Hi guys..

Im about to start a new grow, and all my previous ones have kind of followed the same route, and results. My problem really is getting these little babys going,

I germinate all ok, no problems there.

Then when it comes to potting them they all seem to grow up really quickly, but because they do this, they have weak stems and get bent over and have to be tied up. Now that’s not such a problem, but when I see peoples plants on here, they are like 6inch high after 2 weeks and have loads of leaves. Where as mine are like 10inch high and have fewer leaves.

Now I was told this was because my light are to far away, so I lowered it.
But I think the real problem is im using the wrong lights, like to start off with I use a bog standard fluorescent bulb, and then I wack them under a growlux, when they are stronger, but I recently bought a HID, so my plan is now to have them grow under the fluorescent for a couple of weeks, at about 5inch from the plant tops, then switch them to HID after about a month, then id move to the growlux.

I just thought id check with you guys before I go fucking any more plants up

Ps, I would have asked sooner but I didn’t have a pc at home, and uk420 is blocked at work

whats the wattage of your lights?

As Dan has just asked,what is the wattage of your lights and at what distances were they from your plants?

There's your problem right there. Instant stretch.

Edit - dammit no its not. I thought that said something else

ummm to be absolutley honest, i dont know . what do you guys advise because i can grab one from the shop on the way home, that way i can be 100% sure its the correct one

the distance was in the begining about a foot, then i lowered it to a few inches, then raised it to about 5".

when i get the vegging light sorted out, ill get it as close as possible, with out getting to hot

Mine were 9 inches from a 250 watt HPS 5 days after emerging (with a couple of computer fans keeping a nice breeze going), and got their first repotting 5 days after this photo (cramped roots make plants "bolt" IMHO)

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it may just be the strain you are growing some strains like haze grow very tall with buds spaced far apart but these plants produce very dense and powerfull buds
you can even use a hid from the very start by placing four foot over your young plant. that way its getting the best spectrum of light without drying out or getting burnt leaving it to work on producing roots
if new seedlings grow tall and then fall over dont worry this happens in nature. if left the plant will pull itself up strengthening the stalk in the process
when i used seeds many moons ago i used to wait for them to pull back up and then gently slap them about untill bending over again (being very carefull not to snap any) this produced very strong stalks from the begining but does seem to slow root growth