skinny stems

**smokingfreddie** · 02-10-11, 02:53 PM

hi anyone no why my stems are skinny on my 3 week old seedlings, the tops are looking great with 3 rows of leafs now, been under 2 x 15 watt fluorescent tubes since start, im transferring today to 600 watt hps. had the tubes around 8inchs above all times.

WeedWarrior · 02-10-11, 02:57 PM

Have you been blowing fresh air onto the seedlings?

You can also try grabbing the stem everday and flexing it back and forth.

**daveed** · 02-10-11, 02:58 PM

Originally Posted by smokingfreddie

hi anyone no why my stems are skinny on my 3 week old seedlings, the tops are looking great with 3 rows of leafs now, been under 2 x 15 watt fluorescent tubes since start, im transferring today to 600 watt hps. had the tubes around 8inchs above all times.

have you got a fan on them they need wind t strenthen there stems otherwise youll be supporting with yo yo's as soon as you get bud peace

**smokingfreddie** · 02-10-11, 02:58 PM

no i have not used a fan , today i will use one, is this the reason?

WeedWarrior · 02-10-11, 03:00 PM

Lack of wind blowing onto your plants will create thin stems, The wind blowing the plants back and forth helps create a stronger stem.

**wert** · 02-10-11, 03:10 PM

Originally Posted by smokingfreddie

been under 2 x 15 watt fluorescent tubes since start, im transferring today to 600 watt hps. had the tubes around 8inchs above all times.

you have answered your own question.
2 x 15w lights 8´´ above the plant can lead to weak growth and stretching.

**daveed** · 02-10-11, 03:11 PM

yes pal you need to tuffen those girls up.

PG · 02-10-11, 03:12 PM

8 inches is far too far away if he only light source is just 2 x 15w flouros. They should be a maximium of about 3 inches.

**raggy** · 02-10-11, 06:24 PM

I'm growing outside at the moment so don't have this problem but did have it when growing inside. I had a fan on for a few hours a day but only when I was at home as I had them in a cupbourd and wanted to keep the light in as much as possible (not sure if this was really neccessary but I felt it was). Anyway, the branches and stems got a bit thicker but when it started budding the stems would have trouble supporting them. I ended up wrapping tiny bit of card around the end of the stem before the biggest bud, tying a bit of thread around this and taping the thread to the top of the cupboard. Not ideal as it was pretty fiddly and time consuming but it did work without any problems. Just another option if you still have the problem.