Cayenne Pepper problem

[Ader1]

Hi agian,

I've got some Cayenne growing in the conservatory and on the window sill indoors. I grew them from seed in a propagator. I then transplanted them into individual pot with Westland Multi-purpose compost ("Enriched with nutrients for healthier plants"). They've been there now for 2 to 3 weeks and they just aren't growing. They're not dying but aren't doing anything either. What could be the matter? I did grow Cayennes around 4 years ago and I can't remember any problems. Might it be the compost I'm using? Or could it be that we just aren't getting enough sun-light this year (although cold it hasn't been that bad!) Any help or advice much appreciated.

[SarzWix]

There are two possibilities I can think of; one is that it may be too cold overnight for them where they are, that would slow growth down. The other is that going up into a big-ish pot sometimes makes the plant grow roots before it grows leaves, in which case you'll shortly get an explosion of growth. It could be a combination of both things.

[rustylady]

How big are the pots you transplanted them into? And how big were the plants when you transplanted them?

[Ader1]

Thanks for both your replies. I had planted the seeds in an old Chinese take-away carton and put it into a small propagator. The seedlings I would say were about one and a half inches long at the most and are still little if at all bigger although the leaves 'may' have grown a little. I thought they were getting a little leggy in the propagator. I transferred them into 9cm pots which are 7 cms deep.

[rustylady]

I don't normally prick my chillies or tomatoes out until they have a set of true leaves, as opposed to the two seed leaves that are first to emerge.

I sow five or six seeds to a three and a half inch half pot, germinate in a propagator, and move to a sunny windowsill as soon as they have germinated. This stops them getting leggy.

Once they have a pair of true leaves (i.e. four leaves in total) I pot them singly into 7cm square pots.

[Ader1]

They have by enlarge now developed 4 leaves in total but 2 of them still have seeds kind of holding the leaves together. Maybe they are expending too much strength growing roots rather than the leaves as was suggested earlier? I suppose I should just leave them now and let them finish with their root development when they will then start growing upwards? Thanks.

[rustylady]

Yes, leave them for now and make sure you don't overwater them.

Keep them somewhere warm and as light as possible - they should soon get going.