# What about Stem Splitting? **URL:** \ **Category:** Grow Journals\ **Created:** [May 21, 2020, 6:49pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/what-about-stem-splitting/45282 "2020-05-21T18:49:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Twerp2020](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Twerp2020](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Twerp2020)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2020, 6:49pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/what-about-stem-splitting/45282/1 "2020-05-21T18:49:29Z")
Should I Split the stems a week before I harvest if at all?? I’ve never heard about it until I did a search about harvesting. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![ThcinKC](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/thcinkc/32/258110_2.png) [@ThcinKC](https://ilgmforum.com/u/ThcinKC)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2020, 7:05pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/what-about-stem-splitting/45282/2 "2020-05-21T19:05:08Z")
I do it when trichomes are 60% cloudy i drill the stalks and put tooth picks in them and start ice baths every other day and go till 20% Amber then harvest ---
**Author:** ![Silverback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5e9695/32.png) [@Silverback](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Silverback)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2020, 7:12pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/what-about-stem-splitting/45282/3 "2020-05-21T19:12:41Z")
Same here. I cant justify it scientifically but my bud is always fire. ---
**Author:** ![ThcinKC](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/thcinkc/32/258110_2.png) [@ThcinKC](https://ilgmforum.com/u/ThcinKC)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2020, 7:19pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/what-about-stem-splitting/45282/4 "2020-05-21T19:19:47Z")
Plus my buds would look like they rolled in powdered sugar ![92978b95081f32292d62c62145f1690329ab8553](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/original/4X/0/2/b/02b0e35531a7bfa413a545cbe76ce52ec973d77c.jpeg) ![7bb1b5a1d0042ffe68af1544df6961fb71d8efa5](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/original/4X/0/6/d/06d32b7466f2020c4b3713d80b165cc4b0336763.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Silverback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5e9695/32.png) [@Silverback](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Silverback)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2020, 7:23pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/what-about-stem-splitting/45282/5 "2020-05-21T19:23:15Z")
Gorgeous bruh. ---
**Author:** ![Twerp2020](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Twerp2020](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Twerp2020)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2020, 11:20pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/what-about-stem-splitting/45282/6 "2020-05-22T23:20:39Z")
WOW! Thanks for sharing your experience ---
**Author:** ![Twerp2020](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Twerp2020](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Twerp2020)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2020, 11:23pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/what-about-stem-splitting/45282/7 "2020-05-22T23:23:12Z")
Ice bath? Never heard that before yet I’m very New at growing. How much ice do you use and am I to assume you Don’t water anymore? ---
**Author:** ![Silverback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5e9695/32.png) [@Silverback](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Silverback)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2020, 11:37pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/what-about-stem-splitting/45282/8 "2020-05-22T23:37:45Z")
@Twerp2020. I dont water any more. I make a gallon of ice cubes per plant, coat the soil ---
**Author:** ![ThcinKC](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/thcinkc/32/258110_2.png) [@ThcinKC](https://ilgmforum.com/u/ThcinKC)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2020, 4:14pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/what-about-stem-splitting/45282/9 "2020-05-23T16:14:11Z")
I still water and just put enough ice to cover the grow media and about 1inch thick of ice cubes There’s more ways to do this than what I do but i got this to work this way ---
**Author:** ![Twerp2020](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Twerp2020](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Twerp2020)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2020, 6:25pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/what-about-stem-splitting/45282/10 "2020-05-23T18:25:09Z")
Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Twerp2020](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Twerp2020](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Twerp2020)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2020, 6:27pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/what-about-stem-splitting/45282/11 "2020-05-23T18:27:20Z")
Thanks you ---
**Author:** ![Twerp2020](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Twerp2020](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Twerp2020)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2020, 6:29pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/what-about-stem-splitting/45282/12 "2020-05-23T18:29:47Z")
How big of a hole do you drill and how many toothpicks? ---
