Snapped main stem :(

I was training (lst) one of my plants this morning and should have been anchoring the stem while bending it to take stress off. But I wasn't careful enough and pop the stem snaps below the top three nodes, it was still attached on the back side. I was able to push it back in place tape it and added a pipe cleaner to anchor it, attached to the stem further down.

I think from what I've seen it should be fine if I give it time to heal. But being my first grow I would appreciate some reassurance
Leave it and it will heal, or top it where it broke?

From the back


Side


Front

I was also going to prune some of the bigger fan leaves from the top that are covering some of the new growth, but with the break should I not add more stress and just let it heal for now?

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I use to lst and snapped stems regularly at first, I just taped them up like you did and all recovered.

I agree with waiting to defoliate, less stress while the plant is putting it`s energy into healing.

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Thanks Hobbes, I would have liked your post but I can't seem to do that yet.

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No worries, I'll like yours.

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I love the bandaids! Yeh itll be fine dont worry it will bounce back before you know it. Its actually beneficial believe it or not it just halts the growth slightly for a week or so it will develope a knuckly at the break, a strong knuckle which will help deliver more food and hormones to those branches.

Great thanks everyone. How long should I leave the tape on it? I would guess not too long or it might prevent it from growing out, 2-3 days?

It's been fours days and I wanted to check on the healing. The top looks healthy and has kept growing, quickly, there are two more nodes.
But it's added so much weight that the tape and wire support didn't hold it in place.

There's a gaping crack and it's leaned back over. It looks like it's thickened a bit around the stem but I can see right into the center of the stem. In short, it's not pretty. It's holding itself in place but I don't know how strong it really is.

Should I just leave it alone or try to splint it to keep it from getting worse?

Side view

from the front


Back of the stem


The top

I break stems and main stalks all the time. Sometimes even by accident.

They'll almost always heal. Even without taping them back up, the majority of the time the branch will expand its water pathways with whats left to keep the broken portion healthy.

I think your break will heal itself with no problems. Just don't keep mucking with it!

spek9 said:

I think your break will heal itself with no problems. Just don't keep mucking with it!

Click to expand...

+1
When to remove splint - if it gets in your way. Since it's your main it probably won't get in the way till harvest.

Other than that, only remove if you notice that it inhibits growth - which means it healed anyway so it's a win-win!

The stem is hollow in the center and exposed though.
Is that ok, water doesn't travel up the center right? Fluids travel up the outer portions of the stem? The xylem?
Just making sure I shouldn't at least try and cover the opened wound.

I wanted to put a scrog net over it today, I don't want to risk any more damage so I'll wait a few more.