Maybe a way to save a plant?

[Marc Benson]

Do you think if a plant is root bound that if you just left it that way and foliar fed it all the time that it'd survive and prosper? In other words take the roots out of the picture (to a degree). I have two plants in one container (yeah I know it was stupid) and so far they haven't shown their sex (7 days into flower). I'd sacrifice one of them but my luck I'd hack down the female and leave the male. Anyone done any R&D on the above scenario? Thanks!

Marc Benson Reviewed by Marc Benson on 07-19-2005. Maybe a way to save a plant? Do you think if a plant is root bound that if you just left it that way and foliar fed it all the time that it'd survive and prosper? In other words take the roots out of the picture (to a degree). I have two plants in one container (yeah I know it was stupid) and so far they haven't shown their sex (7 days into flower). I'd sacrifice one of them but my luck I'd hack down the female and leave the male. Anyone done any R&D on the above scenario? Thanks! Rating: 5

[Zandor]

The roots need water and nutrition. The leaves can't absorb enough moisture to sustain the life of the plant.

[Marc Benson]

I wasn't suggesting that you didn't water or feed the roots. Just that you supplement a reduced root watering schedule with foliar feeding. Could this possibly reduce the 'need' the plant (from the soil up) requires from the roots? Roots would still be healthy. Just not as important to feeding the upper plant. In other words what I'm suggesting is that you give the roots a break which could allow them to survive being root bound (and thus the rest of the plant) instead of just continuing to feed the crap out of them as normal and have them grow even more root bound. Like doing a lot of upper body weight training but reducing lower body training. Body still survives but the upper is stronger.

I understand that the leaves can't absorb enough to survive off of, but they can absorb some. Probably quite a bit if pushed to do so. Question is whether or not it would reduce the stress of a plant being root bound to a point where it would help prolong or improve it's life. Guess that's why someone invented the word "try". Which is what I may do as the plants to this point had been perfectly healthy. Perky. Last few days a little droopy. Got me worried.

[HARDDON]

No this wont work.

MJ doesn't just drink water like you and I.

It is the roots that take the water AND nutrient and convert them into completely soluable solutions.

Once the conversion takes place, the roots then assist in converting the solution to sugars and different saccharides.

The solution is then transported up the stems to the leaves and flowers.

The part you are missing here is the roots are needed for the conversion process. Cellulose cannot make the transformation itself. Other cells in the MJ plant CAN benefit from foiliar feeding and watering...but not the cells that sustain the plant as a whole.

I take it you are asking "Can I delay the inevitable decline of a root bound plant by providing life support to the foilage?"

Man thats a tuffy. I dont know the answer to that one.

My guess would be no...or at least, I would prefer the transplant over the foilage supplementation.

If given a choice, I would place my bet on the transplant....

But please, feel free to try it and let us see what happens.

Just dont clog the stomata with all the ferts.

Good luck .