cut shoots and cracked stem

[jakeh]

I've got a plant that was looking beautiful and then started losing leaves and small lateral branches that looked like an out right cut. I checked today and now the main stem looks half cracked.
1. Anyone know what insect did this?
2. Would the insect have bored into the main stem?
3. What would you add to the stem to help it heal?
thanks,
jakeh

 

[HeadyPete]

pix? there are various pests from caterpillars to cutworms to borers that will dig into a stem.

I would clean the wound out with hydrogen peroxide and seal it up with wax or horticultural seal for trees. Splint it if it needs it, but rest assured if that crack is not too bad, that plant will live and grow around that wound to be better than ever.

There is a technique called supercropping in which you gently bend and crush the branches from base to top of plant and when these injuries heal they allow more sap and nutrients to the branches because they have rebuilt the passageways bigger and better than original, which results in bigger yields.

 

[10k]

That sounds like it could be possible mice damage jakeh.

It wouldn't hurt to find out, just put out some snap traps in the grow space, baited with peanut butter. nails em every time.

If its just a slight crack or split, some floral tape is plenty enough.
If it won't stand on its own then gently tape it to a pop-sickle stick.

I've seen members use blue painters masking tape and it worked out fine.

 

[jakeh]

Thanks for the quick replies. The cracked stem really does not look like anything bored into it and you may be right 10k on the mouse front. I'd prefer a mouse to something I can't see boring up and into my main stem. Luckily she still looks beautiful and at 3ft she should be taking off.
later,
jakeh

 

[FreezerBoy]

Any droppings? If it's a mouse, it will come back.

 

[jakeh]

No droppings but I am now suspecting a rabbit could have done it as well. On the ground you will see a lateral stem an inch long chewed on each end. I am hesitant to put any animal repellent out due to a bad experience with some that contained putrid eggs. What repels one animal seems to attract others. On a good note I took 2 pieces of wood and made a splint with 2 zip ties. If there is anything I've learned this year it is:
1. This get them established around knee high and check on them once a month is wishful thinking. It may work but I would end up with way more plants than I want. I'd personally rather focus on a few than 1/2 ass many to get the same result.
2. This plant can take some serious abuse. I've had them broken in 1/2(repaired in 2 days), dug up and thrown to the side(stuck back in dirt and watered and looked great in 12 hours) and eaten by bugs(I'm not personally pruning but the bugs have done it and made them bushy as hell). Now I've got this mouse or rabbit deal and I'm sure the splinted plant will heal in the next 2 days.
It is heart breaking to see them abused like this but their will to live is nothing short of amazing. It has made me wish for 25 sq ft of controlled space indoors but I'm sure I'd be starting threads to save my indoor garden as well. I just need to get to october. Thanks again for the input.
jakeh