What do you do when one plant outgrows the others? Please help!

Hey all. I have a question about plant placement in relation to lighting.

I have four autos on day 34 and beginning to bud. I just switched from 400W MH to 400W HPS (a little late I think), and the four plants are directly beneath the light. Three of the plants are about the same size, the fourth plant has just shot up a good 5-6" above the others. So dilemma: I have the light hanging 12" above the canopy, but the tall one reaches to about 6" below the light and shows a little heat stress on the leaves.

I just moved that plant back from the light a couple inches and one of the smaller ones further under the light. My concern is that the tall one is my best looking plant. It's got preflowers everywhere. I don't want to do anything to stop its development. What should I do?

Thanks for your help. First grow, so this is all new to me.

TheDudeNextDoor said:

Hey all. I have a question about plant placement in relation to lighting.

I have four autos on day 34 and beginning to bud. I just switched from 400W MH to 400W HPS (a little late I think), and the four plants are directly beneath the light. Three of the plants are about the same size, the fourth plant has just shot up a good 5-6" above the others. So dilemma: I have the light hanging 12" above the canopy, but the tall one reaches to about 6" below the light and shows a little heat stress on the leaves.

I just moved that plant back from the light a couple inches and one of the smaller ones further under the light. My concern is that the tall one is my best looking plant. It's got preflowers everywhere. I don't want to do anything to stop its development. What should I do?

Thanks for your help. First grow, so this is all new to me.

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Raise the light to accommodate the tall plant.

Place books, or wood blocks, whatever; under the shorter plants to put them at the same level. Adjust as needed.

Problem solved.

Good luck and good growing.

Johnnyorganic said:

Raise the light to accommodate the tall plant.

Place books, or wood blocks, whatever; under the shorter plants to put them at the same level. Adjust as needed.

Problem solved.

Good luck and good growing.

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So simple and so brilliant! Now that's a great response. Thank you and +rep!

Or you could do some lst on the larger of the four, that is if the stem isn't too woody.

HCS said:

Or you could do some lst on the larger of the four, that is if the stem isn't too woody.

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Pay NO attention to the Weed Baron.

Worked like a charm, man! My upper leaves started drooping last night, perhaps a bit of shock from the light change. I raised the light to about 16" and they are back to their stout selves this morning. I lowered the light back to 12" from canopy.

Yeah, I do plan to try LST at some point, but not for my first grow. Johnny's fix fit the bill perfectly. Thanks again!

johnny was exactly right and this is what i had to do as well i just used encyclopedias... i also place my lights because i grow with cfls on raised and lowered books as well to get the light in the exact spots i want to acheive the most outta my lighting or else i would have random lights everywhere like in front of my sunleave or at very wrong angles.. i cant beleive how many rooms i see where they do not do this. there plants are all suffering for it.. thanks johnny you had the right info before everyone!

i use free books from garage sales

bend the stem. its called super cropping and will make the buds bigger ime.

the only reason i use the encyclopedias is because i know their clean..but yeah free is good always and any books will do! and it works really great happy growing

irieie said:

bend the stem. its called super cropping and will make the buds bigger ime.

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i have yet to tie em over or bend them but i also hear that this is very good technique i am goning to try this soon..!!

I've seen that term supercropping. Will try that at some point, but simplicity fits the bill right now.

TheDudeNextDoor said:

I've seen that term supercropping. Will try that at some point, but simplicity fits the bill right now.

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Good for you.

I am happy the problem was solved.

I am even happier that you have adopted the KISS approach to learning this hobby.

Weed Barons throw around seventy-five cent terms to give the impression they know what they are talking about.

Please ignore them.

Johnnyorganic said:

Good for you.

I am happy the problem was solved.

I am even happier that you have adopted the KISS approach to learning this hobby.

Weed Barons throw around seventy-five cent terms to give the impression they know what they are talking about.

Please ignore them.

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what is a weed baron and why do you have such a negative attitude? there is always more than one solution to a challenge. go medicate bro.

irieie said:

what is a weed baron and why do you have such a negative attitude? there is always more than one solution to a challenge. go medicate bro.

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It is most certainly NOT negative as I provided the solution that solved the problem.

The OP never mentioned vertical space as being a problem, yet one WB suggested LST.

Then another WB (you) suggested supercropping, even though the OP never mentioned yield as a concern.

I have already explained what a Weed Baron is.

Once more thing....

I'm not your bro.

Go "medicate"* yourself.

what is your problem? why are you so angry? your life must really suck for you to lash out like that over the internet.

irieie said:

bend the stem. its called super cropping and will make the buds bigger ime.

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Ya I agree somewhat LST all the way just ben them down a little with string etc they wont be hurt as they are "stretched" that will allow more light down onto the smaller budsites this will encourage massive growth along the entire main stem if its more than 6" difference raise them up.
My pic is one plant many many buds all the same height by leaning the tall ones over.

irieie said:

what is your problem?

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I already explained the problem.

Obviously I must do so again.

irieie said:

why are you so angry?

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Weed Barons confuse new growers.

The topic is light issues on autoflowers. There was no mention of vertical space limitations. Which means LST is completely irrelevant. It has no bearing on the topic. It was introduced into the thread because some Weed Baron saw an opportunity to use a term he had seen in another thread.

The same thing goes for supercropping. Nowhere in the OP's comments was yield mentioned as a concern. Yet you couldn't resist throwing in a word you were exposed to somewhere. You stated, "there is always more than one solution to a challenge." I cannot dispute that, but your solution was no solution at all in reference to the OP's issue.

Happily the OP has the good sense to keep things simple while he's learning to grow. Unfortunately, far too many new growers do not understand this. As a result, they pay attention to Weed Barons. The unhappy result is confusion and frustration on the part of new growers who are grappling to understand basic growing techniques while being bombarded with irrelevant intermediate/advanced techniques which do not apply to their grows.

irieie said:

your life must really suck for you to lash out like that over the internet.

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My life is pretty sweet, but Weed Barons make cannabis forums on the internet suck.

Please think about that the next time you consider confusing a new grower with irrelevant terms and techniques.

raising the others is the best bet other wise top off your taller woman to accomidate youre shorter ladies and be done with it, 1 plant isnt going much, to be honest, just do it and let the others go on their way, thats just what i would fo, any one else?
Now if 3 were taller than the 1 plant, i would just raise that 1 plant, even them out... if youre really concernd, the longer you take the more youre going to worry

I apologize if i had attempted to make anything more complicated than it already is.. But plenty of growers also "train" their plants. And it is no way "more" advanced than raising all 3 plants to the same height..

I had only mentioned this "possibility" as he asked for advise. 6" difference in canopy isn't much. Because it is 6" and the OP had mentioned that the plants started to show flowers it wasnt detrimental to "train" them...Training is no more difficult than topping, or pruning them. It also doesen't require damaging the plant. A piece of string tied to the plant in 2 places would be much less work than stacking books under 3 plants, No?

Besides, Everyone is entitled to offer an opinion as this is what the OP asked for "opinions". Yes there is disinformation, and it is our job to call people on it. But just because someone offers an opinion that is not inline with your own, does not necessarily mean they are completely wrong. It may just be their method of choice. So lets let the OP make whatever choice he wants and assure he gets the right information to make an educated decision yes?!
And help a man grow some weed!