Wierd stem damage - training

[ericsson]

Hello guys!

I have two plants growin in 20ltr pots in my garden.
I did some LST / supercropping (don't really know the difference - I've bent the main stem, allowing lower ones to catch up & keep bending it over once it overgrows the rest).

During the initial "bend" on stem got slightly snapped (HST I guess), while the other was fine - just a little bent. After a few weeks, I noticed that the plant which had a more delicate training is having problems with the stem - it started going brown/dying & looks like it's cracking (with holes in it), the stem started splitting a bit & the rope was growing in.



What caused the cracking / splitting & why? It's funny that the other plant's stem (that got snapped during the first bend) is doing better (although the in-growing rope was an issue also, and again - I removed it).

You can also notice small "cut-in's" that look like made with a knife / sharp object - is this done by some insects?

I also have a question how to avoid in-growing rope in the future (should I remove it after a week or two / use garden plant wire instead - or is it about the method of tying it down [I made a loop])? Also, now I've noticed the new growth is light-green (even a bit on the yellow side) on both plants - would this be caused by the stem issue, or are they lacking some nutirents?
I'm using the Advance Nutirents Iguana Juice grow along with B-52 vitamine (following the suggested doses) once a week. The plants are now about 6 weeks old & I also "feel" that their growth has slowed down (one factor may be the lovely UK summer), and I'm wondering is this caused by the stem problems / nutirent problems / too small pots (will 20ltr be ok?) - or all the above?

That for help & lot's of sun shine to you all!

 

[ericsson]

Ps. Here are two pictures of the plants - this is the one with the stem that started cracking:

And this is the one with the stem that snapped during first bending:

 

[desert fox]

I would go higher. above your 2 node before you break it train it. even when a plant droops from under watering the woodish stalk still stays pretty erect. I would even say the way you performed it, would decrease yield. stake it and hope for the best.

 

[ericsson]

But the damage hasn't occured when performing LST. The bending over was done a few weeks back, when the stem wasn't woodish (I wouldn't force a hardened, woodish stem to bend ~80* with no previous training).
The pictured "cracking" occured just lately, long after the plants have been bent over (even twice by now). Thats why I'm asking what could of caused this type of damage and also how to prevent the rope from growing-in (should it be removed after a certain period of time)? Also, you can see that the stem started splitting open and has some sort of "cuts" - again, I don;t know what is the reason of this happening.

 

[al70]

hi ericsson ,i'm just starting my first grow but done a lot of research bejore I started, I also practised super cropping and lst on cheaper plants,,i used chilli seeds, ye can lst the shit outa them I learned a lot, I think your stem is constantly healing herself, what your seeing is scar tissue, too much lst will surely slow her down, ease of the lst for a while, do you have some sand or gravel in those pots ? good for drainage correct the PH of your water, use garden wire, don't loop just make a hook, I use fishing weights on the wire to bend stems and branches when theyre delicate, just add more weight as you need it, I think they're looking good, just need a little tlc

 

[al70]

http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m553/Plant_Manager/4way tutorial/h.jpg

 

[al70]

http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m553/Plant_Manager/4way tutorial/i.jpg

 

[eric2028]

for future reference if your gonna bend the main stem over u should secure the stem in the opposite direction as u bend the stem. this counter balances so the plant doesn't get pulled up or too far over. I combine hst with lst. I top a clone as soon as it takes off. wait a week then lst those 3-4 tops down. continue from there.... good luck

 

[lost in a sea]

yeah you went far too low..

 

[FunkJungle]

Your plants still look pretty healthy though I doubt it's gonna be much of an issue for you.

 

[al70]

hi ericsson, how are they doing ??????