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applestar wrote:I think the wound is gapping because you haven't really securely stabilized it. The weakened stem is being weighed down from the plants own weight.

If you have grafting tape like parafilm-M tape, use that, but you can use regular scotch tape. First wrap tightly around the bamboo, then just below the wound - snug. Then do another one just above. You have to splint it. Then take a small piece of clear food wrap and wrap around the wounded stem -- only one or two layers. You want to let it breathe. Eventually, bark like callous will form along the edge of the wound. You can take the food wrap off once the wound is closed and you will need to make sure that the tape above and below are not getting too tight and strangling the stem. (Using parafilm-M, you can tape and protect the wound at the same time, and the plant can grow -- it's great stuff) A month or so should be enough, then the tape can be removed, but you may want to continue to support with a more snug-but-loosely attached splint -- I would use the spongy rubber coated wire or Velcro tape used for supporting tomatoes.

I might spritz the stem with rubbing alcohol before wrapping if fungal issues is any concern.

Now, start adding sandy potting mix up the stem about 1/2 inch or so at a time, may be twice a week when you water. Peppers can be buried but they don't readily grow roots along the stem like tomatoes, and they are more prone to soggy stem so it's better to do this gradually. If you don't stress it, peppers will grow roots up the stem. It helps to keep the toot zone warm as peppers are notoriously slow to grow roots in cold soilmix.

applestar wrote:I was appalled to see that Casey's Pure Yellow was bent over in the middle this morning, especially since I was thinking I needed to provide better support for it YESTERDAY but didn't get around to it. But I knew what to do since I had to repair a fruiting plant that the shop light fell on during the winter


I pounded a tall bamboo stake next to it:



Then temporarily supported it with some string:


Close up of the "kink":


A piece of breathable Parafilm "M":


Securely wrap to a splint:


...I might go out and secure the top and bottom part of that stem even better -- I want to keep the stem immobile as much as possible until the plant heals.