Saving Plant – Repairing Snapped Off Shoots Instead Of Cutting Them Off.

Last updated on October 23rd, 2023 at 08:28 pm

When a thunderstorm rages in the garden or the children in the apartment, it can happen that the plants are affected. But instead of cutting off the snapped tomato plantlet or a cracked branch of the ficus, or even throwing away the whole plant, the damage can often be repaired and the plant saved.

Saving a snapped-off plant Freshly snapped-off or even broken-off shoots can be firmly reconnected to the plant at the point of breakage. For many plants, with luck, they will continue to receive water and nutrients and grow back over time.

Saving Plant - Repairing Snapped Off Shoots Instead Of Cutting Them Off.

To repair a broken branch you will need: about 20 cm of environmentally friendly tape to join the break 1-2 toothpicks or shish kebabs as splints (for a larger branch you can also use pencils or chopsticks) possibly a cutter knife and tweezers

Time needed: 10 minutes. How to splint the shoot: prepare material First of all, it is recommended to cut tape and splints of suitable length. If the break is on a small shoot, a toothpick may be enough.

On an already somewhat larger branch or a break close to the trunk, two longer and sturdy splints, such as chopsticks, are necessary, as they may have to support some weight. Cut a piece of wide tape about 10 cm long, depending on the circumference; for narrower tape, two correspondingly long pieces are required.

Now it is a matter of restoring the kinked or broken shoot to its original position. To do this, use a cutter and tweezers to remove any splinters or loose parts that prevent the broken sections from being joined together seamlessly.

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Splint the break Then splint the damaged area from one or two sides and wrap it tightly with adhesive tape so that the shoot remains firmly in position. However, the tape should not be too tight either, or it could cause further damage.

Now it takes some patience until the fracture heals. Depending on the size and weight of the fracture, this can take anywhere from a few weeks to months. To check whether the break has healed, remove the splint after a few weeks and reapply it if necessary. Tip: During the healing period, it is best to keep the plant in the shade and give it extra good plant care and natural fertilizer to help it recover.

Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that a splinted shoot or branch will grow back. However, the attempt is worthwhile in any case. If you don’t succeed, you can still use the now perhaps no longer so beautiful plant to cut cuttings and grow new plants.

How have you saved a plant from harm or death? We’d love to read about your successes in a comment!

Author

  • James Jones

    Meet James Jones, a passionate gardening writer whose words bloom with the wisdom of an experienced horticulturist. With a deep-rooted love for all things green, James has dedicated his life to sharing the art and science of gardening with the world. James's words have found their way into countless publications, and his gardening insights have inspired a new generation of green thumbs. His commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship shines through in every article he crafts.

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One comment

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