Stem Support for Newly Cracked Beans... Ideas?

[Pandaman]

Hello fellow Tree Huggers :)

I'll start off saying that I'm a Novice with only a couple of harvests under my belt and I've been using store bought clones in Rockwool or Rapid Rooters until now.

Now, I've finally moved on to seeds and I'm noticing that the stems of my seedlings are weak and so are my flowering plants. I have a few in flower that were flipped after a week at 10".

The plants have finished their last stretch in flower and have a max height of 22" - 24". Problem is, I've had to tie up all the plants even being this short. The branches seemed to just not grow thick enough to support the weight of the flowers. Is this a common problem with Quick Flipped plants?

It makes me think that I flipped too quick? Or perhaps I didn't give the plants enough Silicate? BTW, this is an LED Grow. All the plants are in 1gal Smart Pots and are super frosty and very hard. Perhaps the grow area is too cool? Does heat create the stress needed for plants to respond by growing stronger branches?

Thanks in advance

Peace

 

[Xceptional]

sorry i thought you were talking about when they are like 3" tall. if they are bigger use the same wire with some bamboo sticks. cheap and easy :)

 

[crom]

Check out my thread for a SSSDH mom and/or dad! I use the DJ Short seedling method. After they pop you put them in 4" pots or beer cups. Fill the cup or pot half way, then when your beans get lanky and unsupported you top off the cup. This ensures a strong root system as the buried stalk will develop roots and help support the plant as it grows. I have pictures from seed to just prior to sexing. Check it out!

Cheers,
Crom

 

[JAHGYDI]

toothpicks

 

[BakedasBeans]

A light breeze blowing over them in the seedling stage will help strengthen the stems for later in their life

 

[Pandaman]

LOL! We use the same wire. I think I have a diff color but I love that wire because you can reuse it over and over :)

sorry i thought you were talking about when they are like 3" tall. if they are bigger use the same wire with some bamboo sticks. cheap and easy :)

I hear ya on the sticks... Spent a delicate 2 hours tying and supporting the plants. Thanks :)

Check out my thread for a SSSDH mom and/or dad! I use the DJ Short seedling method. After they pop you put them in 4" pots or beer cups. Fill the cup or pot half way, then when your beans get lanky and unsupported you top off the cup. This ensures a strong root system as the buried stalk will develop roots and help support the plant as it grows. I have pictures from seed to just prior to sexing. Check it out!

Cheers,
Crom

I will check it out! And that's a great idea! Thanks :)

A light breeze blowing over them in the seedling stage will help strengthen the stems for later in their life

Gotta find a small 4" fan with a Low Setting. You're right... I don't start in with the fans till they're in Vege and because of that I have weak plants in Vege. Thanks :)


Thanks all for your help!

Peace

 

[weed sucks]

i mean when i start out seeds they have a tendency to stretch a bunch if they have to "look" for light or arent getting enough of it. pretty normal though, and although they may not seem like it, as long as your not blasting them with like a crazy fan knockin em over they should be fine. when you transplant into the veg container plant it deep, up to the first set of true leaves. the rest of the stem will develop roots shortly.

flipped after a week?!?! you mean like a week of veg?? i hope, not just a week of growth from a seedling?? its best to grow out seedlings AT LEAST until pre flowers, so you get the potency and all of the plant growth that is expected.


funny enough i use those little plastic dental floss/toothpick things. pop the string of dental floss off and stick the toothpick side in, dont even need to tie it can just nest in that little spot

 

[cannagirl]

I would lower your lights over the seedlings, they wont stretch with high intesity light directly ove them. Also the fan is a critical part of stem strengthening, this is the one I use Link

 

[Pandaman]

i mean when i start out seeds they have a tendency to stretch a bunch if they have to "look" for light or arent getting enough of it. pretty normal though, and although they may not seem like it, as long as your not blasting them with like a crazy fan knockin em over they should be fine. when you transplant into the veg container plant it deep, up to the first set of true leaves. the rest of the stem will develop roots shortly.

flipped after a week?!?! you mean like a week of veg?? i hope, not just a week of growth from a seedling?? its best to grow out seedlings AT LEAST until pre flowers, so you get the potency and all of the plant growth that is expected.


funny enough i use those little plastic dental floss/toothpick things. pop the string of dental floss off and stick the toothpick side in, dont even need to tie it can just nest in that little spot

I think flipping a week after the beans crack would spell disaster, lol! No, I meant a week of being under Vege lights. This really is a micro grow for personal needs.

