I've tied my sunflowers too tight!

Camelliad

Hello, I tied my sunflowers into bamboo canes as baby sunflowers. They are now over 6ft tall and as the trunk grew the string has cut into them. In some cases it has gone right through the chunky stem, almost cutting it in two. Is there anything I can do? Plant tape? Masking tape? Have I lost them? I'm so annoyed with myself!

Lyn

Cut the string? 

Camelliad

Yes I've cut the string but the stems have been cut through.

Lyn

They’re quite tough, maybe they will be ok, not much you can do now, just wait and see, with the string cut the wound may heal over. 

Camelliad

Ok thanks Lyn. I've lined a small stick up against the break and tied some masking tape around stick and stem to keep it straight. Will remove it gently in a few days and hope it's healed.

jan.lawson

I made the same mistake last year but didn't realise until I lost half of them when they snapped in the wind.  I had grown them from seed and it was such a shame to lose them one after the other.  This year I used a clip that looks like a figure 8, the small part goes around the bamboo pole and the other part on the stem.  Most of them have thick stems now and they have grown to 10 feet.  I will definitely use them next year.

Camelliad

Thanks Jan. You're exactly right - you clearly know exactly how I feel - I'd grown them from seed and thought I was being so careful! I know the clips you mean and that's a great idea. I'll get those as they're currently about 6ft high and still going! So far the masking tape / splint arrangement seems to be holding up. Fingers crossed and thank you!