Flowering & Reproductive Development
Stretch, Elongation & Flowering Architecture
The flowering transition often coincides with changes in stem elongation and branching, but the magnitude and timing of stretch vary with genotype, light environment, temperature, density, and prior architecture.
Key concepts
- Internode elongation is a developmental and environmental response
- Stretch changes canopy spacing and support requirements
- Light quality and intensity can influence morphology
- A single height multiplier is not universal
What to measure or observe
- Measure plant and branch height at consistent intervals
- Record internode length at comparable positions
- Track canopy PPFD during elongation
- Document support installation and branch angle
Common mistakes
- Planning space from a universal stretch factor
- Changing light and temperature together then attributing response to one
- Measuring only final height
- Ignoring cultivar variation
Visuals this lesson still needs
- Stretch measurement timeline
- Internode comparison
- Canopy height growth curve
- Architecture-support planning diagram