[Kindon67]

This grow was problems from beginning to end. I can’t wait to start over. I had two of my four plants die after transplanting to grow bags. Because of this I could never get the lights to be at proper level for all four plants even after cutting the tall ones down. Took two weeks to star two new ones that due to flu at worst possible time. Not that there could be a good time for flu. Then they stretched like crazy when I started budding and grew into the lights at maximum height. The pairs of leaves stretched to like 6 inches apart too. Don’t have any idea what caused that. It happened to all four and not just the two farthest from lights. The two new ones were different and they never grew at same rate. I’m still going to get some good bud but I was stressed out the whole time. The next grow I’m using auto flower and I’m going to start more plants than I’m using so I can pick out best ones after transplanting. Now summer is here so I’ll throw the others outside and get what I can from them. If anyone knows why the pairs stretched so far apart please let me know. They started out so close together until lights went 12/12.

 

[ArtfulCodger]

This grow was problems from beginning to end. I can’t wait to start over. I had two of my four plants die after transplanting to grow bags. Because of this I could never get the lights to be at proper level for all four plants even after cutting the tall ones down. Took two weeks to star two new ones that due to Covid at worst possible time. Not that there could be a good time for covid. Then they stretched like crazy when I started budding and grew into the lights at maximum height. The pairs of leaves stretched to like 6 inches apart too. Don’t have any idea what caused that. It happened to all four and not just the two farthest from lights. The two new ones were different and they never grew at same rate. I’m still going to get some good bud but I was stressed out the whole time. The next grow I’m using auto flower and I’m going to start more plants than I’m using so I can pick out best ones after transplanting. Now summer is here so I’ll throw the others outside and get what I can from them. If anyone knows why the pairs stretched so far apart please let me know. They started out so close together until lights went 12/12.

What light did you run? What dimmer setting? Hanging how high above the tops?

 

[Kindon67]

What light did you run? What dimmer setting? Hanging how high above the tops?

I have a VS3000 light from Vivosun and I tried to keep lights between 16-24 inches. I kept lights at 100%.

 

[Oldchucky]

This grow was problems from beginning to end. I can’t wait to start over. I had two of my four plants die after transplanting to grow bags. Because of this I could never get the lights to be at proper level for all four plants even after cutting the tall ones down. Took two weeks to star two new ones that due to Covid at worst possible time. Not that there could be a good time for covid. Then they stretched like crazy when I started budding and grew into the lights at maximum height. The pairs of leaves stretched to like 6 inches apart too. Don’t have any idea what caused that. It happened to all four and not just the two farthest from lights. The two new ones were different and they never grew at same rate. I’m still going to get some good bud but I was stressed out the whole time. The next grow I’m using auto flower and I’m going to start more plants than I’m using so I can pick out best ones after transplanting. Now summer is here so I’ll throw the others outside and get what I can from them. If anyone knows why the pairs stretched so far apart please let me know. They started out so close together until lights went 12/12.

Welcome! That’s farming! you’ll figure it out!

 

[Phyto]

I would recommend not doing autos until you get a handle on your growing issues. Autos are very unforgiving of mistakes.

 

[Kindon67]

I would recommend not doing autos until you get a handle on your growing issues. Autos are very unforgiving of mistakes.

Autos would guarantee not to grow too high. I forgot to mention that my tent is being regulated by uis controller so the environment is well controlled. I use auto watering pots so there’s no watering issues either. Part of my issue is that these plants were from seeds. Plants are known to shoot up in beginning of bud cycle. I did start the cycle early enough though. I believe it’s a maturing issue due to starting from seed. When I used clones they responded very well to change in light cycle. I’ve read that’s because clones have already started the maturity process. I do have clones from a plant I removed from tent cause it was getting covered by other plants. I was going to put those outside in a month when weather changes. I’m going to go for the autos I know they will be in perfect environment. What about fertilizer? Do you think that was possibly the issue? I waited til they started showing bud before going to bloom fertilizer. Maybe I should start bloom earlier. Any thoughts on these theories?

 

[Kindon67]

I would recommend not doing autos until you get a handle on your growing issues. Autos are very unforgiving of mistakes.

I just read this online. I never dimmed lights. It says to dim them at flower to prevent over growing.

