My cannabis seedlings are very leggy. Is it possible to save them?

Main Cause of Leggy Seedlings

From your description I would guess you did not have adequate lighting for your little ones when they sprouted. When germinating, the cannabis seedlings do not need light but after sprouting they need adequate light to grow properly. Unfortunately, the grow lights you are describing (that screw into a regular base socket) are not typically powerful enough for growing cannabis. That being said, four lights will be better than one and your new system should outperform your old grow light. Hopefully, the change you made can save your seedlings. However, if you plan on continuing the hobby of indoor cannabis cultivation you may want to invest into a flourescent or LED light system designed specifically for plant growth. These systems will have the wattage and spectrum needed to beef up your seedlings and to grow cannabis full-term. Ideally, cannabis seedlings would receive 20-40 watts per square foot of space.

Other Potential Causes for Leggy Seedlings

Once the lighting issue is corrected it is possible to carefully, and I mean carefully, transplant the seedlings into a deeper container so you can bury the majority of the leggy stem and allow the top portion of the seedling at the base of the soil. If the lighting is adequate, the seedlings will continue to develop in a more compact manner. Only try this method if the seedings have produced their first set of "true leaves" (the ones that look like cannabis leaves).

Other reasons for leggy seedlings include temperatures that are above the desired range, overcrowded seedlings, or, in rare cases, lack of nutrients in the medium. I believe your issue stems from your original grow light which, in my opinion, was underpowered. However, it would still be worth checking these other potential causes to make sure everything else is on point. I hope this answers your question and that your seedlings bounce back soon.

Keep on growing!
Lee G. Lyzit