Can I save this bent rose stem?

12 years ago

Hi all,

I'm Erin, this is my first post on the forum. I just moved into a new home with a horrid garden, and I bought 7 David Austin plants. I'm a newbie, and I suppose I got a little carried away. ; )

While transporting the roses, I realized a few had bent branches. There is visible damage to the stems (see picture, sorry it's sideways). I bought ties to hold them up, but I'm not sure if that will help. Do I cut them or do I just wait it out?

Featured Answer

seil zone 6b MI

12 years ago

I've used splints too with good success. My splint of choice is popsicle sticks and floral tape. That bend doesn't look too bad and should heal fine.

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Comments (7)

AquaEyes 7a NJ
12 years ago
I've had this happen a few times -- when you get a new rose, every stem is precious!. If you can secure the stem back into its original angle, as though the kink wasn't there, often it can heal -- and especially when the stem is a new shoot like yours. How I secured them varied, but in your case, I'd fashion a sort of splint. Do you have any of those disposable chopsticks that come with take-out? If you do, you could use two of them on either side of the stem at the kink for support, and use some masking tape to hold it together.

:-)

~Christopher
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vasue VA
12 years ago
Welcome to the forum, Erin!

White or pale-colored plastic straws work well. Cut to the right length & slit down the side, they can be opened to fit & reform around the stem, cinching smaller with tape if needed or reinforced with multiple straw layers, with the slit positioned so it doesn't catch water. Keep a variety of diameter straws in the tool pail for this (and other) uses. For long or heavy stems, something to prop up the outside end may be needed.

Caution! If the stem is wet, dry it before splinting in this mannner to prevent moisture damage. If you garden in intense sun & or heat, this method may not be appropriate.

This post was edited by vasue on Mon, May 26, 14 at 11:12
AquaEyes 7a NJ
12 years ago
Seil -- yeah, popsicle sticks would probably be better. I didn't think of them -- probably because there aren't any kids living with me, and I haven't had a popsicle in many years. Chinese/Japanese take-out, however, comes here a couple times a month.

:-)

~Christopher
seil zone 6b MI
12 years ago
Ooo, that's a good idea too, vasue! I have all kinds of straws.

Christopher, lol, no kids here either but I buy them at craft stores!
thehauteblogger
Original Author
12 years ago
Thank you all for the advice!
User
12 years ago
yep, I am a splinter too - Iuse micropore surgical tape to hold in place until the stem calluses over. I actually saved an entire dwarf peach tree which had snapped off at the graft union, by ramming a broomstick straight down through the middle (drastic but you should have seen the chaos) and wrapping a generous roll of micropore round the join for a whole year. The tree is as good as new (apart from peach leaf curl of course).