What?! What do you mean by slowing them down? If they are stretching because they dont have any light It will make them unstable and it will not slow them down. I like the smoosh technique though its probably unrealistic... What you need to do is set them in the sun somewhere while youre gone. Preferable in a window or somewhere air conditioned. If not CFLs are usually quite cool and wont burn the plant until it is RIGHT up on it so you should be fine. I'd prefer alittle burnt leaf to a unstable plant that youll have to string up because it stretched so much...