The 2010 Chilli growing thread - it's scorching!

collisster · 2 Jun 2010 at 12:16

the naga's are looking very sick, started dropping a few leaves and the rest look ill and very brittle !

arknor · 2 Jun 2010 at 12:56

rout3r said:
Also, is anyone else getting loads of little black flies around their plants? Not on the actual plant itself, but they seem to like the soil (i guess the moisture) - got them on other indoor plants too. They are very irritating. Any idea how to get rid?

they are more than likely fungus gnats they lay eggs in moist soil your plant pot is almost like a swamp if you water from the top.

DO NOT WATER FROM THE TOP , DUNK THE PLANTS IN A BUCKET OR SINK AND LET THE EXCESS WATER DRAIN OFF

you need the top layer of compost to be dry so they arent attracted to your pots.

if you do not do this you will soon have a million flies they have a 14 days cycle from birth to there eggs hatching , everyone is born pregnant.

the grubs that hatch eat organic matter and possibly new roots.

there is a really fast and easy solution buy decorative sand in a craft shop and put a half inch layer ontop of the compost this will trap the fresh hatching ones and they will die, any that are flying in your house wont lay eggs in the sand.

if you dont want to go the sand root then its either something like neem oil which is expensive or let the compost dry out at the top and try to keep any fungus gnats under control by squishing them.

randomshenans · 2 Jun 2010 at 14:04

Ive had 2 dishes with scotch bonnets in now and lots of Serrenos as well. Loads of the others are fruiting and flowering. Good times!

JAYJT29 · 2 Jun 2010 at 14:16

When did everyone sow their seeds to produce fruit now? I planted mine in March no sign at all at the moment.
Thanks
Jay

Gaverick · 3 Jun 2010 at 09:36

I noticed a bit of a problem with the leaves on one of my chillis today, wondering if anybody could offer any advise.

The problem is with the leaves on the top of the plant, they are losing their colour and shrivelling up slightly. The leaves on the bottom of the plant look fine.

Here are some pics of the affected leaves.

And one of the bottom leaves which looks fine. None of my other chillis seem to have this problem and they are all kept in the same place and watered in the same way.

Gaverick · 3 Jun 2010 at 10:14

UPDATE: I just found a small white insect on the back of one of the leaves, looked like a aphid maybe. There was also a sticky clear liquid on the leaf with lots of little bubbles in it and some white powdery material on the stem, sort of looked like a very find cobweb.

Mobius 1 · 3 Jun 2010 at 15:43

ok, so i got some miracle grow fruit, and vegetable feed. is this the right stuff to be using? i couldnt find the proper tomato stuff at the store!

Karl · 3 Jun 2010 at 17:19

Planted some Bhut Jolokia seeds yesterday. Fingers crossed.

Glaucus · 3 Jun 2010 at 17:25

mine just aren't growing

. They are still at the same stage they were 3 weeks ago.

two baby leafs and nothing else. even tried re-potting two of them and they haven't done anything either. At least they aren't dead yet

J1234 · 3 Jun 2010 at 17:55

Harvested a load of green Ring of Fires the other day

bloodiedathame · 3 Jun 2010 at 19:03

AcidHell2 said:
mine just aren't growing . They are still at the same stage they were 3 weeks ago.

two baby leafs and nothing else. even tried re-potting two of them and they haven't done anything either. At least they aren't dead yet

I'm having the same trouble.

rout3r · 4 Jun 2010 at 19:16

arknor said:
they are more than likely fungus gnats they lay eggs in moist soil your plant pot is almost like a swamp if you water from the top.

DO NOT WATER FROM THE TOP , DUNK THE PLANTS IN A BUCKET OR SINK AND LET THE EXCESS WATER DRAIN OFF

you need the top layer of compost to be dry so they arent attracted to your pots.

if you do not do this you will soon have a million flies they have a 14 days cycle from birth to there eggs hatching , everyone is born pregnant.

the grubs that hatch eat organic matter and possibly new roots.

there is a really fast and easy solution buy decorative sand in a craft shop and put a half inch layer ontop of the compost this will trap the fresh hatching ones and they will die, any that are flying in your house wont lay eggs in the sand.

if you dont want to go the sand root then its either something like neem oil which is expensive or let the compost dry out at the top and try to keep any fungus gnats under control by squishing them.

Ah thank you - this makes sense, but I am a bit of a plant n00b

How often should I dunk the plants in water? Sorry if this has already been mentioned on this thread - I started growing way before I even saw this thread (don't come on here that often) so haven't read that much of it...

Would I be able to use stones on the top of the soil do you think? As I say I have a few other indoor plants with the same problem...

I'll be repotting the chilli's this weekend so that should help get rid of them too.

Cheers for your help

NickK · 5 Jun 2010 at 09:14

Seems odd that both your seedlings aren't growing leaves. Do you have a photo of them now?

Mine have been going balmy, they've been suffering as they've been using all their water in one day!

Mark A · 5 Jun 2010 at 17:08

Would it be possible to half fill a plant pot with compost and then put the pot with the chilli in on top of it? That way the roots that are poking through the plant pot will go into the fresh soil. Or does this not work?

I should have used 5 litre pots instead of 3 litre and it'll be hard work re-potting 2' tall plants.

J1234 · 5 Jun 2010 at 17:15

I repotted my fruiting plants that are about 3 foot tall the other week. No problems at all, they didn't drop fruit and didn't even sulk like they do when they're smaller. Just try to disturb the roots as little as possible.

arknor · 6 Jun 2010 at 15:59

got quite a few flowers on mine now and loads of buds growing

i noticed a small spider on them which i thought may have been friendly but now im starting to think maybe its a spider mite! time to die little one!

DavidMarq · 7 Jun 2010 at 16:01

Grabbed a few pics today for an update on progress in the greenhouse. I even have some fruit starting to set on a couple of the Chinese varieties.

Mark A · 7 Jun 2010 at 19:49

Nice! I have a few flowers that have gone brown and look dead, hopefully they will fruit soon.

Unfortunately I had 5 flowers fall off the plant at the stalk today as well

. Still got loads more buds forming though. I think this cold snap has come just at the wrong time for my plants.

Dale · 7 Jun 2010 at 20:26

I've moved my biggest plant outside now, hoping to attract some bees / insects etc to help pollinate. Or should I pollinate myself? Majority of my plants are sitting there flowering away, but no chilli's at the end?? Any thoughts?

NickK · 7 Jun 2010 at 21:29

Dale said:
I've moved my biggest plant outside now, hoping to attract some bees / insects etc to help pollinate. Or should I pollinate myself? Majority of my plants are sitting there flowering away, but no chilli's at the end?? Any thoughts?

Careful of slugs as they love a bit of chilli. :eek:

The flowers are ok now and there have been a few with pollen however I've not had any fruit as of yet :/ Certainly more difficult on the window using natural light only!