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globos
Regular User


Registered: 04/09/10
Posts: 658
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Germinating hot peppers - doing it right? (turning into a growlog along the way)
#14262930 - 04/09/11 12:29 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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I sowed a few varieties of hot pepper in an electric germinator, but they are slow to sprout and then soon bend over and die. If I take them out, they dry up and die instead.

With the last seedlings that sprouted (habaneros), I decided to change technique and after germinating in the germinator, I put them in a sealed bag where I'm punching holes day by day. Hope it's going to be better... any advice will be appreciated.
Edited by globos (04/27/11 09:08 AM)
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vadub
nuggets



Registered: 07/06/06
Posts: 568
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Re: Germinating hot peppers - doing it right? [Re: globos]
#14263818 - 04/09/11 05:09 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Humidity and heat is your friend in this scenario...they like temps in the upper 70's to germinate and in the seedling stage before you harden them off. Dunno if you used a seedling heat mat but they work well for this purpose, especially one with a soil probe to keep your soils temps at a desirable level.
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ThirdEyeVision
Mystik Journeyman



Registered: 03/15/10
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Re: Germinating hot peppers - doing it right? [Re: vadub]
#14264474 - 04/09/11 09:25 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Just get one of these mini green houses at Lowes or Home Depot for about $20. Guaranteed good results with all plants. They've never failed me, they keep the humidity and temp perfect every time.
http://www.amazon.com/Jiffy-5035-Professional-Greenhouse-72-Plant/dp/B000KL76S8/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1302405848&sr=8-3
-------------------- Alchemy is the art of manipulating life, and consciousness in matter, to help it evolve, or to solve problems of inner dis-harmonies. - Jean Dubuis
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globos
Regular User


Registered: 04/09/10
Posts: 658
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Re: Germinating hot peppers - doing it right? [Re: ThirdEyeVision]
#14266846 - 04/10/11 12:28 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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I think my problem is with weaning. Electric germinator = propagator = something much like the mini-greenhouse you referred me to, isn't it? Here are some pictures (and a related discussion focusing on cacti).
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fngbronco
Monkey Man



Registered: 09/26/10
Posts: 2,877
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Re: Germinating hot peppers - doing it right? [Re: globos]
#14266895 - 04/10/11 12:42 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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My Pedro seeds I started in a 2.5 qt tub on top of my heater. I've left them for a few weeks now with no lid on it and in a room where they get a couple hours of direct light. They're doing great and they're only a couple months old. You should be good to just remove the lid or remove them and watch them. If they look sad try putting them back under the dome or back in the propagator without the dome and watch them.
My peppers I just put under a plant light in peat pots, in a bowl. I keep 1/4" or so of water in the bowl and they're doing well. Gotta get them sunlight tho they're really needing good light.
-------------------- I challenge you to challenge yourself more! When you feel complacent and ready to hang it up, challenge yourself to get over it! If you fail, don't look at it as you didn't succeed, look at it as you would a rock face you're trying to climb. Stand back, wayyyy back, and look at it and plot another path. If you can't find one, shuffle down the way a little, a little change of scenery or a view from a different angle may give you the insight you need. Anything I state is relayed information from a friend of a friend and should be viewed as completely fictitious. I do not partake in any illegal or grey-area-of-the-law activities, but do have lots of friends who may or may not. -fngbronco Pill Divider Agar Tek
Edited by fngbronco (04/10/11 12:50 PM)
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globos
Regular User


Registered: 04/09/10
Posts: 658
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Re: Germinating hot peppers - doing it right? [Re: fngbronco]
#14266981 - 04/10/11 01:00 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Yeah, roger that about cacti. I think I can probably be more careless with them than I have been. My current issue is with peppers, though, that seem to be much less hardy; that's why I started a different thread.
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fngbronco
Monkey Man



Registered: 09/26/10
Posts: 2,877
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Re: Germinating hot peppers - doing it right? [Re: globos]
#14267121 - 04/10/11 01:29 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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The peppers you can do the same. Poke holes in the bottom of the cups and put them in a baking dish of water. They'll pull what water they need
-------------------- I challenge you to challenge yourself more! When you feel complacent and ready to hang it up, challenge yourself to get over it! If you fail, don't look at it as you didn't succeed, look at it as you would a rock face you're trying to climb. Stand back, wayyyy back, and look at it and plot another path. If you can't find one, shuffle down the way a little, a little change of scenery or a view from a different angle may give you the insight you need. Anything I state is relayed information from a friend of a friend and should be viewed as completely fictitious. I do not partake in any illegal or grey-area-of-the-law activities, but do have lots of friends who may or may not. -fngbronco Pill Divider Agar Tek
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globos
Regular User


