Need Serious Advice, Seedling Issue.

I have a st of 40 babie seedlings right now, they are growing lanky and long, even with the full light requirements (seems like sativa, YAY). I know these arent easy for a first grower but I am up to the challenge. They all still have their seedleaves however all of them have one set of small fan leaves coming out. My problem is, one by one my plants are falling over in the little pots that they are in. The falling ones are covering up the light of other ones. I have a fan going on them, that is what is making them fall, however I want to teach them to be strong. Is it to early or too late to do that? Also should I just transplant now? Its only been 1 week and I think that 2 weeks is reccomended. I already know I'm going to have to use supports when they are bigger theres no question about that.

If they keep being like that after 2 weeks throw them out (you have 40 anyways). It may be plain bad genetics.
Also, DO NOT keep your fans DIRECTLY on your plants.. You're basically putting them through a hurricane and expecting them to become "stronger" lol
keep your fan speed down and have it oscillate. A light breeze on your young seedlings will teach them well.

I just get so sad throwing out my babies . your saying theres no reason to even grow those, because they will be way to much hassle later right?

Pretty much. But you did say it was because of your fan right? Just do as i say in regard to the fans and wait a week and let them grow.. If they're still like that it's very likely that it is plain bad genetics.. It's a possibility when you're growing 40 plants at once. You better get some serious lights if you want to take all 40 to the end btw.

I would be willing to bet your problem is the distance your plants are from the light. Really common problem is not getting light close enough especially with new growers. What kind of light are you using and how far away is it???? If you are using flouresant; I try to keep the lights within an inch of your plants. I know how hard it is to manage 40 plants... but you need to keep all of them close to light so they don't strech and fall over. Get a oscilating fan on them too when they can take it and that will really get you some strong woody stems.

Blazed Hippie said:

I just get so sad throwing out my babies . your saying theres no reason to even grow those, because they will be way to much hassle later right?

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i would just chuck them outside and give that a shot. that way your not getting rid of them u just letting mother nature do its thing.

hehe i know i am a new grower, however I had a large amount of money and knowledge ready before taking on this type of grow. So I have a light meter and they are at exactly 3,800 LUX 4,000 is the recommended by Jorge Cervantes. So bam got that down. I have 2 600 watt HPS ballasts and an 8x8 room in there with a 500 cfm exaust and a 200 cfm intake. 2 wall mounted fans and metal halide conversion bulbs for veg state. The problem probably is the wind even tho the fan I was using is shitty and small and very gentle, It was still putting strain on them so no more fan for the rest of this week we will see what happens

EDIT: THe light i am using for the babies is a 125 watt cfl.

IF they dont pick back up you should be worried. cylee is 100% correct though, point that fan somewhere else if they are that small.
For the first few weeks I actually point my fan to the top of my cab so that the seelings are only swaying a little bit from air circulating around the space and not directly from the fan. Once they bulk up a bit start moving it more and more towards the plants themselves

thanks everyone +rep for all

Nice lights! You're good to go. Happy growing!

bradzabz said:

I would be willing to bet your problem is the distance your plants are from the light. Really common problem is not getting light close enough especially with new growers. What kind of light are you using and how far away is it???? If you are using flouresant; I try to keep the lights within an inch of your plants. I know how hard it is to manage 40 plants... but you need to keep all of them close to light so they don't strech and fall over. Get a oscilating fan on them too when they can take it and that will really get you some strong woody stems.

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best advice +rep

hey hippie, i know you said you have an hps, but im sure its too far away for the seedlings, thats why they stretch. i also think putting it closed would cause too much heat and cook the little guys.

i never heard of using a light meter, didnt even know they exist. i just use the hand test to figure out how far away to put the plants

might i suggest starting them under floro tubes 2-3 in away from the plants tops untill they develop 3 sets of true leafs? then they should be strong enough to withstand the HPS

Its not light I know that for an absolute fact. I have a 125 wat cfl on them not the 600 watt system the bulb is sufficiently close to them. They are not all lanky some are ALOT bigger than others. And the one i KNOW is indica isnt growing big its growing tiny. It most likely is genetics and the fact I put a fan directly on them next to them. I am very OCD about all factors heat, humidity, air circulation, etc. if they are not all right I will freak out

EDIT: IN fact the indica is growing the best, that is because its genetics are to be small and bushy.
EDIT: Jorge Cervantes Lighting Chart for Growing Plants States This
Seedling/Clone= 375 footcandles and 4000lux- my seedlings are now at 4100LUX as i raised them a few minutes ago.
Vegatative State= 2500 Foocandles and 27,000 LUX
Flowering= 10,000 Footcandles and 107,500 LUX

it IS your problem, plants with enough light dont stretch. im assuming your 1 indica that is doing well is directly under your one CFL? and the ones on the edges are the lankiest ones that fall over? the light itself isnt your problem, but the distribution of it is

i guess u need to see a pic ill get some later. Its def not light distribution as i have a light meter thats what I said before. A light meter makes me able to make the light levels exact. I just raised it now its getting like double or triple what jorge says to do. Ill see what happens but they already are tall so i dont think its gonna do much. THe indica one is actually in the worst light area bc i knew it would grow like it is. I have reasearched this for like 3 hours now and I have concluded that it is a little of all three factors. I had just a little bit too little light, I turned a fan straight on them, and they are genetically going to grow fast because they are sativa dominant and should become more tree like than bush like. I fixed the first 2 problems obviously I cant fix the third. I will update this post about it.

Edit: Also I am new at this, so this is why I have decided to listen to you and not be pigheaded.