i am sorry, i have not been totally clear. last round, i had the same damagae, and i THOUGHT they had been attacked by a rodent. now that i have fresh new babes (less than two weeks old) i can see similar damage starting already on the fresh stems. this is NOT a result of a physical attack, though the appearance is similar. i will do my best to upload some photos tonight.
there is no foul smell. root development is normal, and, honestly, no other indications of ill health. it is completely mysterious to me. i am intimate with powdery mildew, and this is not it. i am at a loss. again, i will do my best to get some photos up tonight, and again, thank you all for your participation in my salvation.

- mu
mutigen Reviewed by mutigen on . mysterious and destructive stem disease. i am having a problem with what i now believe to be some form of severe stem disease. possibly a fungus. i actually believed that the problem was a rat or a squirrel, that had attacked some larger plants, as the damage was completely physical, in that it appeared as though a rat had sharpened his claws on the plant stems (at the base only). now that i have some small new babes, it is OBVIOUS that this is a stem disease. very likely some sort of fungus. the symtoms as they appear now are as Rating: 5