Hey ilgm community,
I already made a post and got very nice advice and reassurance.
I think my plants are doing pretty well, but one of them is already too close to the light which is already as high up as it can go. They also seem a bit bushy in the lower area and there are a few shorter branches which I fear might not get enough light penetration.
The girls are Mephisto autoflowers (mango smile 2x, Fugue state, double grape) and currently at day 42 from planting sprouted seedling.
Due to the lack of training the space is getting really tight now and I wonder if I have to defoliate or just spread them a bit with a net. I’ll add some pictures and am looking forward for any tips.
If they are photoperiod and have not transitioned to flower, you can supercrop to open and spread the plants out.
Using a net you will also need to install before flower as the plants harden off after transition and training is very hard to do.
All 4 are autoflowers from Mephisto. The tallest branch has only a distance of 40cm to the light by now. Should I not try to install the net?
I would bend the branches over gently and tie them down. Nice looking plants for sure
Will try tomorrow, thanks a lot !
You can also look at the set up for hanging the light and possibly modify things to get the light up higher.
Many times the stock hangers use up a lot of headroom with their design.
I’ve had to modify several of my stock light hangers and gained from 6” to one foot additional head space.
That’s what I’d do. I use those black paper clamps and twist ties.
I know that a lot of growers hang their in-line fan and filter. If yours is like that you can take it down and gain some more overhead space. I just set mine on the floor . I guess that could effect the air circulation
I will check it out tomorrow. But even with the exhaust system aside there is not that much more room. My pots stand a bit elevated for me to collect the runoff more comfortable, can’t lose that before finding a better solution for it.
Could try it out but the floor is even more stuffy with the humidifier and dehumidifier.
For height my fan and filter are outSide the tent just have flex pipe in at the top
I had photoperiods before that never grew that high. I am not sure if I really am doing something better this time or if the genetics are that good. The other 3 flowers are as I expected autoflowers to be, compact and relatively small. Maybe i’ll rearrange my setup like that for the next go. Am a bit concerned about the branches that still chill way lower down.
They are beautiful, honestly that’s what I expected my autoflowers to be like. I really need to get into training them to control them 
You should be able to put it outside the tent. Like the fan on top setting down in a hole with a one of those dryer vents going down to your finger setting in the floor. You be surprised how much space that frees up, even if it doesn’t help you rn with the whole height thing. Have you thought about pitting those thin door mirrors on the floor and along the floor to throw light up to the bottoms? Idk if that would work, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t. Unless it would make the light too intense. But the light would be way up high away from them. They are only like 10 bucks at wig-mart.
Beautiful plants. Lst now is going to be a bit harder ime. Branches are set and may break. And I use silica. But I agree it’s probably worth a try. Can always patch them up. Some will say don’t mess with an auto in flower/preflower ish but I still defol and push the limits in late flower and have no known slow down or tantrums. Lst in autos makes a huge difference for me. And if me I’d defol to get some light and air. My employee had mangos from MG defol and lst in autopots and almost hit the lb mark. Your plants are not going to be small!
I might really try it out for my next grow. Mirrors sound like an interesting idea but I can imagine that it could make the light too intense.
Thank you! I am carefully trying to at least bend the main one just a little bit to protect it from too much light.