Flowerstalk cut too soon

Flowerstalk cut too soon#11898

By Adam -  Thu May 28, 2009 11:12 pm
Posts:  2892
Joined:  Sat Dec 13, 2008 4:39 am

- Thu May 28, 2009 11:12 pm #11898

What happens when you cut the flower stalk when it's only barely a cm long?

Re: Flowerstalk cut too soon#11900

By Matt -  Fri May 29, 2009 12:35 am
Location:  near Festus, Missouri
Posts:  22524
Joined:  Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:28 pm

- Fri May 29, 2009 12:35 am #11900

Do you mean how does it affect the plant? Or how does it affect the chances of using the flower stalk for propagation?

I don't think it has any negative affect on the plant. I think the sooner you cut it, the better in terms of getting the plant to resume normal growth again.

It would be harder to use a flower stalk that small for propagation, but you could still use it I think.

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Re: Flowerstalk cut too soon#11901

By kevinqwe -  Fri May 29, 2009 12:36 am
Location:  near Festus, Missouri
Posts:  1840
Joined:  Tue Mar 31, 2009 3:04 am

- Fri May 29, 2009 12:36 am #11901

im guessing it will take a little more time to grow than a 4 inch one.

Re: Flowerstalk cut too soon#11931

By NZL -  Fri May 29, 2009 8:43 am
Location:  near Festus, Missouri
Posts:  489
Joined:  Thu Apr 09, 2009 9:28 am

- Fri May 29, 2009 8:43 am #11931

The smaller the stalk is, the smaller it's energy reserve is, the smaller your success rate for getting a strike.
The more optimal the growing conditions are, the smaller the stalk can be to get a strike anyway.

The reason why people say "Cut the flowerstalk when it's about 2in" is in fact a compromise: Past trial and errors have shown that 2in is enough energy reserve to get strikes, and all added length would be excess energy that could have been used in the motherplant itself.

In regards to this statement, it would be an interesting experiment to cut flower stalks on different lengths, and look at grow rate of the strikes to determine if there's an optimal stalk length for propagation. I'd do it if I had the material to do this experiment. Of course, to be significant, the flower stalks should be genetically identical..

Niels.

"We are just an advanced breed of monkeys on a minor planet of a very average star. But we can understand the Universe. That makes us something very special." - Stephen Hawking

Re: Flowerstalk cut too soon#11947

By Adam -  Fri May 29, 2009 4:57 pm
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Joined:  Sat Dec 13, 2008 4:39 am

- Fri May 29, 2009 4:57 pm #11947

I've got so many flower stalks that are ready to strike, I just wanted the plant to resume normal growth asap. My concern was if there is a higher likelihood of the plant sending up a second one..

Re: Flowerstalk cut too soon#11951

By Matt -  Fri May 29, 2009 5:06 pm
Location:  near Festus, Missouri
Posts:  22524
Joined:  Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:28 pm

- Fri May 29, 2009 5:06 pm #11951

In my experience, it seems like multiple flower stalks are a genetic thing more than if you snip them too early. For example, every cupped trap plant I have sends up at least 2 flower stalks and sometimes 3. Other plants also send up multiple flower stalks even if you don't cut them.

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Re: Flowerstalk cut too soon#11952

By Adam -  Fri May 29, 2009 5:15 pm
Posts:  2892
Joined:  Sat Dec 13, 2008 4:39 am

- Fri May 29, 2009 5:15 pm #11952

Good to know. Thanks, Matt.

I'm hoping no more stalks will be sent up...

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