Flowering & Reproductive Development
Flower Stretch & Architecture
Early flowering often includes continued stem and internode elongation; the magnitude depends on genotype, prior structure, temperature, light environment, and overall growth rate.
Key concepts
- Stretch is not a fixed multiplier
- Internode length changes canopy density
- Light distribution and temperature can influence elongation
- Support needs increase as flowers gain mass
What to measure or observe
- Measure plant and branch height at transition and weekly afterward
- Record internode length at comparable positions
- Map canopy light distribution
- Install support before branch loading becomes severe
Common mistakes
- Using a universal 2x or 3x stretch assumption
- Training aggressively after stems become rigid
- Ignoring support until flowers are heavy
Visuals this lesson still needs
- Stretch measurement timeline
- Internode comparison
- Canopy architecture progression
- Support timing diagram