Support Stakes or NOT ?

[Tactical Farmer]

Normally I stake a plants main stalk pretty well to prevent wind or rain damage,

BUT

Got a new spot that is surrounded with a natural wall of vegetation that should provide a nice wind break.

It seems like when there babied with stakes the stalk gets wimpy relying on the support.

So what im getting at is (should I) or (do you) always use support stakes or what ?

THANKS

 

[.clunk]

I usually start staking in early flowering but this year I'm double planting each hole and using stakes from the time the clones go in the holes to train them apart and horizontally through veg, I'll be staking them in a \ / so they don't compete for sunlight. In flowering I'll probably have to add a centre stake and tie the two up to it, to keep them upright.

 

[Tactical Farmer]

yeah, 2 per hole "your gonna need some stakes".

There is def something about the plant getting blown around causing stalk to get nice & strong naturally though.

Its like a minor "supercrop" break reaction in the stalk in the areas that get the most movement.

Same concept as a human lifting weights with the stress then rebuild stronger to cope with the abuse.

May be best to wait till the branch weight gets high in flower to run supports & pray they dont get storm blasted till then...

 

[haxi]

Hi
Imo, you should help the plants to support the buds if you're growing big ones.

Last year I had a lot of work with stakes and tape to maintain the buds (they were very heavy when it rained).


Peace!

 

[D.S. Toker. MD]

I wouldnt plant without a solid stake.

1. I use a wire cage and my stake slides through the webbing of the wire and once driven into the dirt, it holds the cage in place.

2.Just as quick as a deer will eat a plant, it will run over it and break it off. I use a rebar stake and he cant force it over without hurting himself. It prevents deer breakage.

3. 1 thunderstom= 1 - 50 mph downburst and the season is over if the plant isnt staked.
TF, your plant and all of the rest of that " wall of surrounding vegetation" is going to be laying flat on the ground.


Dont gamble and end up crying. Stakes arent that hard or costly.

 

[Tactical Farmer]

Stakes arent that hard or costly.

Those days of cheap steel are gone, rebar is about $8 for 8 ft @ lowes

And you must have forgot how much fun it is cutting them in half, SOB level is up there

That is a proper plan though, just got a bunch of rusty rebar @ the scrap yard @ .50C lb so about $2 for 8ft

Running them with chicken wire cages like you said, can you pull it off 1 rebar per or 1 for the cage & 1 for the plant ?