Chilli problems

[jonny]

Hi, I have germinated a lot of chillies. I sat them on an old photographic warm plate and kept the soil temp around 80 degrees. They germinated well. I transplanted some to bigger pots and at the same time gave 4 to a pal. I sat mine back on the warm plate and they have done very little in the last fortnight and are still at the 2 leaf stage and a little pale. His, however, have flourished ona window sill and are 4 leaf. Mine have been in the greenhouse for the past 3 days and there is no improvement. I will try to add a photo, but I,m not sure how to. Any suggestions (about their condition or uploading pictures)

[Doggler]

I've been having the same problem with one of my chillies. I've had it in the greenhouse now for a couple of weeks but it's showing no growth whatsoever and is very pale. Sounds like we have a similar problem. Help!

[smallblueplanet]

Our chilis & aubs have been desperate for decent light levels - went yellow & pallid...picking up a bit now they have moved to the unheated greenhouse (warmer & brighter) but still bring them inside in the evening (poor things!). Also repotted (new compost) and liquid fed them, but think it was mostly the light levels.

[jonny]

Thanks Manda, I was hoping it was just light levels. Fingers crossed.

[KittyB]

Have you tried putting tin foil behind them to reflect what little light there is back to the plants? I saw (can't remember where now, sorry) a set up for window sills that involved cutting a cardboard box to make a 'shelf' and covering the inside of it with foil, so the plants get light from all angles. Should also help prevent seedlings from leaning towards the sun, I'd have thought.

My chilli plants seem to be doing OK so far, but then we had a spate of very sunny weather here in Holland over the last few weeks. It's been grey and rainy the last few days though. *sigh*

[darlochileman]

Hi Jonny,

The chilli season has been very poor so far this year due to the poor light levels and lack of sun (at least up here in the North east of England). Don't panic though as they will shoot up in June / July when the whether heat improves.

One little tip - what yur plants with tepin water rather than cold water to keep the soil temperature up

Mark
www.thechileman.org

[blackkitty]

My chillis seem to be doing okay. I've had them in the grenhouse for several weeks now and a few are starting to set flowers. I'm hoping to get fruit a bit earlier than last year when I could only start picking in about October and the frost got them soon after.

[voodoo veg]

Be very careful when tinkering with tinfoil!!!!!!!

I made a little "chile hospital" out of card and foil for some plants that looked a little poorly and have managed to scorch the leaves on some of them

[SueA]

My chillies are just sitting there doing nothing as well. They are a nice green colour & have four leaves & are on the kitchen windowsill, nice & light & warm but they have done nothing for weeks. Is it O.K. to feed them with something at this early stage?

[smallblueplanet]

Give 'em some food - mine have been repotted and we're feeding them - they're really liking it when the sun is out and the greenhouse temp rises.

How light is your windowsill, I'm always surprised just how much lighter it is 'outside'. Is there anyway for you to put them somewhere lighter/brighter and warmer? Maybe make a cloche-house for them?

[Elmo]

Glad to hear everyone else is having the same problem, I thought it was just me . Wish someone would tell my lawn to slow down a bit though its like a jungle out there and it keeps raining !!

[SueA]

SBP. my window is south facing so fairly sunny ( when the sun comes out!). I'm going to put them in slightly larger pots & give them a feed, they've put on a spurt the last couple of days though- one has 5 leaves & one has 6(4 on the other-only got 3), hope this is the start of something big!

[smallblueplanet]

Show them pictures of what they're supposed to look like - that'll spur them on!!

[eskymo]

I gave up on my chillies - I planted them ages ago and nothing came of them, so I just left the pots unwatered for the past few weeks and was just tidying up the greenhouse the other day and noticed that 4 of the chillies had germinted and so I repotted them and they're all about an inch tall now - I got this from totally neglecting them - great!

[sewer rat]

My chillies were doing SFA until last week. Of the four that germintaed, two were just at the seed leaf stage and the other two had just produced their second pair of true leaves. Hadn't looked at them from the day before wedding until tonight and thety have shot up - at leat eight inches in height in one week ! Happy Rat