Hollow Stems? - Cannabis Botany and Advanced Growing Science - International Cannagraphic Magazine Forums

Dakine · 03-19-2017, 01:09 PM

Hey you guys, I had A question about stems. I've been seeing alot of debates about whether or not hollow stems are good or bad.

Many people seem to think that hollow stems are actually a sign of A perfect healthy plant. Also that A hollow stem is better for the plant to be able to pass water and nutrients throughout its self known as Capillary Action?

Others seem to think hollow stems and/or red stems are due to deficiencies such as calcium and/or boron?

I've noticed that my healthiest looking plants seem to have thick pithy stems. When I supercrop or cut branches off for clones, the stems are filled and juicy. Also when I bend branches down,they'll fight it and want to bend back up and grow straight up.

I recently just had A nute deficient girl that was rootbound in A 1-Gallon Smart Pot for about 2 months. She stretched majorly and her branches where very hollow. I could bend the branches super easily and didnt even have to tie them down..

So I think some of the hollow stems might be due to genetics.. But IMHO I would think alot of it is due to nutrients. What do you guys think about having hollow stems?

ganjygav · 03-19-2017, 01:35 PM

Never thought much on it. I've noticed some strains are Woody and some are hollow. My blueberries I have going now are hollow but my plants are healthy. The M.O.B I'm growing along side the blueberry have solid stems. I just thought it was strain dependent.

Dakine · 03-19-2017, 05:40 PM

Alright. So are hollow stems just present in mature/older plants? So Pit or Pithy stems is Cytoplasm, which conducts water and dissolved minerals when the plant is young. The xylem and phloem are basically the important parts for vpd to transfer and direct to and from the stomata from roots. They are located on the innerwalls but outer part in the stem.

But I still dont understand why A plant will have hollow stems. Then give it calcium,silica, and all that good stuff and you dont have hollow stems anymore?

seeded · 03-19-2017, 11:50 PM

I'm pretty sure people think hollow stems are ideal because the plant isn't acting like hemp and growing fibrous stems which they assume to mean it's instead growing like cannabis. Personally though I've seen nothing to suggest it's anything other than a genetic trait that leads to floppy colas on top heavy plants so it's not something I look for in my girls.

DemonTrich · 03-20-2017, 01:40 AM

Don't think I've seen a hollow stem yet in 4+yrs and over 18 strains.

All 100% healthy top shelf strains

Jhhnn · 03-20-2017, 03:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ganjygav

Never thought much on it. I've noticed some strains are Woody and some are hollow. My blueberries I have going now are hollow but my plants are healthy. The M.O.B I'm growing along side the blueberry have solid stems. I just thought it was strain dependent.

That's my take on it as well, that it's strain dependent. My latest batch, Rio Negro Colombian, had hollow stems-

https://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php...tureid=1694835

Loc Dog · 03-20-2017, 04:10 AM

I grew GG4 in coco for 2 years with solid stems. Went to hydro, and have completely hollow stems. Have been adding cal/mag and silica. When I cut them down in 20 days will report back here. GG4 is clone only, so genetically identical, and not a phenotype issue.

Dakine · 03-20-2017, 04:20 AM

From personal experience, I didn't think hollow stems was A good sign though. I only got it when neglecting plants. But if the internet is correct(lol) mature plants end up having hollow stems, and the younger plants have full stems with the pit/pithy inside..

But if you think about certain things, I don't see how anyone would actually think hollow stems is A good thing. A lot of people are saying it's good and that their vpd is on point according to "other growers". Some don't even know what A stomata is or does but are certain that I'm wrong about it being bad if it's not genetics...

EDIT- For example, what stems are usually the easiest or hardest to Clone?

troutman · 03-20-2017, 04:25 AM

Sometimes I get both hollow and solid stems in one grow.

Not sure if there a big difference though.

Loc Dog · 03-20-2017, 04:49 AM

Solid stems are much easier to clone. Hollow ones have problems with capillary action (I am assuming) and turn to mush.

I just threw out a bunch of GG4 in RDWC that had hollow stems, 3 weeks into flower, because I neglected them, doing too many things at once. Noticed that the hollow stem plants did not respond well to supercropping. Most that were bent, never grew upwards. The branches that were not bent grew crazy tall, like GG4 is known to do in first 3 weeks of flower.

I should have moved that batch to RDWC sooner, and let veg a couple of weeks, to develop massive root system. Some were on the weak side, for RDWC.