I have a large bag of those flosser toothpicks, I should put them to good use, thanks :)

I would lower your lights over the seedlings, they wont stretch with high intesity light directly ove them. Also the fan is a critical part of stem strengthening, this is the one I use Link

That looks like quite a powerful fan! It has a low setting, right? That fan looks powerful enough to blow the plants against the grow room wall :).

Thanks for the tips :)

Peace

 

[ReadySetGrowD9]

u can get a small fan from walmart or 5 bucks the will do the job... i have 2 of them and belive it or not they move alot of air for there little size...

 

[Pandaman]

Thanks man :). Gotta do it right this next grow with all the proper equipment. Got three Love Potion#1 seedlings and I've been waiting for this grow for almost a year :). Practiced on some beans I didn't care about and noticed this problem...

Thanks again

 

[ReadySetGrowD9]

nice love potion is super dank!!!!! cant wait to see that grow ;)

 

[Pandaman]

You reminded me... Gotta start taking pics of the little girls now. They barely have their third set of leaves and I want to start posting the grow when I get half way through flower :)

 

[TwoCreeks]

I start under flourescents and keep the light an inch or so above the seedlings. That, some air movement, and some space to add a little soil and you shouldn't have any problem with the stems being not sturdy.

 

[d420]

Paper clips

 

[minster]

burying stretched stalks

Check out my thread for a SSSDH mom and/or dad! I use the DJ Short seedling method. After they pop you put them in 4" pots or beer cups. Fill the cup or pot half way, then when your beans get lanky and unsupported you top off the cup. This ensures a strong root system as the buried stalk will develop roots and help support the plant as it grows. I have pictures from seed to just prior to sexing. Check it out!

Cheers,
Crom

Has anybody else buried thier stalks? I have a few seedlings that are slightly stretched (have moved light closer now). I read on other sites that there may be a risk of stem rot if buried. Anyone had this problem?

Would be interested in any thoughts, thanks all.

 

[crom]

Has anybody else buried thier stalks? I have a few seedlings that are slightly stretched (have moved light closer now). I read on other sites that there may be a risk of stem rot if buried. Anyone had this problem?

Would be interested in any thoughts, thanks all.

I have never had an issue with stem rot with this method. I water my seedlings with a turkey baster and ensure that it's not too wet or dry ever. It's similar to a clone that has root nubs on the stalk while rooting. After buried the coco/soil or whatever will support the usually lanky stems, and initiate root growth since there is a lack of light and moisture. Now if you overwater or leave your medium soggy then yes root rot is an issue. I just enjoy the boost in growth that I get due to the rooted stalk compared to just the taproot and side roots that form. Just a technique that I use to solve a couple seedling issues at once.

Cheers,
Crom

 

[ronvmpc]

bobby pins. stretch them out and angle them.

 

[minster]

I have never had an issue with stem rot with this method. I water my seedlings with a turkey baster and ensure that it's not too wet or dry ever. It's similar to a clone that has root nubs on the stalk while rooting. After buried the coco/soil or whatever will support the usually lanky stems, and initiate root growth since there is a lack of light and moisture. Now if you overwater or leave your medium soggy then yes root rot is an issue. I just enjoy the boost in growth that I get due to the rooted stalk compared to just the taproot and side roots that form. Just a technique that I use to solve a couple seedling issues at once.

Cheers,
Crom

thanks for the reply Combien..sounds good to me.

can any other fellow farmers share their experience here?

thanks all

 

[Snowblind]

You could try to feed your plants more K in veg to promote stronger branching.