My First Grow - I Need Help ASAP

[hairyboblovesthemob]

Hi, I planted these seeds on September 25.

Looking around at all the threads, it seems my plant is rather tall and skinny compared to so many other's pictures. I'm guessing I had my light up too high.

So today is actually it's 6th week.

I am having trouble telling if they look right for their age or not, there are no books or websites that go into detail with pictures.

I can't even tell if I should be able to sex the plant yet. I thought I would be able to tell within the first month.

So my questions are:
-Are they the right size for their age?
-Are they too tall?
-Can you tell the sex of my plant?
-Should I transplant them to larger pots?
-When should I go to 12/12? I have never seen a definite answer for this.
-I tried to prune one branch, as you can see in one of the pictures, but it just sat there, hasn't branched off into two yet (it's been about 3 days and it was just an experiment). So if that wasn't pruning (which seemed to be the way to do it with all the advice I've read in books and online) then what is pruning? And how to do I do it?

I realize my plants are in the corner of a room by a window and I know I'll have to move them to my closet when the time for 12/12 comes. I already have the closet ready, I just have to buy a better grow lamp (does anyone know any inexpensive ones?) and a small fan for ventilation.

You're probably all laughing at my poor cultivation skills. So someone help me! Pictures of my plants are below:

hairyboblovesthemob Reviewed by hairyboblovesthemob on 11-07-2006. My First Grow - I Need Help ASAP Hi, I planted these seeds on September 25. Looking around at all the threads, it seems my plant is rather tall and skinny compared to so many other's pictures. I'm guessing I had my light up too high. So today is actually it's 6th week. I am having trouble telling if they look right for their age or not, there are no books or websites that go into detail with pictures. I can't even tell if I should be able to sex the plant yet. I thought I would be able to tell within the Rating: 5

[orangeman]

Your plant has stretched majorly. What type of light are you using and how far are you keeping it from your plant? It looks like you should have been transplanted it. No, your plant isn't flowering and it doesn't show any sex yet.

[oturbojoeo4o]

http://www.drugs-forum.com/growfaq/G...c%20Topics.htm

that link will answer all your questions...just read there

yes they are streched hardcore, no they are not ready to flower unless all you want is a couple bud sites, no you cant tell the sex yet, trasplanting is always a plus

when you want to "prune" or top or FIM you cut the growth tip/node

these are the places you see the "pairs" of leaves emerging from...you cut that tip off to "top" (will grow 2 branches when you do that) or cut about 80-90% of the tip off(FIM=FUCK I MISSED) and multiple branches will grow, sometimes up to 8, varies depending on the cut and the genetics of the strain

check out that link though it has all the best info from overgrow.com

what your lighting, temp, humid, how much u want to yield, money u want to invest..so on and so on

helps to have alot of info before one can help

I HOPE I GOT YOU STARTED....its a nice looking grow for a noob, if the light would have been lower from the start, you would have had beautiful plants about foot tall if that

[hairyboblovesthemob]

I don't even want to tell you what kind of light I'm using, everyone will laugh or yell at me. It was all an experiment to see if some seeds I had would actually grow and they grew! And I couldn't believe it so I planted them and just bought a light from home depot, which seems to have worked so far. I was so afraid of burning it, I keep it about 3-12 inches away from the plants. Since they were growing rapidly I kept moving the light up just a little more.

What can I do to fix this stretching problem?

And also, is this plant on schedule? I thought it should be showing some pre-flowers by now.

It's not too late to transplant is it?

[orangeman]

I bet you're using some soft white incandescents huh? lol

[hairyboblovesthemob]

It was a 120W flouresant something or other, it's supposed to be "day light". I know I know, but I am just the most broke person around and I can't afford fancy lighting equip. I'm growing these in the first place so I wouldn't have to buy weed anymore.

[hairyboblovesthemob]

http://www.drugs-forum.com/growfaq/G...c%20Topics.htm

when you want to "prune" or top or FIM you cut the growth tip/node

these are the places you see the "pairs" of leaves emerging from...you cut that tip off to "top" (will grow 2 branches when you do that) or cut about 80-90% of the tip off(FIM=FUCK I MISSED) and multiple branches will grow, sometimes up to 8, varies depending on the cut and the genetics of the strain

So, when do I want to prune? Not until flowering begins?

[hairyboblovesthemob]

Also, do you know where I can find any pictures demonstrating pruning?

[kindprincess]

no, not too late to transplant... go with a 3 gallon...

your plant is probably realy close to maturity, you could flower now...

how to fix the stretch...don't laugh, i'm serious. take a string and tie it to the top of your plants (one string per top). then GENTLY bend that sucker over about 6-12 inches every few hours until they are practically lying on the ground and tie them off. then, lower your light as close as you can. you can still get good results, you just need a little lst.

also consider getting more lights. if you're on a low budget, get a couple 48" flourecent fixtures and some kitchen and bath bulbs (flower spec) and put them about 1 inch from your plants (bulbs don't get hot so it won't burn)

this will give you TREMENDOUS new growth and give you plenty of verticle room.

i think you should lst, then veg for at least 2 more weeks (to get some new nodes, branches) then flower. by bending the top down, branches will become new tops, and you'l have several plants on one stem!

love, kp

[kindprincess]

don't prune/top/fim. too late, your plants are already way too tall... lst. topping helps with young plants, but to get best results, you need to top between 2 and 8 nodes. lst is better, stays squatter and doesn't stress the plant...

'course i top and lst...so...

love, kp