Nectarivorous
- 708
- 143
Hi all. So I snapped my first top three nights ago. I was devastated but had realised I would probably learn the breaking point of these girls by finding it at some point.
I would say it was 80-90% snapped, basically lying flopped flat on the fan below. It took me 30 seconds to get inside and get plumber's tape and sticky tape. By the time I got back one leaf was badly shriveled and damaged. Haven't seen anyone using plumber's tape but the irrigation contractor in me kicked in and I reached straight for it.
The white stuff is stringy crap that is too fine but the pink is just right. Most posts I've seen about repairing splits talk about electrical tape and the downside of adhering glue to your plant. Plumber's tape (thread tape/dope tape if you prefer) sticks to itself and is designed precisely to prevent liquid leaks from small gaps. By wrapping the split with this first, then using sticky tape over that to hold and anchor it to the remnant of the old top, it has kept the split sealed and supplying the top.
It's only been 72 hours. I cut the leaf off that had lost 3 fans to bad damage when the break happened. But not one other part of that leaf had damaged the next day when I cut it. The other leaf is in perfect health, and the shoot has not even slowed down let alone stopped growing. I'm actually annoyed I can't tie it down because it's totally reaching for the light again and out shooting its sisters which is crazy.
I take nothing for granted, if I'm not very careful with it I could still lose it but it's a cool save if I keep it. All I can say from my very limited experience of one bad break, reach for pink thread tape. Use your sticky tape over that. You'll get a much better seal for water/nutes and won't have anything actually 'stuck' to the plant. Sorry if I'm the noob who thinks he's discovered something, just haven't seen anyone else recommend on the threads I've seen about breaks. Check pics. 72 hours after almost comprehensive snap.
I would say it was 80-90% snapped, basically lying flopped flat on the fan below. It took me 30 seconds to get inside and get plumber's tape and sticky tape. By the time I got back one leaf was badly shriveled and damaged. Haven't seen anyone using plumber's tape but the irrigation contractor in me kicked in and I reached straight for it.
The white stuff is stringy crap that is too fine but the pink is just right. Most posts I've seen about repairing splits talk about electrical tape and the downside of adhering glue to your plant. Plumber's tape (thread tape/dope tape if you prefer) sticks to itself and is designed precisely to prevent liquid leaks from small gaps. By wrapping the split with this first, then using sticky tape over that to hold and anchor it to the remnant of the old top, it has kept the split sealed and supplying the top.
It's only been 72 hours. I cut the leaf off that had lost 3 fans to bad damage when the break happened. But not one other part of that leaf had damaged the next day when I cut it. The other leaf is in perfect health, and the shoot has not even slowed down let alone stopped growing. I'm actually annoyed I can't tie it down because it's totally reaching for the light again and out shooting its sisters which is crazy.
I take nothing for granted, if I'm not very careful with it I could still lose it but it's a cool save if I keep it. All I can say from my very limited experience of one bad break, reach for pink thread tape. Use your sticky tape over that. You'll get a much better seal for water/nutes and won't have anything actually 'stuck' to the plant. Sorry if I'm the noob who thinks he's discovered something, just haven't seen anyone else recommend on the threads I've seen about breaks. Check pics. 72 hours after almost comprehensive snap.