Whats up DGC!? So I recently tried LST for the first time on a normal photo-period Purple Starkiller that’s about 2.5 months old and still in veg. I wanted to try one of the grow hacks I saw you guys talking about using binder clips on the side of a fabric pot to provide an anchor point.
I successful bent a large branch over and tied it. When I moved on to the second branch, it almost instantly snapped and was only connected by a few fibers on the bottom. I freaked out and yelled to the wife, “Tape, I need tape!” She came back about 20 seconds later with a roll of scotch tape. As i reached for the tape, still holding the broken branch in my hand, my arm came in contact with the first branch that I bent and it snapped as well, exactly like the first.
I used the scotch tape and wrapped it around the main stalk, bringing the branch back in contact with where it had broken off. I didn’t wrap the “wound” persay, just used the tape to apply enough pressure to place it back where it was. I did this for both branches. Defeated and down, we made a pipe offering to the cannabis gods and called it a night.
It’s now been 3 days since the accident and I’m happy to report that both branches look great. One had been topped that same night so I was really worried about the doubling of stress but not a single leaf even wilted. The tape is still holding and from what I’ve read, I should leave it on for at least 3 weeks to a month. So here’s my question to the DGC, can I leave the tape on for the remainder of the grow or is going to inhibit growth and possibly cut off nutrients to the branches? I’d rather not remove it as I fear the branches might snap again at some point in flower.
Duct tape works better. Cut a strip and fold the end to make a pull-off flap. Usually fully healed within 2 weeks. I think leaving the tape on will hinder that branch from growing thick, but just a guess. It might just bust through the Scotch tape though lol.
It will be less likely to snap again once healed. Totally reinforced.
Sorry, had to come back and say….that same convo with my wife would have been more like
Me: Tape! I need tape!
Her: where did you leave it?
Me: shit, I forgot….here, hold this branch.
Hahahaha! That me 99% of the time too so I just lucked out and she had some at the ready! Good to know about duct tape, because I’m already worried the scotch might not hold. I’ve reduced the moving air a bit to help them heal but everything is still looking good.
Haha both of you lol. Yea definitely don’t want to strangle nutrient flow to the buds. After its healed up you will want to remove it like a scab falls off a wound. Also like coach Steve mentioned it will heal back way stronger than before. Often times pinching/smashing the stalk with fingers or pliers and weakening it before bending it helps it from snapping. With a plant that old I bet she might have needed a squeeze from some pliers. Live and learn and I’m glad the cannabis gods took care of you and the lovely lady.
I actually did a ton of super-cropping on my first grow but it never felt right to me and I was always worried the branches wouldn’t recover even though they always did. You’re probably right, she’s way too old to just be bending branches like that without prepping them first. Thanks man!
The wound will heal in a few days and you can remove the tape. Depending on the tape and how it’s applied, some branches can pull the tape apart while others may get restricted.
Only a few days? I’m not sure if I have the balls to take it off yet, it’s been about 5 days now. I kind of wrapped the tape around the outer branch and then wrapped it around the base of the stalk, I didn’t actually tape the wound, just used tape to apply pressure so that it fit back to the original location. So far so good! Thanks jmystro!
You got a good seal on the wound so you’ll be fine. You will know within the first few hours if your repair was successful or not. The snapped branch needs to be taped with a good seal that doesn’t allow the broken parts of the branch to separate. The tape holds the two pieces together so air can’t get in the wound. It doesn’t take very long for a wound to heal. That’s why it’s so crucial to tape the broken branch right away or it will wilt. After a few days the wound is completely healed and the tape is no longer needed. Don’t put so much on you can’t easily remove it. Painters tape is much easier to remove than duct tape.
I have used electrical tape a couple of times and left it on the plant till the end with no problems. The tape just stretched as the plant grows.
Ah, electric tape is super stretchy so that makes complete sense. Thank you.
Electrical here. Cut yourself at work and put black tape on it. Healed by the next day. I used duct tape on my lady , in a strip like coach described. She’s drying right now. Left the tape on as I felt that taking it off would introduce more stress
Good save and great wife
Love the DGC
CWN
My opinion, leave it on until it wants to come off
I’ve used duct tape to hold large bottom branches onto the apical meristem that were left on all grow. One time I only had a few fibers from the outer most epidermis layers holding a branch onto the apical meristem. With all that was going on it took me 15 minutes to grab some tape and wrap what looked like a grey ball around the node. The tape stayed on almost the entire grow with little to no effect on the amount harvested from that branch compared to the other lower branches.
On a separate occasion I used soft orange twine like they use in construction to make a halo or hula hoop around the bottom branches to support a branch that broke off at the node. I used a sliding knot to increase the size of the halo throughout the grow. Never saw any loss in bud.
This is an amazing and durable plant. A weed!!! I used to be gentle and nervous around my plants especially when I was depending on the harvest for all my medicine. Just watch the guys walk through large rows of plants growing on the mountains and how many branches get broken off. Even if a branch breaks off the plant will recover and send nutes and water to other parts of the plant. Adapt and Overcome: The Marijuana plant’s moto. Or is that the Marines. Hmmmm.
This was featured on EP 964 FYI. Thanks for posting!
Wanted to follow up for anyone finding this. I left the tape on the entire grow and everything turned out great. The plant mended itself and produced some considerable buds.
Hell yeah man. Nobody ever gives us updates, you da man!