Chilli plants in grow tent

[jheg]

Hey, I’m new here - if I’ve missed something about posting let me know!

I’ve recently decided to grow a few different types of chillis indoors using a grow tent/led light.

I have a couple of questions:

1. What is the optimum consistent temperature for the chilli plants to thrive? I’ve currently got a small heater keeping the tent around 25-28c (I’m also on a 18hour light cycle).

2. Ive germinated two seeds in 3” pots each and they’ve pretty much all turned into fairly healthy seedlings. My question is what size pot do I go to next? Do I pot them on individually into their final grow pots or do I pot them on into a medium sized pot first?

3. Anyone who’s done this indoors using an led grow light, how heigh above the canopy have you set your light? I’ve got a kingbo 300w full spectrum light in a 2.5ft x 2.5ft tent, the manual for the light recommended 36-40inchs but that seems a little high?

Cheers for any advice!

Heg

 

[samcat]

Been growing chillies for a touch over 10 years, mainly outdoors but have helped a friend who did the whole tents thing.

1. What is the optimum consistent temperature for the chilli plants to thrive? I’ve currently got a small heater keeping the tent around 25-28c (I’m also on a 18hour light cycle).

Thats good. Dont let it get much warmer than that.

2. Ive germinated two seeds in 3” pots each and they’ve pretty much all turned into fairly healthy seedlings. My question is what size pot do I go to next? Do I pot them on individually into their final grow pots or do I pot them on into a medium sized pot first?

Move up pot sizes gradually, once they are potbound in 3" (roots sticking out the bottom) move them up to the next size up. Going too big makes it hard for the compost to dry between waterings.

3. Anyone who’s done this indoors using an led grow light, how heigh above the canopy have you set your light? I’ve got a kingbo 300w full spectrum light in a 2.5ft x 2.5ft tent, the manual for the light recommended 36-40inchs but that seems a little high?

It depends, with HPS we were seeing heat damage on the leaves when it was 30-45cm or less, so backed it away. LED is different, as runs much cooler but the light is much more intense.. I would guess 30cm ish.
When you say its 300w, is that 300w on the label or 300w drawn from the plug? The power it actually draws is all that matters.

 

[jheg]

Thanks for the responses!

sorry its taken a bit time to reply, i wanted to see how they developed before updating.

I have potted on the seedlings and they have been growing for probably around a month now since germintation - im not seeing massive growth as of yet, and a couple of the plants are looking little unwell. I will attach a couple of pics.

Let me know what your thoughts are on whether you think i might have an issue or not!

https://imgur.com/a/HPPcEze

 

[Mark A]

Yellowing leaves can be caused by a few things. Over watering, nutrient deficiency and chlorine. I usually let tap water sit in a glass jug on a sunny window sill for 24 hours before using it, to let the chlorine evaporate. It shouldn't be nutrient deficiency if you used a decent compost as they usually have enough feed for 6 weeks or so and by that time you're potting up anyway. Unless you're over watering as this can wash out the nutrients from the soil. I usually bottom water and let the compost dry out between watering.

You could try switching to bottom watering if you aren't already as this will stop the nutrients being washed out of the soil by top watering. You could also try feeding them with a diluted chilli feed to see if that helps.

I think there are also some pests that can cause leaf crinkling and yellowing, but I think it is unlikely to be that if they're in a grow tent and at this early stage.

 

[jheg]

I've been letting the compost mostly dry out before watering, and ive been draining any excess water that appears in the dish below immediately after (watering maybe once or twice a week at most). Im thinking that the yellowing issues might be caused by the chlorine since everything else seems to be ok (used new miracle grow compast with 10% vermiculite and 10% perlite to help drain excess water and hold nutrients) - I will make sure to let the water stand in future! All PH levels seem about right also. Ive just watered the plants with a tomato feed to hopefully give them push!

Thanks for your help, fingers crossed they recover and start showing true growth!

 

[Mark A]

That all sounds fine. Hmm, maybe someone with more knowledge can suggest something else. Hopefully they perk up after the tomato feed.