Heavy wire LST to split city

[Jebidiah]

I’m pretty sure it’s me. I’ve tried the heavy wire on two plants now and have managed to split two plants! I’m still learning (second grow, third plant. First grown got to harvest with 1 herm thrown out in week 3 of flower) the first one I know I was too rough and the cut for topping was close to the nodes so the second I left some extra and ended up needing the heavy wire as the plant kept pulling free from the small ones and it’s split too. The first one I felt go and am 100% sure I done it but the second one was fine for a while the started splitting between the arms working it’s way up also this plant is hollow the others weren’t. I’ve pretty much talked myself into the answer of I need to be more gentle so I’m just gonna share the pictures.

 

[dilvish]

you could also use duct tape to repair the split...one layer only

 

[Ckbrew]

Part of what is happening could be just the genetics of the plant. Some plants take to training better than others. For the split, wrap it up tight in tape. I use blue painter's tape. Wrap it around so it is sealed up. It will heal and survive. In the future, you can relieve some stress on the branches by forcing them to conform. This may sound crazy, but I do it all the time and it works. It is better to do this before the stem has turned woody. Squeeze the stem between your fingers to gently crush a portion of the stem. Don't break it off, just crush it for about 1-2 cm until it is softened. Just squeeze it in one plane the same as you want the branch to move in. The stem will become damaged and weak and a bit floppy. Then move it to where you want it and wire it in place. The damaged stem will heal back stronger than it was originally. It is almost impossible to repeat this in the same place, but you can do it further up the stem on the same stem later on if needed. Everywhere it gets damaged it will grow back stronger than original.



Zoom in this pix and look at the stems. You will see where the stem bends a swollen slightly brown and healed-broken looking areas all up the stem. These are the healed areas where the stem was crushed, then bent to the desired angle and wired in place. This is more high stress training, and I get brutal with them. Up to a point, the more you abuse them, the stronger they get.

 

[Jebidiah]

Ok I see what you are saying! Both times here I’ve been working near the end, I’m assuming it’s like a big lever pulling back to the middle and your genius makes sense it bends easier if I soften it up.

 

[Ckbrew]

BTW- Both of these plants (not seedlings) are autos. They were supposed to be photos and they were on 18/6 light so i manifolded them. When they popped flowers at 7 weeks the truth came out. Don't let anyone tell you that autos can not be manifolded.

 

[bboyfromwayback]

Like CK said, as they get older and harder you have to kinda crush the inner stalk some to soften it up. Give it a little squeeze, then roll the stem in your fingers a little. Do this slowly all the way around the stalk and you’ll eventually feel the insides get soft and mushy. Then bend it where you want and bind down because they heal quick when healthy and try to stand back up

 

[rhizoman]

I had that once. Didn’t tape it or anything; the plant just compartmentalized the damage and got on with it. Didn’t seem to affect growth or yield at all.

 

[Jebidiah]

Nearing the end the split grew some but didn’t seem to have any negative effects from my experience with the other one I let nature run it’s course. Moving on I’ve been trying to soften it where I’m working with my new veg and it’s being a challenge with my fat fingers and tiny stalks but I think it’ll be alright thanks y’all!