03-19-2017, 01:09 PM	#1
Dakine Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Some where out there...in the middle of no where... Posts: 1,497	Hollow Stems? Hey you guys, I had A question about stems. I've been seeing alot of debates about whether or not hollow stems are good or bad. Many people seem to think that hollow stems are actually a sign of A perfect healthy plant. Also that A hollow stem is better for the plant to be able to pass water and nutrients throughout its self known as Capillary Action? Others seem to think hollow stems and/or red stems are due to deficiencies such as calcium and/or boron? I've noticed that my healthiest looking plants seem to have thick pithy stems. When I supercrop or cut branches off for clones, the stems are filled and juicy. Also when I bend branches down,they'll fight it and want to bend back up and grow straight up. I recently just had A nute deficient girl that was rootbound in A 1-Gallon Smart Pot for about 2 months. She stretched majorly and her branches where very hollow. I could bend the branches super easily and didnt even have to tie them down.. So I think some of the hollow stems might be due to genetics.. But IMHO I would think alot of it is due to nutrients. What do you guys think about having hollow stems? __________________ Dakines New Grow -On Going TnT Labs Semi Auto Strain Test Grow-On Going TnT Lab Genetics Grow Diary Test Grow-On Going Afgooey SuperSilverHaze Ssh x TrainWreck
	Quote

03-19-2017, 01:35 PM	#2
ganjygav Cannalise Legabis Join Date: May 2014 Location: Where the sun dont shine Posts: 2,120	Never thought much on it. I've noticed some strains are Woody and some are hollow. My blueberries I have going now are hollow but my plants are healthy. The M.O.B I'm growing along side the blueberry have solid stems. I just thought it was strain dependent. __________________ Went to the zoo the other day to watch the monkeys masturbating... Then I I went to see the alligators and I was still masturbating
	Quote

03-19-2017, 05:40 PM	#3
Dakine Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Some where out there...in the middle of no where... Posts: 1,497	Alright. So are hollow stems just present in mature/older plants? So Pit or Pithy stems is Cytoplasm, which conducts water and dissolved minerals when the plant is young. The xylem and phloem are basically the important parts for vpd to transfer and direct to and from the stomata from roots. They are located on the innerwalls but outer part in the stem. But I still dont understand why A plant will have hollow stems. Then give it calcium,silica, and all that good stuff and you dont have hollow stems anymore? __________________ Dakines New Grow -On Going TnT Labs Semi Auto Strain Test Grow-On Going TnT Lab Genetics Grow Diary Test Grow-On Going Afgooey SuperSilverHaze Ssh x TrainWreck
	Quote

03-19-2017, 11:50 PM	#4
seeded Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Posts: 635	I'm pretty sure people think hollow stems are ideal because the plant isn't acting like hemp and growing fibrous stems which they assume to mean it's instead growing like cannabis. Personally though I've seen nothing to suggest it's anything other than a genetic trait that leads to floppy colas on top heavy plants so it's not something I look for in my girls.
	Quote 1 members found this post helpful.

03-20-2017, 04:10 AM	#7
Loc Dog Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: South Central Posts: 2,393	I grew GG4 in coco for 2 years with solid stems. Went to hydro, and have completely hollow stems. Have been adding cal/mag and silica. When I cut them down in 20 days will report back here. GG4 is clone only, so genetically identical, and not a phenotype issue.
	Quote 1 members found this post helpful.

03-20-2017, 01:40 AM	#5
DemonTrich Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,088	Don't think I've seen a hollow stem yet in 4+yrs and over 18 strains. All 100% healthy top shelf strains
	Quote

03-20-2017, 04:20 AM	#8
Dakine Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Some where out there...in the middle of no where... Posts: 1,497	From personal experience, I didn't think hollow stems was A good sign though. I only got it when neglecting plants. But if the internet is correct(lol) mature plants end up having hollow stems, and the younger plants have full stems with the pit/pithy inside.. But if you think about certain things, I don't see how anyone would actually think hollow stems is A good thing. A lot of people are saying it's good and that their vpd is on point according to "other growers". Some don't even know what A stomata is or does but are certain that I'm wrong about it being bad if it's not genetics... EDIT- For example, what stems are usually the easiest or hardest to Clone? __________________ Dakines New Grow -On Going TnT Labs Semi Auto Strain Test Grow-On Going TnT Lab Genetics Grow Diary Test Grow-On Going Afgooey SuperSilverHaze Ssh x TrainWreck
	Quote 2 members found this post helpful.

03-20-2017, 04:25 AM	#9
troutman Seed Whore Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: In the Fridge Posts: 1,602	Sometimes I get both hollow and solid stems in one grow. Not sure if there a big difference though. __________________ I just died.
	Quote 2 members found this post helpful.

03-20-2017, 04:49 AM	#10
Loc Dog Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: South Central Posts: 2,393	Solid stems are much easier to clone. Hollow ones have problems with capillary action (I am assuming) and turn to mush. I just threw out a bunch of GG4 in RDWC that had hollow stems, 3 weeks into flower, because I neglected them, doing too many things at once. Noticed that the hollow stem plants did not respond well to supercropping. Most that were bent, never grew upwards. The branches that were not bent grew crazy tall, like GG4 is known to do in first 3 weeks of flower. I should have moved that batch to RDWC sooner, and let veg a couple of weeks, to develop massive root system. Some were on the weak side, for RDWC.
	Quote