Growing Chillies

[NickK]

Yes they will take electricity. Although these can be used to supplement at the start or end of the day rather than all day if you want to limit the power used.
Nothing stopping you from only using it every other day if the plant is in daylight.

Think of it like this - 400W = 400W/hour, 0.4KWh * price per KWh * hours you use it = cost.
So for my 400W HPS on for 10-12hours/day then a month = £32.

If you're supplementing then a CFL 250W would help. If you're really serious and have a lot of plants to cover then a 400W+ HPS (dual spectrum bulb) but these will need space and will kick off a lot of heat compared to the CFL.

Have a read about CFLs and HPS lights here.
You will require a reflector either way and the bulbs will not fit normal bulb sockets.

 

[VFR_KID]

I think i might just let them do their own thing, they are in the front porch which gets sun from when it rises untill about 12 lunch time, but in light all day, its generaly stuffy in there when the sun comes up to ass its all windows

 

[VFR_KID]

My first wee chilli

 

[GoatBotherer]

Here is my first ignorant attempt at growing chillies. The picture above is of my dorset naga. I also have a Jalapeno on the go but it basically looks identical to the naga and this stage.

How is it looking? It's been going for 3-4 months now. Are the black spots on the leaves normal?

 

[Red and White]

my chillies are starting to grow now and they grow amazingly quickly once they appear! anyone else noticed that, they are practically doubling in size every day or so

 

[NickK]

Here is my first ignorant attempt at growing chillies. The picture above is of my dorset naga. I also have a Jalapeno on the go but it basically looks identical to the naga and this stage.

How is it looking? It's been going for 3-4 months now. Are the black spots on the leaves normal?

Cat among the pigeons with this comment but that doesn't look like a Dorset Naga. The leaf pattern doesn't look right and the stem growth pattern doesn't look right and lastly the flower head doesn't look right.
My Naga when it was younger, you can see what I mean about the stem and leaf growth patterns:

Not black spots are not normal - sounds like a fungal infection that needs to be treated. Do you have a photo of one of the infected leaves? Edit - ahh I can see in the original photo... probably best removing the infected leaves and burning them. Also look at a fungicide to help.

 

[NickK]

my chillies are starting to grow now and they grow amazingly quickly once they appear! anyone else noticed that, they are practically doubling in size every day or so

Given good light - like our current summer - zoom! Same sort of growth I see under the light earlier in the thread. It look mere weeks to really grow large.

 

[utajoker]

got back from holiday to find my chillie plants a few inches taller and a lot mroe flowers on them, but ive also found 5 or 6 flowers that look like they have fell off at the stem. is there any explination for this?

a few mins ago while looking out the window i also spotted my first chillie ! (i think)

 

[VFR_KID]

A few of mines have also fallen off at the stem, i just hope the others dont when they start to grow

 

[NickK]

A few of mines have also fallen off at the stem, i just hope the others dont when they start to grow

Dropping flowers - you may need to stabilise the conditions around the plant. So perhaps give it abit more water, better light and keep an eye on it's temps.

My Jalapenos are very happy and I've never had a problem, my Nagas on the other had are very different. They require frequent watering, steady warm temps and good light levels to keep their flowers.

utajoker - that certainly is a chilli

Just remember to pollenate the flowers each day and you should get a better rate of fruiting. If flowers aren't pollenated then the plant will drop them too.

 

[VFR_KID]

Dropping flowers - you may need to stabilise the conditions around the plant. So perhaps give it abit more water, better light and keep an eye on it's temps.

I think its the watering thats my problem, how often do you do yours?

Also what fertaliser do u use, Would adding Baby Bio to the water be ok

 

[NickK]

I think its the watering thats my problem, how often do you do yours?

Not enough. It's been once a week but to be honest I think I need to give them a bucket soak twice a week at the moment with this weather.

I've tried Baby Bio and Chilli Focus.

Baby bio may need to be diluted from the specified dose if youre feeding young plants - yours should be ok with a standard dose.
Chilli Focus is better from what I've seen from results and it's PKN values are very different.

I feed every other bucket soak, so at the moment that's every other week. After switching the watering this will be every week instead. I'll see what happens.

Once the chilli is growing usually the plant won't drop them unless something is really wrong.

 

[VFR_KID]

Well it has only dropped two, which may have been from someone nudging them

 

[utajoker]

i think its the fact that they havent been polinated that they are dropping, they may have been the first flowers that apeared. ive been away for a week so not been puting them outside.

im gonna get some cotton buds and pollinate them myself and see how that goes.

 

[NickK]

I'm gonna get some cotton buds and pollinate them myself and see how that goes.

I tried cotton buds but I found that the pollen sinks into the bud. I'd look at something flat.

I use a 1/2 peg as the pollen drops on to it, you can see the pollen easier and it doesn't ping the pollen everywhere.

 

[utajoker]

I tried cotton buds but I found that the pollen sinks into the bud. I'd look at something flat.

I use a 1/2 peg as the pollen drops on to it, you can see the pollen easier and it doesn't ping the pollen everywhere.

did the cotton bud way bout 20 mins before reading ur post will try a peg if this way dont work out very well

 

[VFR_KID]

Thats me got 2 Chillis now on one plant, the other has only just started to flower, got loads of flowers on each plant tho.

i never polinated mines initialy and seam to be ok, other than the two flowers dropping off, i have just been and done it again tho since i have started doing it.

Did you know chillis have an anti septic agent in them that actualy help get wrid of ulcers in your mouth?

 

[NickK]

*wonders how D.P., AcidHell2 and others are getting on*

I would do the flowers daily. Just check them to see if they have signs of pollenating if not then give them another dusting.

 

[Glaucus]

Very very slowly, but it is growing. Might be ready for next summer.

And I've planted the seeds you sent me, big thumbs up for that..

 

[wordy]

Hope this is not a stupid question, but what do you use Dorest Nagas for, I'd assume you'd burn yourself if you ever tried to eat one or mix one in with food?