Chilli help

[mckay14]

Hello everyone im very new to the chilli/growing scene and would just like to make sure im going in the right direction or a push that way would be great!

I started in mid July, which probably isnt the best time to start but there in-doors so dont think they'll suffer with coldness. Im currently growing a little mixture of chilli's, Twilight, Scotch bonnets and habenero's. I've been reading some websites here and there but some information ive read differs alot! Im watering when the soil is dry(ish) to touch, i have tomato fertiliser but i dont exactly know when to start with that, my chillis are all mainly around 5 inches high and have around 7 sets of leaves.

One problem i did have was being new to all of this i left them in the heat for too long and a few leaves curled up and died, however the plant itself produced more leaves (thank heavens!) Im just a little worried a few leaves have small light/yellow patches on them, is this just a case of the heat that killed some of the leaves? I shall upload a picture shortly if that helps.

Thanks for your time.

[Pa Snips]

Don't worry about it. My chillies had plenty of frazzled looking leaves when they were younger and smaller, yet they're still with me and have loads of green pods on them now.

As for watering, there is no right or wrong way of going about it, the best way is the way that works best for you. Mine like a good, regular drenching. Others will insist they should be given a small amount of water on an infrequent basis. Your picture shows a nice healthy plant so keep doing what you're doing and you won't go far wrong. I wouldn't bother feeding them until they're have chilli pods forming.

Another regular contradiction is that of pot size...I found that my plants needed room to spread their roots and flourished soon after being put into large pots, while some suggest the best results come from letting them become root-bound before potting on. Once again, the best way is the way that works the best for you.

If they start to look unhealthy at some point in their growth cycle, adjust their environment and see if changes/improvements occur. By 'environment' I'm referring to pot size, watering regime and location.

[mckay14]

Thank you for your reply, helps alot!

[The Large One]

Hi mckay14

starting in mid July you really don't have time on your side, you could struggle to get any decent fruit this year, especially with the poor weather but more important lack of good light around.
feeding is normally applied when flowers or fruit are setting but i have been feeding mine since seedling stage but i use chilli focus a specific feed especially designed for it..if you have yellowing leaves this could be magnesium defficiency, a good remedy is spinkle small amounts of epsom salts on the soil as its water soluable
quite a few serious chilli growers do start seedlings this late in the year but purely to overwinter them which will give you a massive head start in next years growing season so i would be heading that route and any chillis you get this year will be a bonus

HTH

[mckay14]

Thanks very much for your reply, I shall try that thanks. I need to buy some bigger pots pronto! Checked last night and a root or two popping through the bottom.

[Two_Sheds]

there in-doors so dont think they'll suffer with coldness.

It's not warmth that they lack, it's going to be lack of daylight: the nights are already drawing in and this will only get worse during Sept

Sorry to be a downer, but there, you already know you sowed (about 4 months) late You can always try and overwinter your plants though, so you don't have to bin them

[mckay14]

It's not warmth that they lack, it's going to be lack of daylight: the nights are already drawing in and this will only get worse during Sept

Sorry to be a downer, but there, you already know you sowed (about 4 months) late You can always try and overwinter your plants though, so you don't have to bin them

Haha yeah i was aware of the lack of time i had before but being new to all this i was over eager to try it out, thats what i shall do unless by some chance i do get something (fingers crossed!)