Registered: 04/09/10
Posts: 658
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Re: Germinating hot peppers - doing it right? [Re: fngbronco]
#14271546 - 04/11/11 10:21 AM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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So I freed the plastic cup from the humidity tent. The seedlings seem to thrive, but I'm wary of resting the cup in water, lest the soil gets too soggy.
Here's the cup of habaneros:

Here's the assorted seedling tray. The soil looked too wet to me after I put it in a baking tray as you suggested, so I took it off, but I really don't know what to do. Any suggestions will be appreciated.
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fngbronco
Monkey Man



Registered: 09/26/10
Posts: 2,877
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Re: Germinating hot peppers - doing it right? [Re: globos]
#14271581 - 04/11/11 10:34 AM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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I've got my seed starts in peat planters sitting in a tray with water and the seedlings seem to enjoy it. it's ok if it looks wet, the soil can only absorb so much. It's like a self watering system until the plants harden off.
-------------------- I challenge you to challenge yourself more! When you feel complacent and ready to hang it up, challenge yourself to get over it! If you fail, don't look at it as you didn't succeed, look at it as you would a rock face you're trying to climb. Stand back, wayyyy back, and look at it and plot another path. If you can't find one, shuffle down the way a little, a little change of scenery or a view from a different angle may give you the insight you need. Anything I state is relayed information from a friend of a friend and should be viewed as completely fictitious. I do not partake in any illegal or grey-area-of-the-law activities, but do have lots of friends who may or may not. -fngbronco Pill Divider Agar Tek
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RourkeAnderson
<3 <3 <3



Registered: 03/18/11
Posts: 608
Loc: Surrey, BC, Canada
Last seen: 10 years, 3 months
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Re: Germinating hot peppers - doing it right? [Re: fngbronco]
#14271776 - 04/11/11 11:30 AM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Hot peppers are slow growing, but I've found them to be extremely simple to grow. Don't overwater them or baby them, they like to have a few days to dry out between dousings. I've found they arn't picky about soil either, well draining or not they'll grow happily. Mine are under low power fluoros at the moment and have no issues with light.
As for germination, as long as the seeds are fresh-ish, they should have a nearly 100% rate. Warmth helps, humidity helps, but neither is needed, I've had 100% germ rates in batches I threw outside in spring during a seriously rainy period. They combat fungus really well and once the sun comes out your golden. Remember though, chili plants are pretty damn slow compared to most quick grower plants that us shroomers love to cultivate.
My advice is, don't fret over them too much, love them from a distance and don't over-baby them.
Here is a mini- pepper plant I started growing 2 months ago. EXTREMELY HAPPY

And here is a 2 year old pygmy chili plant, all growed up.
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Horticulture
Mycocurious



Registered: 04/30/09
Posts: 1,102
Loc: Midwest
Last seen: 9 years, 30 days
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Re: Germinating hot peppers - doing it right? [Re: globos]
#14272833 - 04/11/11 02:54 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Plant them in the ground/potting soil and they grow?
I've never had any trouble with hot peppers. Sounds like your germinator is getting too hot for them, causing them to stretch, then collapse under their own weight. I will say the soil you're using looks pretty crummy. What is it?
-------------------- The Plant Mage Guild
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World Seed Supply
Seed Man


Registered: 11/12/09
Posts: 2,154
Loc: New York, USA
Last seen: 30 days, 17 hours
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Re: Germinating hot peppers - doing it right? [Re: Horticulture]
#14274084 - 04/11/11 06:28 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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I would not sit the pot in water. It is best to allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. You have to keep a good eye on them when they are young just so the soil doesn't get too dry. But it is not recommended to leave it constantly wet.
Btw, if you haven't seen our pepper guide, you might find some useful info http://worldseedsupplydotnet.blogspot.com/2010/06/world-seed-supplys-complete-pepper.html
-------------------- www.worldseedsupply.com HELPING THE WORLD GROW! 50% OFF 1st KRATOM COLLECTION POWDER ORDER @ www.kratomcollectionshop.com USE CODE WELCOME50NWEW!
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globos
Regular User


Registered: 04/09/10
Posts: 658
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Great replies! They are appreciated.
@fngbronco I'm using a shallow tray which gets soggy to the brim unlike a somewhat taller pot. It definitely looks like too much water.
@RourkeAnderson Rourke, I see your point and that's what I've been doing for years without thinking too much; just throw'em in the ground, if there are many enough they can be thinned and will produce healthy plants for sure. However, it's always been local strains - C. annuum of various shapes, well accustomed to the local climate and relatively quick to mature - or tolerant Mexican varieties such as jalapeƱo. We're talking 60k Scoville tops. Some hotter, more exotic varieties (habaneros, trinidad scorpions and competition hybrids) are a lot harder to get right in my experience, especially when they sprout late, grow slowly and don't get enough time to fruit before the cold season sets in.
@Horticolture I think you're right about the propagator. The soil is ordinary potting soil with a strong scent of mushrooms (and quite a few spores too, apparently). It served me well enough until now. I guess it looks crummy because it was drenched.
@WorldSeedSupply A neat, no-nonsense practical guide to peppers - one of the best I've seen. Thanks for the pointer.
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Horticulture
Mycocurious



