2019 Chilli Growing thread

[Mark A]

I'll look into that, thanks. I have tried horticultural sharp sand in the past, which didn't work, also tried perlite last year, which did work for most of the year, but I think the little buggers found their way into the bottom of the pots. They are a reall problem for me and usually result in me having to bin all my plants instead of over wintering as they are infested by the end of summer .

I'm thinking the mesh will totally stop them getting into the bottom holes, but still let water drain out. Same with the top. Then put a layer of grit or sand on top of the mesh to hold it down.

 

[Nazbit]

Peruvian Lemon Drop pricked out at the weekend

 

[Squid Vicious]

I'll look into that, thanks. I have tried horticultural sharp sand in the past, which didn't work, also tried perlite last year, which did work for most of the year, but I think the little buggers found their way into the bottom of the pots. They are a reall problem for me and usually result in me having to bin all my plants instead of over wintering as they are infested by the end of summer .

I'm thinking the mesh will totally stop them getting into the bottom holes, but still let water drain out. Same with the top. Then put a layer of grit or sand on top of the mesh to hold it down.

I had issues with an infestation last year but think the root cause was overwatering, as soon as I cut that back the problem disappeared.

 

[Mark A]

I had issues with an infestation last year but think the root cause was overwatering, as soon as I cut that back the problem disappeared.

I thought the same, so cut back on watering severely. I let the soil dry out completely before watering again and also watered from the bottom, so the top of the soil stayed dry. It didn't seem to make a difference . I still do that a few years on as they seem to like drying out and then bottom watering anyway. Last year when I filled the top 1/4 of the pot with Perlite did seem to help a lot though.


One thing I did read recently while I was researching what compost to use for cacti was that peat soils are more prone to fungus gnats, so I might get some peat free compost this year and see how that goes.

 

[Yadda]

My latest addition: a baby Reaper (Reaplet?).

 

[Pigeon_Killer]

3 of my seeds have started to germinate now, should I start giving them sunlight/light or deprive them until more appear?

If I need to give them light, is it better to remove the three from the tray and stick them on the windowsill in their own pots?

 

[Yadda]

3 of my seeds have started to germinate now, should I start giving them sunlight/light or deprive them until more appear?

If I need to give them light, is it better to remove the three from the tray and stick them on the windowsill in their own pots?

If I was you, I'd move the tray somewhere light and don't transplant any into their own pots until they look like Nazbit's, above.

 

[Street]

Finally we have life! I was potting up my Basket of Fires yesterday as they're too big for the propagator now and noticed that 1 of my habaneros has finally germinated. 1 out of 10 and it's taken weeks!

 

[Pigeon_Killer]

My three early arrivals got leggy very quick without any sun so I bought a UV light and built a DIY grow box out of a stool and tin foil. No idea if it'll help but I can't imagine they would've survived anyway.

 

[Yadda]

Finally we have life! I was potting up my Basket of Fires yesterday as they're too big for the propagator now and noticed that 1 of my habaneros has finally germinated. 1 out of 10 and it's taken weeks!

Nice. I planted a load last week and am still waiting for any sign of life.

 

[ShotInTheAss86]

looks like all 12 padron seeds have taken, more than i was expecting. Moved 10 out of propagator into small pots along with 7 of jalapenos that were ready to be moved on. Put 5 Devil White Tongue and 5 long horn mountain and a few more jalapeno seeds in to the propagator. Definitely wont have enough windowsill room for all these but will cross that bridge when i come to it

 

[Nazbit]

Just brought my chilis and Sweet Peppers back in to the house.

Pricked out and potted on a week and a half ago which is when I moved them out to the greenhouse. It's heated in there but they don't seem to be enjoying it.

 

[Yadda]

Signs of life, a last.

 

[Pigeon_Killer]

Is there anything I can do to save this plant? Seems to have a backpack and hasn't grown for a week

 

[Armageus]

Carefully try and remove the seed - had to do this with one of my Sweet Pepper seedlings. Has looked weak and wilted for a week or so, but now slowly picking up

 

[Mark A]

Also wetting the seed can help soften it before removing.

 

[Yadda]

Quite a few more of my seeds have now germinated. All Apaches so far though, none of the Inferno or Paper Lantern seeds have done anything yet. The Apache mother plant was an F1 hybrid so this lot should be a right mixed bag. Here they are in their own little propagator.

The Reaper is doing well. It has outgrown its little pot so I've just moved it into a bigger one.

 

[Pigeon_Killer]

Finally got around to migrating my plants to new plant pots in their new house this morning. Some of them were buggers to get out of the seed tray and a few roots got ripped off in the process, is that likely to knacker them?

Carefully try and remove the seed - had to do this with one of my Sweet Pepper seedlings. Has looked weak and wilted for a week or so, but now slowly picking up

Had to confine him to the compost bin this morning, the seed case was still attached and he hadn't grown all week

 

[Nazbit]

A month on from my last update.

Going ok for a first attempt I think.

 

[Mark A]

They're looking great Nazbit. If there are roots coming through the holes at the bottom of the pots it might be a good idea to repot some of the bigger plants into larger pots.