So your cannabis plant stretched too far. Don’t panic—it happens, especially during early veg or right after sprouting.  While stretching can lead to weak stems and unstable growth. However, there are simple fixes that can help your plant bounce back.

Here’s what to do if your cannabis plant got too tall and lanky:

🌱 How to Fix a Stretched Cannabis Plant

A majority of stretching happens due to inadequate light. In this case, you can take these simple steps to fix your stretched cannabis plant.

• Increase light intensity – This is more than likely what caused your plant to stretch in the first place, so fixing this issue is crucial. If you’re using a weaker bulb or low-watt LED, consider upgrading or replacing old bulbs. If you are indoors and using no light at all, that’s your problem. Sadly, your kitchen window will probably not provide enough light to keep your plant growing healthy for long. If you want to grow indoors or even start your outdoor crop inside, invest a small amount in a grow light.

• Lower your grow light – Make sure your light is closer to the top of the plant.

How to Stabilize Your Plant Now that it has Enough Light

• Repot and bury the stem – Carefully transplant your plant into a deeper pot and bury part of the stretched stem. Cannabis stems grow a lot like tomato plants, meaning they can grow new roots when buried, which helps stabilize the plant. If you left yourself room at the top of the current pot, you can also add some moist but not soaking wet soil.

• Stake it for support – Use soft garden ties loosely around the stem and a stake or popsicle stick to support the plant until it strengthens.

• Improve air circulation – A gentle fan strengthens the stem as it moves, helping it grow thicker and more stable over time. I tend to use a rougher fan from the beginning. Once your plant is hardened off, she can handle quite a bit of air flow. Get an oscillating fan and your plants can happily pretend they’re experiencing a blustery spring day.

Stretching is a common issue, especially for indoor growers or those using weak lighting during the seedling stage. With a few simple steps, you can recover from stretching and get your plant back on track.

🌿 Want more cannabis grow tips and expert advice?
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