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Location

Message

Date Posted

Ct

Just curious if there is a reason to, or not to, bury a leggy plant up to the cot leaves on plant out. My plant is about 5 inches leggy.

5/6/2023 7:24:28 AM

Chapel Hill, NC

I asked the same question about a week ago (you can go back to see it, the post is called "can I bury the stem"). People said that it will not cause rot. What a lot of people said, was to get some Clonex off of Amazon and to brush it on the stem up to the cots, and then bury the leggy stem. This will actually cause roots to grow out of the stem (similar to a tomato). Even if you buried without the Clonex, it may still grow roots out the stem. Hope it helps, and good luck this year!

5/6/2023 8:04:38 AM

Plymouth, MN

Be careful playing with clonex. Some good growers got burned by it last year.

5/6/2023 9:28:56 AM

Ct

Thank you

5/6/2023 10:35:30 AM

Syracuse, NY

I would never NOT put WeedBlock or Vigoro Weed Block with Micro-Funnels 'fabric' under the exposed part of the stem, but that doesn't seem to be a common practice anymore, whereas Joel Holland videos prompted it to be done for numerous benefits; It is not required but there is also no need to worry about rooting additionally from the stem; There'll be plenty of that from the vines' leaf nodes.

I'm glad I researched it in that someone else thinks WeedBlock or similar is appropriate (this is all not directed at you, PG, just exhibiting what I know and can display); I'm not sure of what the outcome was or is but it's a great pic of what it SHOULD look like in my perfect world:

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=333145

and up close, to see the Micro-Funnels:

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=333122

I love this stuff - HELPS deter slugs, reduces watering splash and runoff
and looks sharp, even if nothing else, lol---eric g

5/6/2023 11:01:05 AM

Jericho Vermont

If you don't have back ups ready, I would not risk burying it. Just use bamboo stakes to support it so the wind won't snap it off. Seed corn maggots in the stem can happen very quickly and then it is done.

5/6/2023 1:07:29 PM

Grittyville, WA

There's nothing wrong with having 5" of stem, that initial stem is part of what helps the plant to lay down. Length is not a bad thing, the only problem with the longer stem transplants is the plant could roll in the wind easier. I agree there might be better ways to deal with that issue, as VTJohn points out.

5/6/2023 1:38:53 PM

Lodi, California

Long stem is fine, just protect against wind. Getting the upper part of the stem wet will result in rot very quickly. A week ago I noticed that there was rot on a stem that was only partially covered in dirt. I made sure to uncover it and expose it to air. Once the cells in the stem are exposed to air, they are differentiated so they can no longer produce root cells. You will notice that lower parts of the stem that were never at any point exposed to air will actually grow some roots, and will not rot. This is not true for the parts of the stem above ground.

5/6/2023 5:00:42 PM

Partlow,Va

Bury it 3/4

5/6/2023 9:49:58 PM

Partlow,Va

Just did it yesterday

5/6/2023 9:51:07 PM

Partlow,Va

Put a touch of yard insecticide with imchlorprid in the hole under the plant and around the plant and you will be fine. When you turn your spot spread a three foot cicle a week or two ahead

5/6/2023 10:12:57 PM