Chilli seedlings - heated propagator

[The Cobra]

As the title suggests, I have a load of chilli's that have now germinated in the heated prop. The seedlings are up to about 1" high. When is the time to pot them on and take them out of the heated prop? I don't want them to get leggy and weak

[chilli_grower]

Mine are the same cobra. I only put seedlings into small pots once the first set of true leaves is well established. Just keep the lid off prop and allow them as much light as poss. At least that's what I do!

[Nicos]

Yeh...get them out as soon as you can now and get the next batch into the heated prop!

[rustylady]

I take mine out as soon as they've germinated to make room for the next lot

[chilli_grower]

Me too!

Mine are out of prop and under grow light, just waiting for some new seeds to arrive!!!!

Cobra - I will post a pic after work, so that you can see the size of my baby plants.

I will then post another pic in a couple of weeks or so, when I am ready to pot on.

[bario1]

Mine are the same cobra. I only put seedlings into small pots once the first set of true leaves is well established. Just keep the lid off prop and allow them as much light as poss. At least that's what I do!

Chilli Grower, where do you put them between the heated prop and the small pots? I.e. after they've germinated and before they have true leaves? I pricked some of mine out into small pots when they were a couple of centimetres tall, and they just shrivelled and look like they're going to die. I still have others in the prop (but off the heat) with their lid on, and they're fine. Why take the lid off, surely that just gives them more warmth and the same light?

Confused...

[The Cobra]

Thanks for the replies as always guys, very helpful

[chilli_grower]

bario1,

As soon as a couple of them germinate within the heated prop. (Inside cells).

I immediately remove the entire seed tray from the prop and place under grow lights. (Where they are now, pic to follow later).

THen, after a few weeks or so I will pot into 3 inch pots, and then back under the grow lights they go.

THen, when mid March arrives I will put them all into conservatory with fan heater set to thermostat at approx 15 degrees.

This is what I did last year anyway....

[bario1]

Ah, ok. I don't have grow lights unfortunately. Maybe I'd be better off waiting a few more weeks before starting any more off. Thanks for clarifying!

[rustylady]

Chilli Grower, where do you put them between the heated prop and the small pots? I.e. after they've germinated and before they have true leaves? I pricked some of mine out into small pots when they were a couple of centimetres tall, and they just shrivelled and look like they're going to die. I still have others in the prop (but off the heat) with their lid on, and they're fine. Why take the lid off, surely that just gives them more warmth and the same light?

Confused...

With peppers and tomatoes I sow 5 seeds to a 3 and a half inch half pot. The germinated seedlings can stay in those pots until they have true leaves. They stand on the kitchen windowsill once germinated.

You'd be surprised how much light a clear propagator lid blocks.

[bario1]

You'd be surprised how much light a clear propagator lid blocks.

Really? Ok, thanks for the tip! Problem with my heated prop is the seed trays are part of the prop, so once things have hatched in them, I'd have to take the whole tray off the base until potting on time - leaving me with one less tray to germinate other stuff... if you see what i mean?

[sparrow100]

I prick mine out into pots as soon as they show, or they go leggy in the propagator. I use a sweetcorn fork to help me move them into little pots, then they go on the south windowsill with natty tinfoil collars to reflect the light on them too.

[rustylady]

Really? Ok, thanks for the tip! Problem with my heated prop is the seed trays are part of the prop, so once things have hatched in them, I'd have to take the whole tray off the base until potting on time - leaving me with one less tray to germinate other stuff... if you see what i mean?

No, sorry, not sure at all what you mean. If you take a tray out, surely you can put a couple of pots in it's place. They will still get warmth from the base.

[bario1]

Yes i suppose i could do that, and then put the clear plastic lid from the tray over the pots to keep in some of the heat and moisture? The prop has seven individual trays with plastic lids rather than one big lid over the whole thing.

[Kristen]

The prop has seven individual trays with plastic lids rather than one big lid over the whole thing.

I bought some spare trays for my windowsill propagator - the trays (they are 1/4 size seed trays) come off the propagator soon after the seeds have germinated and their seed leaves are "up", and then the lids come off too so are available to put onto the next batch of trays.

then they go on the south windowsill with natty tinfoil collars to reflect the light on them too.

I used to have a tinfoil reflector behind my seed pots on the windowsill but since then I have read that tinfoil si not a good reflector (which surprised me!), It tends to cause hotspots, and even white paper would be better, as is "flat white paint" (matt rather than gloss) and amongst the best is a piece of Polystyrene if you have it. Mylar is right up at the Rolls Royce end, but expensive unless you have a bit lying around.