I am going to start by admitting that what I am about to say may be pointless. But here goes! Really simple problem: I have a few seeds germinating in rockwool and I plan to get them into coco when the time comes then mainline them down into lil buggers. But I was just informed that my boss would like me to move to another position in another state in about a month or so. It is a massive promotion but it's a move that crosses 5 states and takes about 20 hours to drive! My questions: can these plants, which will be about 5 weeks old, probably chopped a bit into mainline shape, survive a move? Can I strip the leaves resulting in roots in about 2-3 gallon pots (or smaller) and some stems? This would leave just a stump with a few nodes but NO LEAVES. The plant would look like any other root/stalk bundle like, say, a bush or small roses. Will the plant survive? Will this tactic work to 'hide' the plants in transit? Perhaps this is all rather moot (as in academically debatable) and not something I should try. I get that. But I am pondering the possibilities. Besides, it took me ages and multiple efforts to get these seeds! (I am in a medical marijuana state but passing through the most backasswards redneck states in the US outside of Alabama and Mississippi...)
They most probably will survive. Make sure the soil is fairly dry before stripping the leaves off. You will have to leave some growing tips though. You will be saving yourself 5 weeks of growth but for the hassle you will have is it really worth it? Moving is stressful enough by itself, adding the extra strain of sorting the plants out is something I would not opt for myself
Yeah I know it would stress the plants, and I have no idea whether they are male/female either. It just seemed like a waste to toss em. But I can always pass them along to someone else and not worry about it. Shame all the same. That being said, how much leaf tip? Could be as small as the little bits that are left after topping?
The tips can be so small they are barely visible, as long as they are there they will grow. You can trim the tips so they are unrecognizable but the heart of the tip must be left intact. As long as you have a few of those they will be fine. Stripping them back like that will effect growth to the point that they will take a few weeks to get back up to speed so you won't actually be saving yourself 5 weeks, more like 2-3 I'd say