great post NDW
just to back up your counter tying...this is what happens if you don't counter tie properly on weaker plants
i tied her to one side...then the opposite side of the stem starting to crack open...so i gelled her up nicely and tied her the opposite way to close the wound and taped her for around 3 days
this is what she looked like after
surprisingly she didn't suffer much and with the extra care didn't stop growing
P.S. becareful when tying growers
