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How to straighten a plant

15 years ago

I just discovered a plumeria that I thought I'd lost over the winter. A Emerson's Pink Nova. I was thrilled to find it still alive and looking quite healthy. The only problem is it's severely bowed. It's still a single stem, about 2'tall with a good bit of foliage but it's curved as can be. Can I train it back to being straight by securing it to a stake and gradually pulling it tighter? If so how often should I move the ties? It's a thick stem, about a 2" diameter and I don't want to crack it. I'd rather have a crooked then a dead plant. lol

Karyn

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Comments (4)

mikeod
15 years ago
Karyn,
One method I have read but not tried is to use a piece of angle iron and tie it to the stem so the stem fits into the angle. As you described, tighten the stem against the iron with plant ties to pull it toward an upright position. Do this very gradually to avoid damaging the stem. Adjust the ties about weekly. Once the plant is straight, keep the ties on for a few weeks-month and then release the plant.

I think it would be prudent to use something to prevent the iron from damaging the bark, perhaps a silicone pad.
Mike
tdogdad
15 years ago
I have done many. Put your thick stake or piece of conduit next to the stem and tie it firmly at the bottom and at the top. Now use a tie to pull the center in until it is firm. After about 10 days pull it in some more. In really bad cases, you do the above and then later replant the root ball at an angle so the stem goes out and then up just across the middle so it will grow back toward up and balance the plant. What mike said works too but you need to leave the plant tied for about a year so it hardens up in position. Bill
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karyn1
Original Author
15 years ago
Thank you both. I thought that might be the way but wanted confirmation before I tried anything. Would it be alright to keep the pot on the ground and put the stake through the bottom of the pot and into the soil? I'm asking because the plant is so bowed that it's a bit unstable but the container is big enough that it won't need repotting for quite some time.
Karyn
tdogdad
15 years ago
Another thing you can do is staple two pieces of wood to the outside of the pot on opposite sides of the pot (or you can glue them). Then use tie wire to tie your stake to both wooden pieces so it stands upright and is kept from falling over. You can drive the stake into the ground but this makes it hard to move around. Anyway good luck. Bill

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