Dude… where am I?!? Help

Mjml87 · Mar 17, 2025

Sup my fellow growers! Just getting into growing. Complete novice at growing, somewhat intermediate at consuming. Decided to start my own grow and enjoy my own herbs. I’ll be honest I’m becoming a little defeated as I do not know what I’m doing wrong or right. I had a grow before this, internodes were measured at 4-6” apart. I’m assuming from what I read it was due to light distance. This time I’ve been taking notes every week although I’m sure I have not been keeping track of enough data. Sorry for the long read… what I want to know is how do these girls look so far?

TLDR:
Any criticism is accepted, just need to know where I’m at. Good… bad… don’t quit my day job… hang my self?

Soil:
Gaia Greens living soil - 85%
Gaia Greens worm casting - 10%
Perlite - 5%
Gaia Greens All Purpose - prescribed directions

Watering - 6-7.5 ph varying

Light - unsure… this might be my problem (advice on how to track, measure, and keep consistent)

Mjml87 · Mar 17, 2025

All under the same light, so unsure why 2 of the same strain are growing differently (stretch wise).

Smokey_LaFleur · Mar 17, 2025

What are you using for lighting?

SamwiseGanja420 · Mar 17, 2025

What does your whole set up look like? Is it a controlled environment?

Putthataway · Mar 17, 2025

They are two different strains and are going to grow at different rates. If one is stretching you can put on a box or something for a booster seat . Your soil looks rather wet, do you have drainage holes in the bottom? I see you have it on a couch or bed. Off topic but what’s in the mini solo cup the gal is drinking

Mikedin · Mar 17, 2025

Mjml87 said:
Sup my fellow growers! Just getting into growing. Complete novice at growing, somewhat intermediate at consuming. Decided to start my own grow and enjoy my own herbs. I’ll be honest I’m becoming a little defeated as I do not know what I’m doing wrong or right. I had a grow before this, internodes were measured at 4-6” apart. I’m assuming from what I read it was due to light distance. This time I’ve been taking notes every week although I’m sure I have not been keeping track of enough data. Sorry for the long read… what I want to know is how do these girls look so far?

TLDR:
Any criticism is accepted, just need to know where I’m at. Good… bad… don’t quit my day job… hang my self?

Soil:
Gaia Greens living soil - 85%
Gaia Greens worm casting - 10%
Perlite - 5%
Gaia Greens All Purpose - prescribed directions

Watering - 6-7.5 ph varying

Light - unsure… this might be my problem (advice on how to track, measure, and keep consistent)

I’d say they all look good, wether the same strain or not they will never grow exact, you’ll get less inconsistencies with well bred / stable genetics but end of the day there’s still different phenotypes / genotypes that will grow differently of the aame strain, clones will be much more consistant but still will have a bit of variance in growth rates and characteristics (but close enough normally)

For seedlings they all look good, healthy, what do you have for a full setup? Light? Tent? Exhaust, I see you’re using all Gaia, I’ve never used their soils but I’ve done a ton of runs with their amendments

RegularRebel · Mar 18, 2025

The plants look healthy. Good job.

A "strain" in modern cannabis culture has come to mean or include polyhybrids or an amalgamation. So having a large number of genetics the plants of a polyhybrid "strain" have no set genotype unless it's been stabilized and most suppliers wont put the generations and effort into that when people buy whatever they are offered without questioning or knowing. So most often each plant will be unique and different from its brothers and sisters. Unlike dog breeds, or apple trees, there is no clear logical labeling for modern cannabis. Each mut is assigned arbitrarily a "strain" name. A strain in that sense is any seed produced by anyone that decided to name it. It's not really an easily answered question with an amalgamation plant.

So, if you want closer internodes, give them adequate intense light, but reduce the DLI. You can get a compact plant on 12hrs DLI just interrupt the skotoperiod to keep it in vegetative growth. If it's getting 18-24 hours light it's going to stretch like crazy making stem especially in early flowering because that change in DLI is too big of a shock/ jumping change and it will search for light like a confused junky you made it to be, trying to figure out where the light went.. Check your light spectrum. Is it shifted red or blue? Dropping DLI to 12 or 10 hours will change the shape of the plant growing in vegetative stage. Making it compact and bushy. Also genetics come into play, concentrates on making stem like hempy genetics, or making leaves, flowers whatever.

