New Grower Question about Stretch

[Slartibartfast]

I have read on a number of posts how to avoid stretch. Why is this a bad thing? As long as you support the seedling would it not be better? At flower would it not allow more light to penetrate the plant? I know I am missing the point so what do I have wrong.

 

[WVTurtle]

If your light is above the top of your plant and your plant is tall by the time the light gets to the bottom half of the plant the intensity has dropped quite a bit.

 

[kryptogreen]

Too much stretch = weak and spindly plant

 

[Muddy]

Too much stretch and your buds won't be compact. Ideally you want to raise or lower your lights as needed to keep your node spacing, the space between the leaf sets, at about 1".

 

[Duck Commander]

If your plant is too stretched then the amount of lumens is a lot less at the bottom than at the top hence poor penatration.. There is a chart somewhere with the heights and amount of lumens you get and lose

 

[kryptogreen]

Inverse square law clearly shows how rapidly penetration declines.

 

[GoAuto6]

 

[kryptogreen]

Nice graph, but isn't the 1/16 lumen at 4 feet incorrect? And I am only asking not trying to make waves on a good thread.

 

[GoAuto6]

ya I think a ninth should be an 8th

 

[Nixx]

ya I think a ninth should be an 8th

Whoop whoop - neh - its 3x3 = a 9th