Tag: guide

Why Is My Cannabis Plant So Tall and Skinny? How to Prevent Stretching

Written by kate on 06/10/2025. Posted in Growing Cannabis, Seeds 101.

One of the most common problems new growers face when starting from seed is stretching. Stretching is when your plant shoots up tall and skinny, and she sways back and forth at any sign of air flow. While it might look like fast growth, it’s actually a sign that your plant isn’t getting enough light. Understanding how to prevent cannabis from stretching is crucial for healthy cultivation. Read on to learn how to keep your cannabis plants from stretching.

Cannabis plants stretch to reach the light they need to survive. If stretching goes unchecked, your plant can become lanky, unstable, and prone to pinching off. Knowing how to prevent cannabis from stretching can save your plants from these issues.

🌿 How to Prevent Cannabis Stretching

Here are some key tips to keep your plants compact, healthy, and strong:

Use the right light intensity – Make sure your grow light is strong enough and placed at the proper distance, and keep in mind a window sill will probably not provide enough light for your plant.
Watch your light spectrum – Blue light during veg helps keep internodes tight. Too much red spectrum early on can cause stretch.
Avoid overcrowding – Competing for light in a packed tent can cause plants to reach upward aggressively.
Control heat and humidity – High temps or inconsistent environments can stress plants into stretching. Alternatively, they can also stress your plants causing other issues.
Train your plants – Use low-stress training (LST) or topping to keep height manageable and promote bushier growth.
Have good airflow – A strong fan can not only help move the air around, but it can also strengthen your plants growing stems.
Start with solid genetics – Some strains are naturally stretchier than others. Choose stable genetics from trusted breeders.

Stretching is one of the first signs your environment needs adjustment—but with a few tweaks, your cannabis plants can thrive with stronger stems, tighter nodes, and better yields. Learning how to prevent cannabis from stretching will ensure your plants grow to their full potential.

Has your lady already gotten some long legs and you need to know what to do now? Check out our post on what to do when your plant stretches too much.

💡 For more cannabis grow tips and trusted seed genetics, follow the Seed Cellar Blog or stop by our shop in Jackson, Michigan!

A Simple Autoflowering VS. Photoperiod Cannabis Seeds Beginner Guide

Written by Jordyn on 07/19/2024. Posted in Growing Cannabis, Seeds 101.

How do you decide what types of cannabis seeds to grow?

Each type of cannabis plant comes with its own set of perks and challenges. Speed, maintenance levels, and growth control are all factors to consider when deciding on your garden. So, we will break down the simple, but key differences between autoflowering plants and photoperiod plants in the future.

Auto Flowering Strains

Short
Automatically Flowers
Lower Yields
May Not Require Too Much Nutrients

Autoflowering plants are categorized as a certain type of cannabis subspecies that has been bred to automatically flower once the plant has reached a certain level of maturity. These plants do not require a change in their light cycle to induce flowering and have a shorter flowering time. We recommend a simple 18 on, 6 off light cycle during their whole life.

Particularly, what gives these types of cannabis seeds their different characteristics is the subspecies Ruderalis. As a result of crossing a photoperiod plant, with the Ruderalis, a strain that can automatically flower without triggering the light cycle is created. This incredible subspecies of cannabis plant originates from Southeast Asia through evolution in extreme conditions. Due to the Ruderalis plant originating in harsher climates, these seeds do not require hefty nutrients. Customers can find autoflowering strains in feminized or non-feminized varieties.

Photoperiod Strains

Tall
Moderate to Extra Large Yields
Requires Changes In Light To Flower
May Require More Handling and Nutrient Care

Photoperiod strains can be described as the traditional cannabis plant. Accordingly, these plants require a trigger in their light cycle to induce flowering, and average a 4 month lifespan from initial growth to harvest. With the right space, these plants can get large and yield exponentially! Plants will tend to require more attention and care throughout their lifespan, including training and correcting nutrient deficiencies.

Another key point to this type of cannabis subspecies is the potential to clone the plant. These are cuttings from photoperiod plants that have taken root. Accordingly, clones are going to be genetically identical to the mother plant it was retrieved from.

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