How Can I keep a plant short and stocky?

critik

critik

Active Member
What I mean by this is I want to grow a plant that is short and not to much space between the nodes and I was wondering how I could achieve this. I have a grow in my closet right now but it just has homemade reflector with cfls attached on the bottom. And for some reason My plants stretch and Its running 76 watts of 6500k light spectrum Maybe 5 inches from the plants. Should I build like a little cabinet or something to keep light from escaping
 
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legalizeitcanada

Well-Known Member
if you constantly have a fan blowing on the plant that will make the stem strong, if you keeps your lights as low as possible that will keep the plant as short as possible......some stains grow much bigger than others so what strain you have makes a huge impact on plant size......but as god over the weed plants we can force them to flower at any height be it one foot or ten....hope this helps ya man!
 
MrJones86

MrJones86

Active Member
When she gets to the 5th or 6th node then top her above the 2nd "true node" (the first pair she sprouted doesn't count).

Before: ...................... Topped:

201_1620.JPG 201_1656.JPG
 
critik

critik

Active Member
Alright. Uhh Hey jones how many cfl's are you using? And how close are they and what spectrum?
 
MrJones86

MrJones86

Active Member
When that pic was taken, I was using 3 x 32w 2700k, 1 x 42w 5000k, and 1 x 11w 2700k. Right now I'm using 1x 150w HPS and 2 x 32w 2700k. I like to keep my CFL's about 3-4 inches away.
 
critik

critik

Active Member
Do you think the mix spectrum you were using worked good or do you think only 6500k and 5000k would have been better? And your avatar picture what was used there?
 
MrJones86

MrJones86

Active Member
critik said:
Do you think the mix spectrum you were using worked good or do you think only 6500k and 5000k would have been better? And your avatar picture what was used there?
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My avatar is the same plant actually. At that point I was using 1 x 42w 5000k, 1 x 15w R30 style 5000k, and 1 x 32w 2700k. I was happy with it, but I was just using what I had. I've heard that it's best to have like a 4/1 ratio of lighting, but couldn't say for sure.
 
critik

critik

Active Member
True. What held your lights over your plants? My plants have 70+ watts and still they stretch a bit I need a enclosed area like a cabinet or something to much light is escaping.
 
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rombomb420

Well-Known Member
You need a 7:1 2700k to 6500K ratio during flowering. During veg cycle you should use all 6500k. There's not much point in using a 5000k bulb, that's why you are getting stretching.
 
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rombomb420

Well-Known Member
critik said:
What I mean by this is I want to grow a plant that is short and not to much space between the nodes and I was wondering how I could achieve this. I have a grow in my closet right now but it just has homemade reflector with cfls attached on the bottom. And for some reason My plants stretch and Its running 76 watts of 6500k light spectrum Maybe 5 inches from the plants. Should I build like a little cabinet or something to keep light from escaping
Click to expand...
You need to know what you are growing. Don't grow a sativa, stick to an indica or an autoflowering strain that won't get much taller than a couple feet. Northern Lights has nice tight internode spacing.
 
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pickle

Active Member
You could try something I have been doing bend the top to where it almost snaps or does snap but is still pretty well connected still, and it will usually get bushier at the bottom and makes the plant alot wider. Just give it time to heal.
 
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rombomb420

Well-Known Member
pickle said:
You could try something I have been doing bend the top to where it almost snaps or does snap but is still pretty well connected still, and it will usually get bushier at the bottom and makes the plant alot wider. Just give it time to heal.
Click to expand...
You should let him know that is called low stress training, or LST. There are some good threads on it if you use your search function. It really does work & helps you maximize yield in a tight space.
 
critik

critik

Active Member
I already have everything planned out I am going to do a SCrog with all 2700k 42 watters hanging down in my closet at least 10 of them. But how is there no point in the 5000k there almost the same as the 6500k. And a lot of people said you can use them.
 
BackToBasics

BackToBasics

Active Member
critik said:
What I mean by this is I want to grow a plant that is short and not to much space between the nodes and I was wondering how I could achieve this. I have a grow in my closet right now but it just has homemade reflector with cfls attached on the bottom. And for some reason My plants stretch and Its running 76 watts of 6500k light spectrum Maybe 5 inches from the plants. Should I build like a little cabinet or something to keep light from escaping
Click to expand...
Somthing like this?
 

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critik

critik

Active Member
Well That looks like a auto flowering plant. I just don't want no stretch I want it to stay minimum height with no stretch and lots of nodes. But i think I got it covered I did some research. And I am planning on putting it to test. So everything is good guys thnx for the help.
 
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