So is my seedling LSTing itself?

[Jadian21]

Well I hadn't checked on a few seedlings that are less than a week old for a day or two and when I checked to water I noticed one has gone completely sideways on me. The top where the leaves are is just outside the cup I have it in and the whole stem is basically completely sideways but still supporting itself, and growth seems to be healthy as the rest.

Is this just a case of stretching or does my plant want to LST itself?

Jadian21 Reviewed by Jadian21 on 09-26-2007. So is my seedling LSTing itself? Well I hadn't checked on a few seedlings that are less than a week old for a day or two and when I checked to water I noticed one has gone completely sideways on me. The top where the leaves are is just outside the cup I have it in and the whole stem is basically completely sideways but still supporting itself, and growth seems to be healthy as the rest. Is this just a case of stretching or does my plant want to LST itself? Rating: 5

[whatsthatsmell]

well, to be honest a pic would help ALOT, however, from what your describing is a seedling that is looking for light (stretch) and has gotten top heavy so it fell over, and is now pointing to the light. Like i said, it would make it alot easier if you could post a pic of it.

So, what are the lights you are using? How close are they to your plant?

[Jadian21]

I'll be getting a camera next month sometime, but just imagine a seedling 1.5 inches tall. About 2 cm up from the top of the dirt it goes horizontal for the remainder of the stem, then points up when it comes to the leaves.

I have one of the regular white CFL bulbs a few inches above my 6 seedlings and a 80 watt HPS type flood light about 2 feet above them. I thought that they might have been stretching which is why I added the flood light to the mix, before they just had the CFL on them.

All other seedlings I've had fall over would just stop growing and die, this one acts as if it just wants to lay down and chill.

[Jadian21]

Well the flood light made everything really come to life and start growing. This is going to be one funny looking plant if it survives like this, I guess I'll keep training it or something, pictures within a week or two!

[Delta9Haze420]

You are geting stretching from excessive light distance. Retrain the seedling by moving a CFL very close (but not as to burn) to the seedling on the opposite side that it is leaning toward. This will cause a little more stretching, but will get the plant pointed upright again. This happens fairly commonly in the CFL Hydro germ setup I invented. It is no problem though because in my setup, the CFLs actually rotate around the sides of the tank, which emmulates a solar cycle. After it is mostly upright, watch for any more light stretching and correct accordingly (on all the seedlings). You may also want to (lightly) pack a little dirt around the base of your seedling(s) affected by this once it goes verticle again to eliminate some of the above ground stem stress and add some support... Good luck.