Hector

I only post on this site when i have a problem.

And so far my plants have been growing great thanks to every one on this site, mainly ORGANIC that guys a champ.

Anyway heres the deal, my plants have been growing outdoors going very good but lately as my plants have gotten bigger the stems are real easy to bend, like rubber almost.

Is this a lack of Potasium ?

I have Organic ferts on them only (cow and horse mixture)

And some small stem supports, but no where near enough for the plants only one support per plant,

wheres each plant has about 8 or more stems reaching for light but if i put that many supports around the plant will that **** up the roots???

Some one share there knowledge with me as its getting particuluarly windy where i live and the plants are going to be growing along the ground soon.

With stems this flexiable what will happen when i get big fat colas???

bgetting

support them, if they are outside, the roots will be fine. I would say put up supports just to be safe. Once they break and you know you should have supports, it's too late.

organic

thanks, but you're too kind

Am I understanding correctly that you've topped your plants several times and now have 8 growing tips? that might be your problem, if the main stem wasn't strong to begin with and you added all that lateral weight it might cause a problem like that. I don't have much experience with weak stems tho.

You may be a little short in P, if you're only using cow and horse manure, but it shouldn't be enough to really cause problems. Still, you might think about supplementing the plants with another organic fert, check out the page I posted for some ideas. Aside from that, I'd go with B's advice there.

rganic

Hector

Yeah, i took your advice bgetting and have put in a few extra supports for the bigger stems.

And yeah ORGANIC i have topped these ladies several times they just bounce back better each time i do it.

You can OVER DO IT but can't you??

I think i read somewhere that if you top to many time your can slow or almost stop growth???



Any comments?

Tom O'Rite

hi there
from what I know about bonsai (which is only as much as I've read) any plant you want to grow in this way has to keep being cut back, but it's not that that really limits the size- it's the roots being constrained at the same time. So, since you're outdoors, and the volume of the earth is... (frantically hits search engines) er, large, that shouldn't be a problem (unless you're in rocky soil)
If you were to top too regularly, and if the plant were to go into shock, I suppose that would affect the growth rate very adversely, but I don't think it will go dwarf on you in your current situation.
BTW, as I understand it, the wind you say is coming (if it doesn't smash them up) will make them stronger.
Have you tried shaking the stems vigorously on a daily basis?
bear in mind that I've never grown outdoors, so this could just be so many smoke rings....

tom

smokinrav

>>think i read somewhere that if you top to many time your can slow or almost stop growth??? <<

Naw, not stop growth, just delay how long until you can effectivly flower. I like to wait about 10 days minimum before flowering after topping.

Smokin

Hector

I have not heard of that before does shaking them stems make them stronger or something?

Similar to Super Croping

Tom O'Rite

Hi there-
Yes, it's similar to what I understand as supercropping, but a bit less scary (you don't tend to hear a bowel-loosening 'crack!' as you do it!). If plants are not exposed to the wind or a fan or suchlike, the stems tend to become weak, and if you shake them strongly at the base it causes microscopic cracks to appear up and down the stems which the plant then heals, making the stems stronger and more woody- which is what it sounds like you need. I tend to shake mine every few days, and I've got thick, strong woody stems which seem able to support the substantial amount of bud that's forming at the moment.
hope this is of some use,

tom

Hector

thanks for the advice i will try it

Hector

smokinrav

>>Yes, it's similar to what I understand as supercropping, but a bit less scary (you don't tend to hear a bowel-loosening 'crack!' as you do it!).<<

Nothing scary about supercropping

>>If plants are not exposed to the wind or a fan or suchlike, the stems tend to become weak, and if you shake them strongly at the base it causes microscopic cracks to appear up and down the stems which the plant then heals, making the stems stronger and more woody- which is what it sounds like you need. <<

This sounds awful fishy. microscopic cracks? Like its concrete or something? I dont think so....

>>I tend to shake mine every few days, and I've got thick, strong woody stems which seem able to support the substantial amount of bud that's forming at the moment.<<

This sounds more like the alternatives to no fan stress Ive read about. Simulating a breeze, etc. Buy a 5" oscillating fan at Wal-Mart for $7, and save the triple daily pain in the ass...

Smokin