**Author:** ![Reticence](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/reticence/32/115350_2.png) [@Reticence](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Reticence)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2020, 6:35pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/what-about-stem-splitting/45282/13 "2020-05-23T18:35:36Z")
I don’t do stem splitting myself, but here is an article I found on the subject I thought was pretty good. Splitting Cannabis Stems Splitting the stem of cannabis plants is a controversial technique buzzing around the cannabis forums of late. Outdoor ganja farmers in Colombia during the 1960’s and 70’s were reputed to “ring” cannabis stems a couple of weeks before harvest. A pocketknife is the only tool needed. The practice is believed to have given Colombian Gold its golden nugget bag appeal. By inducing senescence to increase potency and break down chlorophyll, the method helped make the strain a legend, allegedly. The splitting technique has been popularized by outdoor Dutch cultivators online. Splitting stems follows similar logic to “tree ringing”. Instead of completely removing a few layers of bark from the circumference of the stem you split it with a vertical cut through the middle. Make no mistake. This is extreme high-stress training. **WHEN TO SPLIT** When To Split Cannabis If you are going to experiment with the splitting technique, timing is crucial. Splitting the main stem of a flowering female cannabis plant 7-10 days before harvest is the window that most growers favor. Inducing high levels of stress to force the plant to produce more resin and terpenes with a split is tricking Mother Nature. Marijuana will respond to this kind of stress negatively if you split too early. **HOW TO SPLIT** Splitting cannabis plants stems doesn’t require brute force. Rather precision, preparation and the right tools for the job are what you need. Moreover, splitting is best suited to outdoor marijuana crops. Although, an indoor experiment can succeed following the same methodology. 1.First, gather up your splitting tools. Don’t worry, they are all easy to come by. You need a large, non-serrated, sharp kitchen knife, 3 pencils or kebab skewers if can get them, and some string. Next, size up your stem. Measure out an area approx 15-20cm long from just below the lowest set of branches towards the ground. 2.Wrap the string around the stem a few times. Tie off two pieces of string to mark the borders of the area to be split. One for the top and one for the bottom. Then carefully drive the blade through the stem. 3.With one hand on the handle and the other depressing the dull side of the blade slowly and as straight as possible split the stem. All the way to the lower knot. Don’t remove the blade just yet. 4.While the wound is still fresh and open with the blade wedged in the bottom, insert the 3 skewers to prevent it from closing. Slide out the blade and make sure your skewers are spaced out. That’s how to split the stem of a cannabis plant Dutch style. How To Split Cannabis Stems **BENEFITS OF SPLITTING** Splitting is reputed to increase the potency of marijuana and possibly boost flower production too. Hard data is difficult to come across to verify this claim. Unfortunately, all we have to confirm the effectiveness of the splitting technique is forum chatter and some YouTube vids. Albeit footage by skilled Dutch stem splitters. In theory, this high-stress method works, and they are at least reporting positive results here in the Netherlands. Experiment with one cannabis plant as a test case if you are considering it. **DISADVANTAGES OF SPLITTING** Splitting, by its very nature, is rough treatment for cannabis plants. High stress close to completing the bloom cycle is risky. For auto-flower cultivators, this technique is best avoided. Similarly, novice growers should skip splitting. Unless you’re already hitting the potency barrier, the splitting technique is unlikely to push your marijuana to produces extra potent gooey buds. ---
**Author:** ![Twerp2020](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Twerp2020](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Twerp2020)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2020, 6:39pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/what-about-stem-splitting/45282/14 "2020-05-23T18:39:08Z")
Thanks for the info ---
**Author:** ![Hellraiser](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/hellraiser/32/294013_2.png) [@Hellraiser](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Hellraiser)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2020, 7:32pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/what-about-stem-splitting/45282/15 "2020-05-24T19:32:10Z")
I do some stem splitting. This Bubba Kush was stem split for the last 10 days or so, came out a bit more sparkly than usual and seems a little bit stronger as well, great smoke. ![IMG_0523 (1)](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/original/4X/4/2/a/42a9bef90c0d2b929d2d2cacb27a0df9dbf7d8a4.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![MrPeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@MrPeat](https://ilgmforum.com/u/MrPeat)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2020, 7:53pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/what-about-stem-splitting/45282/16 "2020-05-24T19:53:06Z")
Nice pipe there. I accidentally broke mine that was a rainbow of colors. It only cost me $15 when I picked it up. ---
**Author:** ![Hellraiser](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/hellraiser/32/294013_2.png) [@Hellraiser](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Hellraiser)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2020, 7:55pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/what-about-stem-splitting/45282/17 "2020-05-24T19:55:46Z")
Thanks, yeah the glass pipes don’t ever seem to last too many drops, lost so many that way. ---
**Author:** ![MrPeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@MrPeat](https://ilgmforum.com/u/MrPeat)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2020, 7:57pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/what-about-stem-splitting/45282/18 "2020-05-24T19:57:17Z")
Mine hit the toilet when I was having a coughing fit. Shattered instantly. Our floor is concrete so I am careful with Mom’s bong. 😂😂😂 ---
**Author:** ![Hellraiser](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/hellraiser/32/294013_2.png) [@Hellraiser](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Hellraiser)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2020, 8:00pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/what-about-stem-splitting/45282/19 "2020-05-24T20:00:23Z")
I have hardwood floors and ceramic tile floors, they take no pity on glass pipes or bongs, drop once and done LOL. ---
**Author:** ![MrPeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@MrPeat](https://ilgmforum.com/u/MrPeat)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2020, 8:01pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/what-about-stem-splitting/45282/20 "2020-05-24T20:01:39Z")
We don’t have basements here since the water table is pretty low being only 22 miles from the Gulf and at around 47 feet above sea level. 👍