Mjml87 · Mar 20, 2025

My apologies in regards to the late reply everyone! I didn’t expect so much response so soon!
Thank you all!

Mjml87 · Mar 20, 2025

Smokey_LaFleur said:
What are you using for lighting?

Lighting is aerowing LEDs 400w total. On for 18.

Mjml87 · Mar 20, 2025

SamwiseGanja420 said:
What does your whole set up look like? Is it a controlled environment?

I’m using VIVOSUN 4x4x8 tent, 2 fans running at all times, aerowing 400w on for 18, and humidifier set to 60.

RegularRebel · Mar 20, 2025

Mjml87 said:
Lighting is aerowing LEDs 400w total. On for 18

There it is. That's why its stemmy and stretchy. You are growing a short day plant like a long day plant.

Mjml87 · Mar 20, 2025

Putthataway said:
They are two different strains and are going to grow at different rates. If one is stretching you can put on a box or something for a booster seat . Your soil looks rather wet, do you have drainage holes in the bottom? I see you have it on a couch or bed. Off topic but what’s in the mini solo cup the gal is drinking

I had just watered them before the photo op. I do let them dry out. I might be judged for this, but on some weekends… I like to bring them upstairs from the grow set up and just admire them while I drink with the wife. In the cup is Jameson, our usual go to.

RegularRebel · Mar 20, 2025

Any idea why a cannabis plant needs darkness in vegetative stage?

Mjml87 · Mar 20, 2025

Mikedin said:
I’d say they all look good, wether the same strain or not they will never grow exact, you’ll get less inconsistencies with well bred / stable genetics but end of the day there’s still different phenotypes / genotypes that will grow differently of the aame strain, clones will be much more consistant but still will have a bit of variance in growth rates and characteristics (but close enough normally)

For seedlings they all look good, healthy, what do you have for a full setup? Light? Tent? Exhaust, I see you’re using all Gaia, I’ve never used their soils but I’ve done a ton of runs with their amendments

Thank you! I think it’s a full set up, not the best. VIVOSUN. 4x4x8, aerowing lights 400w at 18hrs on. Exhaust, humidifier. Yes Gaia greens living soil, worm casting 10%, all purpose at the prescribed dosage on the package, as well as some myco.

Mjml87 · Mar 20, 2025

RegularRebel said:
There it is. That's why its stemmy and stretchy. You are growing a short day plant like a long day plant.

From your prior post I should shorten the light hrs?

Mjml87 · Mar 20, 2025

RegularRebel said:
Any idea why a cannabis plant needs darkness in vegetative stage?

I do not, would love the education as I want to take this up as a hobby. I’ve done some reading, I believe blue light is what we want. Didn’t realize the light time makes a difference, aside from the photoperiod flip going to 12on 12off.

RegularRebel · Mar 20, 2025

Mjml87 said:
I do not, would love the education as I want to take this up as a hobby. I’ve done some reading, I believe blue light is what we want. Didn’t realize the light time makes a difference, aside from the photoperiod flip going to 12on 12off.

You have the opportunity to learn the right way. There is a lot of really bad information on how to grow cannabis. It's so bad, and so prevalent that it's better to avoid all cannabis specific info altogether. Instead study plant biology, gardening, horticultural science. You will experience a quantum leap in your knowledge and ability. If you are able, I recommend to get the book Greenhouse Operation and Management by Nelson. But you can start anywhere. Avoid imitating. Or you are going to end up imitating bad growing practices. Understand what and why. That means understanding cells inside the plant and what they do. For example photoreceptors are cells that sense light or lack of light. It's not as difficult as many people imagine. You will save money and grow fire. But to get you started, while you are learning, this will help. Seedling: 16 hours light. Vegetative 14-16 hours light. Or vegetative 12 hours light, 5.5 hours darkness then 1 hour light interruption, and 5.5 darkness. This keeps the plant in vegetative growth but gives it a lot of darkness which it loves. Your plants will be compact and wide. Tight internodes. You will see the difference. It needs adequate intense light, that's a fact, but it needs darkness as well and actually prefers darkness. Darkness makes it happy, makes it flower and get excited. And the transition to 12-12 is not so shocking. As for flowering, 12-12 will work. But 10 hours light will also work, so does 8, and it's going to make big resinous buds. After about 8 hours of intense light, the plant goes into "photoprotection" and shuts off, doing nothing. Giving it more light after it tanks up is a waste of electricity and stresses the plant, dries up soil. You are using artificial light, so it may take 10 or so hours to reach that saturation point and photoprotection starts. I've seen reports of cannabis grown in the sun at the equator going into photoprotection midday because the sun is so intense the plant shuts down to protect itself. Perhaps understanding photoprotection is a good place to start. Then understand short-day/long-night plants like cannabis and chrysanthemums. It will start making sense and you will have real knowledge and not just be a follower imitating in ignorance. You can read your plants, solve problems without begging for help and having to believe what someone tells you. Maybe you and her can learn together and share a great hobby. Good luck, and if you need something extraordinary or uncommon in genetics one day, ask me.

