HELP! Plant damaged by missing water

[JCD]

Hi all, I had to go away for few days and did not calculated well my plant watering. Result: Plant was down when I arrived. All leaves were down against the colas, and most branches were folded like a weeping willow. I immediately watered the plant and used strings to ties branches so they were looking up again. After a few days, the plant did not recover well; leaves are like rag. The flowers do not seem to be affected at this point. I am into week 6 of flowering. My setup is a tent, LEDs, going in soil. The question I have; Should I cut the plant and dry the buds right now or can I still hope the buds will grow to full maturity? Could the buds get damaged if I wait? Please, knowledge people, advise on this!!!! Thanks. JC

[Cunjo420]

Not sure if tying up was helpfull maybe it was dunno. But that is how I knew when to water. When leaves drop you water it and in half an hour magic all up and healthy again

[JCD]

I have seen on GWE few videos showing plants recovering from having suffered form lack of water. Unfortunately my plant has not recovered, except for just a bit. I gave it its water ration but it no longer drink it as before. I wonder if the buds will be affected. I am debating wether harvesting now or wait until the trichomes change from translucide to milky as they would normally.

[Tersky]

If it didnt recover within the first day after watering and if it seems as it is not drinking anymore, im sorry to say but it sounds dead to me. Normally, a plant would respond quickly if it were just under watered. Even if it somehow survived it sounds like it's bud production will suffer as it has to recover from near death during the bud production stage. I could be wrong but to me i would chalk this to a learning experience and try and make hash with it or something but i doubt you will have much more bud growth. You could wait it out and just see.

[Rwise]

By doing this you put her in survival mode, all the big leaves will be eaten and fall off, many of the sugar leaves may go as well, she will try to protect her flowers. Once this has started it is not reversible, the leaves will turn yellow, then brown/gold and fall off (as they die I pull on them gently, if they come off they do, if not I check them the next day) I do this to defoliate my plants using Mother Nature. Pics Please!

[JCD]

Thanks all for the information, I am encouraged! I noticed this morning that the leaves have gained some energy; they are droopy and much smaller, and certainly do not look like before but this suggests the plant is surviving. According to what Rwise mentioned, I feel comfortable to carry on and let it go as long as it stands. I was afraid that the buds would degrade but is sounds like the plant will save the buds at all cost. I attached pics just taken. Thanks again!

[Cunjo420]

I rly hope you will make to the end. It looks like it could go finish.

[Rwise]

IF the leaves were clawed like that before use a 30x zoom lens and look for bugs. From there they would say a root issue such as over or under water.