Broken a main at the trunk, manifolding

[d42zero]

Hi,

I've broken a main stem at the trunk and I'm wondering whether it's likely to heal or I should just cut it off... I don't really want to lose half my plant but I feel like if it's not likely to make it then I should just cut it now and let the plant put all its energy into the other side.

I'm 'manifolding' these plants, it's my first time but it's similar to a pruning technique I've used before so it's the one I'm most comfortable with. It involves a fair bit of cutting and bending to create the shape (kinda like bonsai!) so over the next few weeks this stem is going to cop a bit of a flogging. I've got it braced right now but I'm not sure it's helping, in the photos you can see there's a fresh bit in the break (the brighter green bit) and it's leaking water.

Do you think that's recoverable or should I just take that side off?

 

[Blew Hiller]

Bend it up so it connects and see if it reheals...you can always cut it off later

 

[d42zero]

I've been trying that since I did it but I have the new end tied down and I think while the plant is reaching for the light it's putting pressure on the broken bit, each day it looks a little worse and there's a fresh green tear at the bottom of it. I can't untie it completely though or it'll stuff up the shape so I'm kind of stuck :/

Have you seen a break that bad repair itself before? If I saw that on my veggie plants I'd just rip it straight off but this isn't just a veggie plant lol

 

[Barney86]

Just tape it back together mate. As long as it's not completely severed she should be alright. Ive had worse breaks that survived. Some people even do things like that on purpose. It's a pretty resilliant plant mate. You'll be surprised what they can take

 

[d42zero]

Hrm ok I'll give it a go and see what happens. I'm going to do the second round of topping tonight to take the plant from 2 mains to 4 mains, so once I clear a bit of the growth I should be able to get a bit closer and brace it better.

Fingers crossed it works