Mjml87 · Mar 20, 2025

Mjml87 said:
I do not, would love the education as I want to take this up as a hobby. I’ve done some reading, I believe blue light is what we want. Don’t realize the time makes a difference.

Didnt*

RegularRebel said:
You have the opportunity to learn the right way. There is a lot of really bad information on how to grow cannabis. It's so bad, and so prevalent that it's better to avoid all cannabis specific info altogether. Instead study plant biology, gardening, horticultural science. You will experience a quantum leap in your knowledge and ability. If you are able, I recommend to get the book Greenhouse Operation and Management by Nelson. But you can start anywhere. Avoid imitating. Or you are going to end up imitating bad growing practices. Understand what and why. That means understanding cells inside the plant and what they do. For example photoreceptors are cells that sense light or lack of light. It's not as difficult as many people imagine. You will save money and grow fire. But to get you started, while you are learning, this will help. Seedling: 16 hours light. Vegetative 14-16 hours light. Or vegetative 12 hours light, 5.5 hours darkness then 1 hour light interruption, and 5.5 darkness. This keeps the plant in vegetative growth but gives it a lot of darkness which it loves. Your plants will be compact and wide. Tight internodes. You will see the difference. It needs adequate intense light, that's a fact, but it needs darkness as well and actually prefers darkness. Darkness makes it happy, makes it flower and get excited. And the transition to 12-12 is not so shocking. As for flowering, 12-12 will work. But 10 hours light will also work, so does 8, and it's going to make big resinous buds. After about 8 hours of intense light, the plant goes into "photoprotection" and shuts off, doing nothing. Giving it more light after it tanks up is a waste of electricity and stresses the plant, dries up soil. You are using artificial light, so it may take 10 or so hours to reach that saturation point and photoprotection starts. I've seen reports of cannabis grown in the sun at the equator going into photoprotection midday because the sun is so intense the plant shuts down to protect itself. Perhaps understanding photoprotection is a good place to start. Then understand short-day/long-night plants like cannabis and chrysanthemums. It will start making sense and you will have real knowledge and not just be a follower imitating in ignorance. You can read your plants, solve problems without begging for help and having to believe what someone tells you. Maybe you and her can learn together and share a great hobby. Good luck, and if you need something extraordinary or uncommon in genetics one day, ask me.View attachment 2399881 View attachment 2399882

I just want to say, I truly appreciate you. As of right now… I’ll embarrassingly admit I fall into the category of imitator. But I will def do more reading and inquire with you when needed. Thank you thank you thank you!!!

closettrapper217 · Mar 20, 2025

If you download the Photone app you can measure the dli and ppfd of your leds. Although it’s not perfectly accurate it is a good method for at least having a number to compare to when moving the light up and down.

Usually recommended is like

300 for seedlings

400-600 veg

700-1000 for veg

All measured in umuls or some shot like that lol

Obviously this can vary and nothing will work better than watching and learning the plant. Don’t over complicate it in the beginning. An 18-6 light schedule is perfectly fine. Personally I run 20-4 in veg just to keep my warmth and humidity high in tent in my my cold ass basement lol

SamwiseGanja420 · Mar 20, 2025

RegularRebel said:
Any idea why a cannabis plant needs darkness in vegetative stage?

Not for sure, but I've ran lights on for 24 hours in veg and my plants did wonderful. It seemed like a shorter veg time as well (obviously) and then when I flipped to 12/12 everything went smooth.

Dude… where am I?!? Help

Dude… where am I?!? Help

Mjml87

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Dude… where am I?!? Help

Dude… where am I?!? Help

Mjml87

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