Registered: 04/30/09
Posts: 1,102
Loc: Midwest
Last seen: 9 years, 30 days
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Re: Germinating hot peppers - doing it right? [Re: globos]
#14278121 - 04/12/11 01:47 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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What brand of potting soil, and what sort of mushroom spores? I only ask because I know spent Pluerotus spawn is actually aggressive enough to eat some seeds if mixed in with soil.
I use ProMix BX with Mycorise (some mycorhizzal fungus they inoculate their soil/substrate with) for everything. It's kind of hard to find, and I can only get it through my uni's greenhouse and this one farm store, but it's completely worth the extra effort. All other commercial potting soils completely suck in my experience, especially MiracleGro's. Starting this year (well, first I've seen it anyway, it may be older) ProMix is actually pushing a consumer oriented potting soil to market (larger nurseries and stores like Lowes), but I haven't gotten a chance to use it yet. I assume its a good product (everything they make is pretty legit), but can't speak personally. Not sure how it's different, but if I had to guess, I'd say it's prefertilized (ProMix BX has no added nutrients, so whatever you add is what's in it).


As hard as I rep this stuff, you'd think I got paid to do it or something, but really I've just been *that* impressed with the results.
-------------------- The Plant Mage Guild
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globos
Regular User


Registered: 04/09/10
Posts: 658
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Re: Germinating hot peppers - doing it right? [Re: Horticulture]
#14291931 - 04/14/11 06:53 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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I don't remember that particular brand, but the spores were definitely Coprinus cornatus (I'd linked the story with pics actually.)
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globos
Regular User


Registered: 04/09/10
Posts: 658
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Re: Germinating hot peppers - doing it right? [Re: globos]
#14360141 - 04/27/11 09:08 AM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Here are the habaneros in the plastic cup. The seedlings are slowly growing, but the two small ones haven't lost their seed coat yet. I wonder: is that arrested development?

The seedlings in the tray are doing fine, except some exotics (fatalii, rocoto) who simply won't germinate - look at the empty rows. I am giving up hope on those ones 
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globos
Regular User


Registered: 04/09/10
Posts: 658
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Re: Germinating hot peppers - doing it right? [Re: globos]
#14563758 - 06/05/11 09:12 AM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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Not a happy sowing season for peppers. Some of the few survivors have leaves that get yellow. What do you think the matter is?

I hope I'm not too late to plant some more exotics. I'm a bit disappointed
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fngbronco
Monkey Man



Registered: 09/26/10
Posts: 2,877
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Re: Germinating hot peppers - doing it right? [Re: globos]
#14563780 - 06/05/11 09:17 AM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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They may be crowded, or need more nutrients. Try some fertilizer or compost maybe?
-------------------- I challenge you to challenge yourself more! When you feel complacent and ready to hang it up, challenge yourself to get over it! If you fail, don't look at it as you didn't succeed, look at it as you would a rock face you're trying to climb. Stand back, wayyyy back, and look at it and plot another path. If you can't find one, shuffle down the way a little, a little change of scenery or a view from a different angle may give you the insight you need. Anything I state is relayed information from a friend of a friend and should be viewed as completely fictitious. I do not partake in any illegal or grey-area-of-the-law activities, but do have lots of friends who may or may not. -fngbronco Pill Divider Agar Tek
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DoDahDay
Stranger?



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Loc: Bat country
Last seen: 2 years, 5 months
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Re: Germinating hot peppers - doing it right? [Re: fngbronco]
#14564141 - 06/05/11 10:58 AM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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Your soil looks soaked. Yellow is typically from lack of nutrients. That can be from too much water, not enough water or binding. Do a ph test to see if it may be binding. From what I have stated before, looks like they are too wet and starving for oxygen. Though I am not a botanist, the reason that peppers like dry soil could be because they like lots of o2. Repot them and add perlite. One product that I always loved with mj was Fox farms "Happy Frog". It is a mycorhizzal inco'd fine wood chip. Dont know is it is like the Pro bx, but is probably just as hard to find. Look up Kreations indoor gardening(gokigc.com) and he can ship it to you. This will add aeration with excellent moisture holding capabilities and the benefits or myco.
-------------------- "I fart in your general direction! Your mother was a hampster and your father smelt of elderberries!"
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