My plant, what should I do?

[sanchezz]

Hey all, I've been reading up on what kinds of methods people use to keep their plants small, and I just want some advice here.

My plant is between 4 and 6 weeks old, with first pestils starting to form in the upper joints. I've attacked some pictures, and right now I'm using a 250w MH bulb, and the plant itself is about 1.5ft tall. It's been grown with natural light in the windowsil up until this point, but it's starting to get dark earlier.

Should I force flowering soon, or let it get a little wider by clipping the top? A few suggestions would be nice.

Thanks!

[spongebobsmokepants]

If your finished height is a concern, then you can start flowering now. It will easily double in size. Or you can train it with the LST method which can be found by searching this forum.
Peace

[sanchezz]

Thanks for the response. From what I've read most people start LST after the third node sprouts. I'm a bit concerned with the rigidness of the main cola right now, and don't want to break it.

For flowering, I want a 12/12 lighting schedule, no?

[klondike_bar]

for flower, anywhere from 12-14 hours of light. 14 is near the upper limit and may not aways trigger, but will give that extra daily energy.

id say it looks ok to start flowering, plenty of nodes with a few branches starting to extend.

[sanchezz]

Awesome, I'm gunna switch to a CFL setup in a couple days here because the MH is like a miniature sun in my room. Thanks again.

[TheGanjaKing420]

Don't use the 14 hours of light. Stick with the simple 12/12.

[sanchezz]

Okay,.cool. At this point I could almost get away with a natural light cycle + a couple hours of CFL, then stick it in the closet.

[TheGanjaKing420]

You'd be better off just keeping it under the CFL. I don't know exactly what you mean by "natural light cycle" but I'm assuming you are setting it on a windowsill or the like.

[sanchezz]

Exactly, windowsil from dawn until dusk which is about 12/12. I'll most likely put it in the closet under the CFL on a timer though.

[Jerry Garcia 2007]

I don't know where you live but where I am at the light is 10/14 this time of year. Also if you have a MH lamp look into getting a HPS converson bulb, your plants will love that more then the CFL's.
If you have had it in natural light and MH you will be drastically decreasing the light available when switching to CFL's also.
Just some things to think about.

[sanchezz]

Well, I have only been using the MH for about a week, and I'm not going to be able to use it really. It's just too friggin bright and I don't have the accommodations to build a box or anything.

Here it's about 11.5/12.5 (light dark) but the plant will be moving into the closet with a timer so I can give it a steady lighting schedule.

As for the CFLs I was either going to do a double or triple CFL setup with some kind of reflector dome. This is my first grow, and I'm surprised it's working so well so far =p

[klondike_bar]

i use a 13h cycle at it works great

[sanchezz]

13 on, 11 off? or 13/13