question?

[zekeyboy]

I went outside today, and one of my top colas was bent over like something had fell on it. I think it's dead. The plant was topped so I have 2 colas instead of one, thankfully. Question is, can I just clip off the top that's broken? Reason I ask, is because I've read that you should never top a plant that's in the flowering stage. I tried to repair it, but I think it's a goner. Thanks. Btw, it's not the whole cola that's broken, it's just at the very top.

[whitegrape]

The main reason for not topping a plant during flowering is because it causes the branches under it to compete to be the main branch, taking away from the flowering. In other words the lateral branches are competing for apical dominance.
If the branch end is truly broken removing that part of the cola will cause no harm. If it's not broken but just bent, you can either leave it, prop it up, or remove it. If you are far enough into the flowering stage where you have colas then snipping it should not cause a problem.

[Rusty Trichome]

Tisn't a great idea to break your cola in the first place, but if there is already an injury...I'd cut it off, cleaning-up the break. (try to leave a clean cut, not a split branch)

[zekeyboy]

The main reason for not topping a plant during flowering is because it causes the branches under it to compete to be the main branch, taking away from the flowering. In other words the lateral branches are competing for apical dominance.
If the branch end is truly broken removing that part of the cola will cause no harm. If it's not broken but just bent, you can either leave it, prop it up, or remove it. If you are far enough into the flowering stage where you have colas then snipping it should not cause a problem.It's not really a cola yet, it's only 3 1/2 weeks into flowering.

[SauceeMcGee]

Tisn't a great idea to break your cola in the first place, but if there is already an injury...I'd cut it off, cleaning-up the break. (try to leave a clean cut, not a split branch)

Rusty is spot on, avoid whopping off your cola if you can! if the stalk that is bent looks to have split or is beginning to brown on the inside and all of the growth from there on up is dying, it is not salvageable. However, if you think you can ween it back to its original vigor then that's what you should do. Chopping off sections of plants during flower causes lots of stress to the plant and could cause it to hermie....:wtf:, same thing with doing any kind of training any later than a week before flowering!

Rusty, check your rep, I left you a note :thumbsup:

Best wishes,

SMG

[Rusty Trichome]

SauceeMcGee: I appreciate the rep and the note. Tried to rep ya back with massive ammounts of wisdom, (kidding) but was told that I must rep other's before repping you again.
Sorry. :jointsmile:

[SauceeMcGee]

SauceeMcGee: I appreciate the rep and the note. Tried to rep ya back with massive ammounts of wisdom, (kidding) but was told that I must rep other's before repping you again.
Sorry. :jointsmile:

I'm glad that you and I are on good terms now. I would hate to bar myself from the ability to benefit from your knowledge and experience!

Regards,

SMG

[zekeyboy]

It's broken. I went ahead and clipped it off. Didn't have a choice. It was dying. Will it be o.k? Will I have a smaller yeild? Will the rest of the plant survive because I clipped it?

[SauceeMcGee]

It's broken. I went ahead and clipped it off. Didn't have a choice. It was dying. Will it be o.k? Will I have a smaller yeild? Will the rest of the plant survive because I clipped it?

Did you clip it off at a 90 degree angle or a 45 degree angle? Try to remove any leafless stalk as close to the next consecutive LIVING node you can. Paying attention to these two things, whichever one applies, will help ensure that your plant wont get infected with disease or pests :thumbsup:

I think you will be ok, just don't freak if the plant has a bit of stunted growth and WATCH FOR NANNERS!!

As far as yield goes...this is how I see it. You might have some stunted growth, which will lead to maybe a couple less bud sites than normal. however, your plant SHOULD have bigger buds on the remaining cola than it would if that piece hadn't busted off...correct me if my thoughts are wrong Rusty.

Best of luck,

SMG

[zekeyboy]

Did you clip it off at a 90 degree angle or a 45 degree angle? Try to remove any leafless stalk as close to the next consecutive LIVING node you can. Paying attention to these two things, whichever one applies, will help ensure that your plant wont get infected with disease or pests :thumbsup:

I think you will be ok, just don't freak if the plant has a bit of stunted growth and WATCH FOR NANNERS!!

As far as yield goes...this is how I see it. You might have some stunted growth, which will lead to maybe a couple less bud sites than normal. however, your plant SHOULD have bigger buds on the remaining cola than it would if that piece hadn't busted off...correct me if my thoughts are wrong Rusty.

Best of luck,

SMGSo why is it so bad to clip during flowering, if you only lose a little? Is the potential of growing a hermie the main reason? I know it's not good for the plant, but most people make it seem like the end of the world.

[SauceeMcGee]

So why is it so bad to clip during flowering, if you only lose a little? Is the potential of growing a hermie the main reason? I know it's not good for the plant, but most people make it seem like the end of the world.

yes, this is one of the main concerns of doing anything to the plant while it is in the flowering stages of its life.

A.) It shocks the plant causing stunted growth and potential die-back
B.) Because of stunted growth, the flowers could lose a lot of vigor and potency
C.) If seeded bud is something you have worked hard to avoid, a single missed ball sack can eff that all up, and it especially sucks when you have more than one plant!!
D.) It's basically just sad to not see the full results of the plant after putting in so much effort to ensure them...

That's my understanding. Anyone, feel free to add any other potential mishaps of stressing the plant during flowering that I may have missed

[whitegrape]

So why is it so bad to clip during flowering, if you only lose a little? Is the potential of growing a hermie the main reason? I know it's not good for the plant, but most people make it seem like the end of the world.
Most people forget it's still just a plant that can survive perfectly fine without us:D
Saucee gave you some good replies concerning the clipping.
I just had to do some massive pruning on 20 indoor girls. The lower branches got way out of control and had to go. No ill effects that I could notice.
Some strains are more prone to turn into a hermie then others.
Look at it from the plants perspective. A female plants only purpose is to produce flowers, get them pollinated, produce seeds, die.
If a male isn't present to pollinate then it messes up the females purpose.