 

[ArtfulCodger]

My guess is you ran out of light. The plants acclimated to 100% power from the start of veg, and then couldn't get any more than that and stretched to find it.

 

[Bobcat.Branch]

Autos would guarantee not to grow too high.

This is absolutely incorrect, and it demonstrates that you definitely should get a handle on basics before growing autos.

 

[Bobcat.Branch]

I just read this online. I never dimmed lights. It says to dim them at flower to prevent over growing. View attachment 2413446

I, uh... I...

 

[Kindon67]

This is absolutely incorrect, and it demonstrates that you definitely should get a handle on basics before growing autos.

Well thanks for sharing that without any insight. Smoke a bowl bro. I never professed to have a phd in horticulture. But I was visiting Corning University in the early 80’s while they were pioneering hydroponics and I have a background in horticulture. So I’m about to venture into autos and see what I learn. I’ll get back to you after I get my masters.

 

[Bobcat.Branch]

Well thanks for sharing that without any insight. Smoke a bowl bro. I never professed to have a phd in horticulture. But I was visiting Corning University in the early 80’s while they were pioneering hydroponics and I have a background in horticulture. So I’m about to venture into autos and see what I learn. I’ll get back to you after I get my masters.

Good luck

 

[SmallspaceGrace]

Sounds like your lights were raised quicker than the plants could stay with them causing exsessive stretch .. or the strain wasnt suited .

 

[Oldchucky]

Pictures would go a long way towards solving this,who done it! Pics or it didn’t happen!

 

[Phyto]

Autos would guarantee not to grow too high. I forgot to mention that my tent is being regulated by uis controller so the environment is well controlled. I use auto watering pots so there’s no watering issues either. Part of my issue is that these plants were from seeds. Plants are known to shoot up in beginning of bud cycle. I did start the cycle early enough though. I believe it’s a maturing issue due to starting from seed. When I used clones they responded very well to change in light cycle. I’ve read that’s because clones have already started the maturity process. I do have clones from a plant I removed from tent cause it was getting covered by other plants. I was going to put those outside in a month when weather changes. I’m going to go for the autos I know they will be in perfect environment. What about fertilizer? Do you think that was possibly the issue? I waited til they started showing bud before going to bloom fertilizer. Maybe I should start bloom earlier. Any thoughts on these theories?

It’s your call, but given that you say the conditions were optimal and completely automated, it’s clear something went sideways. To me it doesn’t make sense to try and grow autos, which are more difficult, until you get a handle on what caused the last grow to fail. Hate to see you waste another grow cycle.

 

[Kindon67]

Sounds like your lights were raised quicker than the plants could stay with them causing exsessive stretch .. or the strain wasnt suited .

This is the comment that makes the most sense. Because the plants had a dramatic difference in height, I struggled with keeping lights at an optimal height. My past grows have been perfect so I know I am watering, pruning, lighting, fertilizing and keeping the environment correct. I don’t understand why everyone is so against me trying autos. Everything I read says that autos are more forgiving and recommended for newbies. I’m not a newbie per se but I’m not an expert either. I’ve learned that clones are better at maturing and will respond to the light cycle change quicker. I’ve read that this is due to clones having started the maturing process already. This has been my experience and I read that this is true. The last two grows have been from seed. The last grow got a little high too but stopped growing in the nick of time. This one stretched in the end and created a huge problem. But they grew beautifully until I started budding. I have clones that I was planning on putting outside. Now I’m wondering if I should put clones in tent and put autos outside. What would you think about that?

 

[ArtfulCodger]

Everything I read says that autos are more forgiving and recommended for newbies.

The simplest case against autos, for newbies and in general, is that we never want to flower sick plants. With autos, we don't control when that happens. With photos, we have all the time in the world to get the plants healthy (and the right shape and size to fill our space). Autos are fine, but for new growers who might initially struggle to keep plants healthy, they add risk.

 

[Galgrows]

So if they are too tall supercrop them. But you say you've had success " perfect " grows all from clones? Autos are not forgiving like photoperiods, if you break a branch, top to many times over feed or water to frequently they stunt. They hate being cold, they seem to be more sensitive to heat flux. Do you make your own clones? It would be helpful to show us your set up.