Watching cannabis seedlings grow into full-grown flowering plants can be a rewarding experience. However, this portion of the growth process does come with its own set of challenges.
Stretching is one of the most common problems that growers experience when working with seedling cannabis plants. While not life-threatening to the plant, stretching can lead to problems later on in the life cycle.
Cannabis seedlings are juvenile cannabis plants that were popped from seeds. Typically, these are plants that are still establishing their roots early on in the vegetative stage. Seedling plants will then go on to become vegetative plants, and later on, flowering plants
The seedling stage of a cannabis plant’s life is an important one. This is where the plant will lay its foundation in preparation for becoming a mature plant. However, problems like stretching can have a negative impact on the plant.
Stretching in the seedling stage can cause health problems for the plant that will affect the health of the plant later on in life. According to the University of Minnesota Extension, “In the process of reaching toward a light source, seedlings can develop weak stems, making them less healthy overall.”
There can be several reasons why your cannabis seedlings are stretching. Some factors can be controlled, others cannot. Reasons why your cannabis seedlings are stretching can include (but are not limited to);
If your seedling plants are left to stretch, the weakened stems can allow the plants to become susceptible to viruses, viroids, and molds. If pests are found in the grow, this can worsen the threat to the seedling plants. A stretching seedling plant could add fuel to the flame, so to speak, if additional problems are also present in the grow.
While there are some factors that we cannot control, there are some ways to prevent your cannabis seedlings from stretching.
First and foremost, consider the lighting in the nursery area. If the lighting is too high, your cannabis seedlings will stretch towards it. Vice versa, if the lighting is too low, it can burn the leaves of the plant and stress them out. It is recommended to research the strains that will be grown before adding them to your grow to help avoid easily avoidable mistakes such as this.
Second, a focus on promoting root growth can keep a plant from stretching. A plant that stretches to reach the light will put more energy into growing up rather than expanding its root system. This can cause problems down the road, such as a weakened base during the flowering portion of the plant’s life cycle.
Finally, remember that genetics can play a crucial role in cannabis seedling growth. Certain strains will grow quicker and stretch more than others. For example, sativa dominant strains like Super Lemon Haze are more prone to stretch than strains that are more even 50/50 or indica dominant.
Preventing stretching is more of an art than a science. Understanding the needs of the plant and addressing them accordingly can help ensure a good early start for your cannabis plants. During their seedling stage, cannabis plants are susceptible to a wide range of problems and pathogens. Keeping them from stretching is just one way of making sure they grow healthy and strong.
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Work Cited
Hoidal, Natalie. “Tips for keeping seedlings healthy | UMN Extension.” University of Minnesota Extension, 6 April 2022, https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-news/tips-healthy-seedlings. Accessed 8 January 2024.
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