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Denver, CO

I have two plants with a good set of leaves on them, 3rd leave about size of a dime now. My problem is the stems are growing so fast, that the plant now wants to flop over. For the most part, the stems are not "skinny stalky" ones. What can I do to slow the stem growth or make them fatter?

Currently about 2 inches from a light source and being kept at about a 82 to 87 degrees.

Any help is great!

5/4/2006 8:40:50 PM

San Jose [email protected]

let her grow, put that bad boy in the ground, and kind of help it lay down nicely, or she will snap (like mine did last year)get some sticks or chop sticks and make an "X" and let the vine rest in it.

5/4/2006 8:52:15 PM

San Diego

get it in the ground asap where real sun light will help it. Bury it up to the seed leaves and it will be fine. Jimmy

5/4/2006 8:53:37 PM

Phoenix, AZ

You are growing with a red light source. That has plants getting leggy.

5/4/2006 11:31:20 PM

Deer Park WA

ghopson, if you are holding the plant hoping to not frost out, try repotting it in a larger container burying it up to the seedlings cots. We lived in Arvada for years so we know about those late hard frosts that will totaly stunt/kill your season. Failing that (not knowing your situation) mound soil around the plant, use styrofoam and sticks to support it, throw more light at it, and if your not in the ground yet learn from this and start your seeds next year in rythem with your last average frost date.....

5/5/2006 12:40:04 AM

Colo.Spgs.CO. Pikes Peak Chapter @ [email protected]

ghopson, Hey how is it going. I think putting plants out now in the weather we have had is a bit too early. my cold frames will be up hopefully by saturday, and the plants out by mid week next week. If you have leggy plants being 2 inches from the light, then you are using the wrong light source. I use two 4 ft. double fixtures per shelf, with croma 50, cool white, and warm white bulbs in them all mixed up cool white works the best, but I like to mix the spectrums of light. Make sure the bulbs are not old as the light will not work well also with worn out bulbs. I keep my plants around 6 inches from the bulbs and never have had leggy plants, as I used this for my clone method 6 years ago to keep plants alive all winter with great success. If this does not work, then you may have some type of a growing medium/ soil problem.Also I use a 2.5 gallon landscape pot when the seed sprouts, until I get the third true leaf, then it goes outdoors. I am a firm believer that getting your plant root bound in a pot has negative consequenses down the road, but that is just my opinion with a seed started plant, as I also think different rules apply to cloned plants.. Good luck, hope to see you at the weigh-off this fall.....JK

5/5/2006 4:29:51 AM

Ma.

Try growing it in cooler temp. even 75 to 80 after re-potting up to the cots. good luck

5/6/2006 12:15:17 AM

Rhode Island

all of above information is very good .
next year also try starting your seeds a bit later to coordinate with the date you want plants ready for the patch.
this usually means starting your seeds seven to eight days before planting date.
pap

5/6/2006 6:40:56 AM

Denver, CO

Thanks for all the replies. I figured I had about 10 to 14 days before I would have to transplant outside as this has been the norm for me in the past. But with these two at least I am being forced to throw them outside a bit early. I have two plastic window well covers forming a bubble to cover them and a small crock-pot to go into each bubble for warmth at night. I'll just keep my fingers croseed and hope from there. (Good to hear from you 400 SF, we will see you in the fall. Heading to the store now to pick up some diffrent bulbs for the next batch!)

5/6/2006 4:49:58 PM