Stretch despite sufficient light

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Hi everyone, I just started 2 FB seeds and they have kept stretching for 5 days now. In the past I have only seen this when using insufficient lighting but this time I am using quantum boards that never caused stretching before. What else could it be? Lack of fresh air? Too low humidity? Or too much light?

As additional info, I have been spraying some cotton pads on the floor to increase humidity but they keep drying out pretty fast. Could this be it?

Thanks for brainstorming with me


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Nothing looks unusual. Seedlings can get so tall that they need temporary support.

It's very important to have a thermometer and humidity gauge. They can be had under $10.

There are free apps to check the amount of light, and calculate that vs your hours for a DLI(day light index). I use Photone, and at this stage I'm at 20 DLI.

How many hours do your lights run? I run 18 hours on 6 off. Some run more hours, but I'd recommend at least 18.

DLI by Growth Stage - growlightmeter.com.png


I also run an ultrasonic humidifier in my tents. They start in the $40 range and go up, more expensive ones have controls that attempt to maintain a set humidity, vs cheap ones that just have continuous high or low output. The relationship between temperature and humidity is expressed as 'VPD' vapor pressure deficit which is the difference between the amount of moisture in the air and the amount of moisture the air can hold. Too much humidity causes rot, too little stresses the plant. This chart shows ideal humidity for temp at each stage of growth.

I set my lights first, then add humidity to reach the desired level. In the winter I've always had to run a humidifier in my grow rooms.

VPD-Bioengineering-Chart-1-960x.jpg


I also question your container size; Autoflowers don't like the stress that transplanting causes, and I start mine in their final container.

Some growers do get excellent results in containers as small as a Solo cup, but because of the small amount of soil they must be carefully and continuously watered. I am more of a set it and forget it grower.

Nutrition also is more critical in a small container because a small amount of soil can quickly get depleted. I grow in organic soil in 5 gallon containers. The soils I use, Roots Organic Lush, and Stonington Blend can be considered capable of 'water only' grows, but I do add a qtr tsp of Megacrop per gallon after the first 2 weeks.

Too much water, fertilizer, or light will kill or stunt a plant much quicker than too little.
 
Thanks for the help! Well it is the first time I am experiencing this amount of stretch under powerful lights so I am puzzled. Yeah I need a hygrometer for sure, mine broke recently.

I am running them at 20/4 and this is a 125w full spectrum QB LED. I believe light is not the problem since I have had many successful grows with it. I am worried it might be too much instead of too little though. I used that photone app and I am getting 24 dli but I cannot select the full spectrum led light without paying.

As for the container, I prefer to be in control by starting in a small container and transplanting. Never had a plant skip a beat, and I have grown my fair share of monsters, but I have had quite a few get stunted by starting them on the final container so I am pretty convinced this method works better for me.
 
Prop them up with something. I get leggy seedlings all the time and I tie them to wooden skewers. But anything stick-like will work. They'll grow out of it
Thanks! It is the first time I am seeing stretching with sufficient lighting so I was confused. I will just tie them and let them ride it out
 
Grab some toothpicks and a roll of garden "twist tie" and make supports for the plants. I usually get "leggy" seedlings despite growing my plants in highlight + using a Rapid LED Royal Blue puck.

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When I start a seedling in a small cup, I will transplant it as soon as the first real leaves are as wide as the cup. This usually takes about a week but not much longer. As soon as the seedling is in the final pot it will stay short as the roots get established. The stalk should thicken up slightly during this time. Prop the seedling up with a small stick and some wire if needed.

I have tried just about every method of getting autos started successfully.
Plants that I directly sowed had a larger tap root shaped like a carrot. Good or better yields in most cases.
Transplanted in less than 10 days had bigger roots and decent yields.
Transplanted two weeks or more had more stunted plants and lower yields in general.
 
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