Floppy stems (flowering)

[Golf278]

Hi all

First time grower here.

This plant has been solid, performing much better than her older sister despite being a few days younger but all of a sudden since she has started to flower she’s started to flop on quite a few of her stems - not her biggest ones but it’s probably atleast 5 which are floppy.

She’s on 18/6, I probably give her half nutrients every 3 days (I just gave her a full dosage to see if that helps), I’ve not tested soil ph (tester on the way from eBay!).

Even on some of the branches that have looked solid - it seems like the new growth is starting to flop.

https://imgur.com/gallery/Ln0JMBg

please help me!

thank you all!

[ellz]

When you find out how to make them stand up straight, let me know! I'm about ready to chop my shit down and it's on day 104! My girls look like a bag of limp dicks and I'm running out of patience! And I go to try to tie them to something and the f'ing stems try to bend or break! I'm about to unleash the grasshoppers and just fork over 200 bucks 2x a month to avoid the stress of growing! Anyway, best of luck. Growing these plants can get frustrating at times.

[Golf278]

Have your buds still been ok despite being on floppy stems?

it has been about 37 degrees (99c) in my tent the past 3-4 days so I’ve just read it could be heat stress. Weather looks to have cooled down again so I’m hoping that fixes it

[ellz]

They are still doing okay. I agree with you about the heat stress. That's what I am thinking too with mine. It's been crazy hot here and is only getting hotter in the coming week (over 100ºF every day -DOH!) I've tried to cool my garage down as best I can but I can't install an A/C or anything like that because there's only one power line running to the garage and it's tapped out with my other stuff. I have a swamp cooler (drains water over a media to cool the air) but that causes the humidity to go up fast so I'm basically hoping we get a cool down soon. I hope you do too!

[Golf278]

Good luck bro! Weed growers must be the only people who want the weather to worsen!

[ellz]

I know right!

[dphipps1020]

Yes, heat stress and they're drinking more water so you may be letting them dry out a bit too much between watering. At least that's what I believe it to be, a combination. I was having a huge issue with that before I got my portable A/C. Now it's on a few of my newer ones but not as bad, and I'm pretty sure it's because I've been letting them dry too much. 99F is a bit too hot for a tent, probably has a lot to do with it honestly. That's what mine was getting to before the A/C but now it stays around 80F with the lights on, 70F lights off. They can be expensive but a portable A/C is really the way to go. Mine is right in my 8x8' tent with 3 hot 315CMH lights and vents directly out the window. I also have mine running during the cooler part of the day, mostly over night.

[ellz]

What about in hydro? Do they just basically consume a ton when it's hot and dry?

[dphipps1020]

In hydro yes, that's part of it. I'm a terrible hydro grower though, none of mine has been done by the book. I don't pH my water and I let her drink the whole tub almost before refilling. No air stones either. I've been putting a little extra CalMag in to help keep the stalks standing up straight. So far it seems to be working, week 5 now and they're still standing pretty straight. The heat will cause root rot quick in hydro though, even with Hydroguard. If you don't have a chiller your water will get warm fast, but chillers are expensive. I'd suggest upgrading your swamp cooler to a portable A/C and you'll see a huge difference.

[ellz]

Fortunately, I do have a chiller so my reservoir temps stay around 68ºF no matter what the ambient temp is. I really want to go with a portable AC but to do that I need another 20A line run to my garage or I'll trip the breaker.

[dphipps1020]

What about a long extension cord? I was trying to add pictures, guess it didn't work.

[dphipps1020]

My wiring is pretty old, I have to watch how much I plug in too. I hate it sometimes because it can make things inconvenient.

[Tersky]

Yeah i try not to get my tent above 85 F so 99 is way too hot and that is probably why they are floppy. You need to fix the heat issue or you will run into issues especially in flower. Are you growing in an non ac area or are you not venting the hot air with an extraction fan? You need to remember that the tent will be several degrees warmer than the air it is surrounded by so keep the air around the tent cool and your tent should stay cool.

[Golf278]

Definitely heat or watering related issue. Gave her a big drink and temp is lower now naturally and the stems have propped themselves back up.

Thanks