Damaged main stem

springerrr · June 4, 2014

I stupidly pinched rather than snipped off a low branch and did the damage pictured. Can I do anything to help the plant?

b54red · June 4, 2014

I do it all the time and they usually just heal up fine with no help from me.

Bill

KarenO · June 4, 2014

Keep it dry and it should heal quickly. For bigger suckers or branches I always use a small sharp curved paring knife. Secateurs work too but careful to keep them very clean especially if using to prune off unhealthy foliage
Karen

springerrr · June 5, 2014

I was thinking about gently applying a little warmed dental wax (the stuff one uses to cover braces to keep them from abrading the inside of the mouth) to the hole. What do you think?

springerrr · June 7, 2014

OK, here is the before and after. I warmed the wax between my fingers and tried to press it gently but deeply into the wound.

June 4, 2014	#1
springerrr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 4	Damaged main stem I stupidly pinched rather than snipped off a low branch and did the damage pictured. Can I do anything to help the plant?

June 7, 2014	#5
springerrr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 4	Bandaid OK, here is the before and after. I warmed the wax between my fingers and tried to press it gently but deeply into the wound.

June 4, 2014	#2
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	I do it all the time and they usually just heal up fine with no help from me. Bill

June 4, 2014	#3
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,931	Keep it dry and it should heal quickly. For bigger suckers or branches I always use a small sharp curved paring knife. Secateurs work too but careful to keep them very clean especially if using to prune off unhealthy foliage Karen

June 5, 2014	#4
springerrr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 4	I was thinking about gently applying a little warmed dental wax (the stuff one uses to cover braces to keep them from abrading the inside of the mouth) to the hole. What do you think?