Issues with bent stem- help?

artemisinked

Active Member
One of the stems bent on one of my 3 week old seedlings- they're about 2 1/2 inches high now and it bent underneath the cotyledons. Staking was awkward for the little thing and created issues with keeping the plant close to the light since the stakes I have are too high. So, I carefully replanted the seedling up to just under the cotyledons covering the stem. I did this quickly because I needed to get a move on in the morning and was running late.

I know now from reading past posts that I should have created a splint or taped the stem. But now that it's buried, I don't want to disturb it. Is there any chance that the seedling will root along the buried stem and rehabilitate itself? Or did I just basically inadvertently murder the seedling?

Thanks in advance for the assistance!
 

R1b4z01d

Well-Known Member
I thats better then cutting the stem. You should be fine. I would let it play out. This plant is very vigorous and will try to keep growing as long as it can. Remember its a weed :P
 

artemisinked

Active Member
Thanks SO much for the assurance! After my bungled first attempt that ended in a genocide of seedlings (including all sorts of seedlings destined for the garden), I'm an overprotective mommy with my second go round of the little buggers. They look much happier this time around under 2 20W cool flouro bulbs and I'm hoping to transplant them outside when they have their third or fourth sets of true leaves. Will be potting the whole lot of them up into bigger pots with Fox Farm Ocean when it comes in the mail to give them a few more weeks of growth before subjecting them to the big bad world outside (also because the shotty peat pots that I used are disintegrating before my very eyes and won't make it a few more weeks).

Big thanks for the input. I feel less like the Charles Manson for seedlings.
 

daisy2687

Well-Known Member
I think there's a good chance it might figure things out and live. Foliar feed it water with a spray bottle twice a day. If bottom leaves start dying off, cut them off to save the energy for the healthy parts. If it looks fine after 2-3 days then you're probably golden. If it looks worse and worse dont throw it out for at least 10 days.

Good luck
 
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