Falling Object - Broken stem

[Emph]

Title says it all. Hanging my new 400watt HPS today, the reflector extension fell and smashed into a girl's stem. It didn't sever it, but it has made it mushy and unable to stand up straight.

What can be done? I've already hung a support wire holding it mostly vertical, but it doesn't look good. Will this potentially kill the plant, or just make it bush out? It's damaged about 4 inches away from the new growth.

 

[Stress_test]

Keep it clean and tape it back in place. You might have to brace it for awhile but it will probably be ok.

 

[303hydro]

Just tape it man, if your lucky you will get the " super-crop " effect. It will be ok.

 

[Twigster]

That's one way to super crop your plant, I would support the top a little bit. After time it should form a nice nuckle where it bent, you should be fine. Best of luck!!

 

[FreezerBoy]

while this has (koff koff) NEVER happened to me, if it DID, i'd use twist ties to hold it together. now, pardon me while I grind down my nose...

 

[Emph]

Haha, thanks guys. Just freaked out and wasn't sure what would happen... I've got it supported, just the leaves are wilting. I'll get a pic up shortly.

 

[Pompey_Monkey]

Sounds like you've learned a lesson here - move your plants out of the way before working above them!


Just like I learned not to try and lean into the back of a four foot deep cabinet when I was drunk last year...I absolutely did not fall in and I totally didn't destroy about 3 oz of bud. Honest!

 

[qbert]

I had a couple not heal well and instead of the super-crop knuckle I got a partially open, veiny sort of weirdness that apparently couldn't transport fluids (or whatever goes through the stem) well and they died.

On the other hand, I've totally bent in half some at various stages - even left a few at a 90 degree bend until finished - and had just fine recovery (although severe breaks much into flower always caused delays in finishing for me).

 

[nickman]

i dropped a light on top of a plant b4 ...

it healed up nice , just had a knuckle like effect ...

 

[supaleeb]

I would foliar some vitamins on that lady. It'll help her recover faster. SuperThrive will do the trick, if you have any lying around

 

[geopolitical]

Misting the top part that's been "grafted" back on can help relieve some of the water stress as the damage is repaired. Wilt pruf works great for this but I wouldn't use it on a plant I was going to smoke.

 

[stoney917]

never happened to me either but if it were to i heard a little clonin gel on the wound helps heal it quicker and calm ur nerves.
hey monkey same shit happened last year i dont allow myself near plants after 2 beers nemore, i actually drink alot less since . i lost a 5ft monster and a whole trat 50 of rooted cuts that a friend was waitin on an was comin 2 get that night.
yo emph no worries this shit happens to everyone some time. ud be surprized what a plant will live through. just dont let 200lbs land on it. it wont live though that.
DONT DRINK AND GROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LOL

 

[Pompey_Monkey]

just dont let 200lbs land on it. it wont live though that.
DONT DRINK AND GROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LOL

LOL - I re-adjusted my light cycle after that incident so the lights are off in the evenings when I get back from the pub. The need to keep them in the dark overrides my desire to fiddle!

 

[Emph]

Thanks for the tips, everyone. I've been misting the part that broke and it looks to be recovering, new growth is starting from a side shoot near where the incident occurred...

Lesson learned, though.

 

[tomfooler]

I've broken stems while super cropping,just hanging by a thread.
Held the two parts together,wrapped with brown parcel tape [all that was available at the time].
plant healed completely.
I've done this more than once.
success every time.