running the MH should cost the same as with HPS, if that's what you mean.
The pros will be, obviously: not so much stretch, more vigorous growth = shorter internodes and bushier plant.

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Thank you. Then i might as well save some power/money and go with your 6500k: straight fluorescent 55w suggestion. I'm not sure i will need four of them in my 23x23 inch tent. Might wait a little while though, would be interesting to complete this veg stage with 250HPS and then see the difference next time. Very much appreciate your idea!

Jbpne: mag, and i didnt but will drop the MH idea, and go with the other suggestion.

PetFlora said:

I would replant into a larger pot

Place this root mass deep enough so that when you infill the grow medium is within 1" of the first leafs

I have used soda straws, but you can't push them into the grow medium without cutting roots

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Thanks, however i just replanted before reading this hope it will work out, else i can do it again - unless that would be too much stress on the plant?

This is how it looks now. Hope the lights are close enough now. Not too bad for my hand, but the thermometer shows 90 degrees fahrenheit. Was around 85 before lowering the lights.


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Stretching indicates high heat, you can veg with an hps without issue but temp and light intensity on seedlings are key. If it's 250w then have it about 10-12 inches from the plant. Looks like the setup was fine before but 85* is too hot for seedlings that size, get a better exhaust fan and get that temp around 75*

Seems like you need to get another light for vegging ASAP.
In the meanwhile, I stumbled upon another thread talking about how bad vegging with HPS started out and how pronounced a switch to MH was.

I use such lights:

The 55w are 53 cm long and produce 4800lm.
The linear, the 54w T5HO is double the length: 115 cm long, usually ~4450lm

Going with lower wattage for shorter bulbs is not worth it IMO, but to be sure I measured how much space it needs with the socket added: 55cm total for a DIY fixture.
These bulbs need an electronic ballast and 2g11 sockets.

...but at least you can be sure the temperature is lower than with an HPS and the plants also like these tubes' spectral distribution. + they should last longer.

PS: I run 4x55w vegging my chilli peppers 24/7 in a 86x46 cm area, and they do vEry FinE!

^su said:

Stretching indicates high heat, you can veg with an hps without issue but temp and light intensity on seedlings are key. If it's 250w then have it about 10-12 inches from the plant. Looks like the setup was fine before but 85* is too hot for seedlings that size, get a better exhaust fan and get that temp around 75*

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Yeah man. Don't risk it, I'm telling you. I am having a bad feeling about this...

Ok i set the HPS around 10-12 inch from the plants. Now that they are so much closer to the soil, i was able to turn up my fan without breaking the stem. Also opened up the tent a bit - outside light is not a problem. Temp says 77-78 degrees now. Hopefully that'll be enough for a while.

I appreciate your suggestions, but an extra exhaust fan is not in the budget. The 55w would be manageable, but not the needed ballast.
What about this? That should give me a few extra degrees, not sure if the reflector reduction would be an issue though, the one i have now is somewhat larger - as you might be able to tell from the previous picture.

mmvvpp said:

Hi guys,

So as title says, first time growing. I'm a little worried about my stem being too weak. Plant is around 3,5 inch and its 6 days since it popped its top over the dirt. Except for the first two days, i've had a fan blowing 20 hours a day. Its fallen over a few times, so after i took the picture, I put some wire around to stabilize.

250W HPS is around 13 inch above the plant.

View attachment 3006822

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That seedling looks absolutely fine and normal to me, though I wouldn't have a fan on it just yet as it's too small. You would be better off pointing the fan at the light and maybe raising it slightly as that sounds quite close for a HID lamp at this stage, the seedling won't need much light and a 250w HPS will be more than plenty for that little seedling.

You should find the stem will stop stretching as much now as they do this from seed, as I said it looks perfectly normal so don't panic. Stop blowing it over and it will be fine!!

Good luck with your grow, what strain is it you're growing?

mmvvpp said:

.View attachment 3006991View attachment 3006992

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That looks way too close to me for a 250w HPS, you are going to fry them like that!!