What are internodes?
Internodes are the sections of stem between one node and the next; the node is the point on the stem where the leaves and branches grow from. Their length determines whether a plant is compact or stretched out.
If you look at the main stem of a cannabis plant, you'll see that the leaves and branches don't grow from just anywhere, but from specific points: the nodes. The smooth piece of stem between two nodes is the internode.
You can picture it like a bamboo cane: the rings are the nodes and the sections between the rings are the internodes.
The nodes are where the buds form later on. That's why the distance between them affects how the plant ends up looking.
Short and long internodes
- Short: the plant stays short and bushy, with the buds packed close together. This is typical of indica-type strains.
- Long: the plant ends up taller and more open, with more air between the buds. This is typical of sativa-type strains.
Neither option is better than the other. Short internodes make good use of space indoors. Long ones let air circulate better, which is useful in humid climates to prevent mold.
What do internodes tell you about your grow?
Besides genetics, light plays a part. If a plant gets too little light or the light is too far away, it lengthens its internodes to "reach" for it and grows leggy and weak. If you see very tall, thin seedlings with lots of space between nodes, they most likely need more light.
Internodes also lengthen during the stretch, the growth spurt at the start of flowering.
Many growing techniques are based on the nodes. For example, topping means cutting off the tip just above a node.
Related terms
Before you grow, check the laws in your country: growing cannabis is not allowed everywhere.
