Support on a baby

**OtakuJo** · 07-21-2006, 02:20 PM

I've been growing for quite some time now and an odd thing happened with one of my new plants. The seed germinated quickly but for some odd reason the sprout started wrapping itself around the capsule instead of curling downward. I planted it in the best position I could and it came up quick. The seed capsule is still on but the plant has a very crooked stem. Its off the ground but is very close to resting. Rest assured the plant is very much alive I'm just not sure if a support would be necessary. I'm also thinking that if I put a support on it at such an early stage it'll die.

**OtakuJo** · 07-21-2006, 09:00 PM

Update: the baby has stood up and i burried the the white root. Im still thinking of using a support though since rather than coming straight up the root runs sideways. Anything I should know before putting a support on a baby? ive applied supports to my plants before but never at this stage. Im kinda scared to handle it too much.

**potroast** · 07-22-2006, 12:03 AM

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Yeah, these things happen when you germinate outside of the medium. You are controlling everything, so when something goes wrong, you have to control that too.

As long as you handle everything with a delicate touch, you'll be fine. A pair of tweezers is good to use. Try to keep that growing taproot anchored in the damp medium, and prop up the little shoot. I've used plastic straws, about a 2 inch piece, cut lengthwise so you can open it and wrap it around the stem and stand it in the soil. Toothpicks with 1 end bent work too.

Sometimes you have to help it shed the seed hull, but if a seedling is going to make it, it has enough strength to do it.

HTH

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**OtakuJo** · 07-22-2006, 09:13 AM

the straw idea is a good one but is useless in this situation as the root runs sideways... meaning the plant is in the shape of an "L"
I made a small support with a stick and a garbage tie but im not sure how helpful itll be.

**P.R dude** · 07-25-2006, 02:08 AM

i would just start over with a new plant.

but thats just lazzy me

**appleseed** · 11-05-2009, 02:50 AM

I,ve had that. I just buried the root and piled a little around the stem. In a few days, when the roots dug in some more, the stem was supporting itself fine... when I potted it I went a bit lower in the soil and had no further problems.