Chilli crisis help please

[Small pumpkin]

my one and only chilli I'm trying to overwinter is very unhappy
I've just noticed the poor fella has some unwelcome gusts. aphids & greenfly that he didn't have when I brought him in from the tunnel. He has been dropping lots of leaves since he's been in the house, he was doing that before his gusts turned up. Also lots of brown patches on the leaves. Obviously I'm going to get the bug spray out but do you think it would be a good idea to cut him back to the new growth that is coming round the base? See photos ( hope they help)





All advice welcome, I really don't want to lose him.

[Scarlet]

It looks very healthy to me. It's winter time so dropping of leaves, browning etc is normal.
Bugs are usually attracted to new green growth. Everyone has their own way, I don't cut back now. I usually give a trim if I need to in early spring, though cutting off that large top growth (IMO) wouldn't hurt it.
Just try to keep on top of the bugs, I don't use spray, I squish off or give them a little wash off though mine are in a warm room so they dry off quickly.

There will be a few others around soon to give you some different info but to be honest you are doing well so far!
Good luck

[Thelma Sanders]

Mine were the same, and after a half-hearted attempt at controlling the little blighters, without much success! I got so fed up with greenfly in my tea, that I've chucked mine outside OMG

I'll have to start again in the Spring.

So good luck with yours, I hope you win the fight! I'd cut the top bit off, if it was my plant

[Greenleaves]

Going by the clocks SP it appears it is growing in two zones, perhaps that is confusing it?

[Small pumpkin]

Thanks all very helpful. Especially from you greenleaves

[spamvindaloo]

I'd agree with Scarlet. I've cut back chilli plants at this time of year and as a result they've put on a growth spurt at the wrong time of year which has lead to weak growth and the plant was unhappy plus flowering way too early. I'd give the leaves and stems a good spray with water (you can add something like neem or horticultural soap if you like but you can blast them all off with water) and then cutting back in spring will give it a growth spurt at the right time of year.

[chilli_grower]

I think it looks fab. It might need a bigger pot though? The plant looks huge compared to the pot!!!!

I would spray the leaves with soapy water......

nice railway clock by the way.

[Small pumpkin]

I think it looks fab. It might need a bigger pot though? The plant looks huge compared to the pot!!!!

I would spray the leaves with soapy water......

nice railway clock by the way.

Sorry chilli grower, I missed your post.
Would you repot now or in the spring?
Now for the really stupid question. What is soapy water ? Lot of people use it & recommend it, but I'm assuming it's not just diluted washing up liquid is it ? I think I've got all the green fly but there are still a few aphids.

The clock is the right time twice a day . It dose work but I can't stand loud ticking clocks. I was terrified we were going to inherit the grandfather clock, but luckily it when to the oldest grandchild.

[Scarlet]

You can buy horticultural soft soap. I think a little ecover well diluted doesn't hurt, but as spamvindaloo has said if you put water in a spray bottle you can blast them off. Garlic in the water can also help. I'm sure there was a recipe for a homemade bug spray on here but I just can't find it.

[sparrow100]

I put a plastic bag over the pot covering all the compost, turn the plant upside down and hold it under the shower on cold. Aphids don't stand a chance! I spray the compost with organic bug spray, and the main stems of the plant and leave it in the bath to drip-dry.

Depending on your agility and the weight of the pot, it might be an option. I do it every couple of weeks and my chillies are thriving.

[chilli_grower]

I would personally re pot now, in to a 10 litre pot/flower bucket.

My theory behind this, is that the plant has no doubt been sat in the same compost for a good few months now, and it would probably appreciate some fresh nutrients, despite the fact it is winter...

When I re pot my chillies, I am not particularly careful about how I do it. I take the plant outside and literally turn the entire thing upside down and shake it out.

I allow all the loose soil to literally fall onto the floor.

I then rub the 'compost ball' all over so that all the loose stuff also falls off.

I then bung it in a new pot with fresh compost around the sides and bottom.

Then of course I add a couple of inches of compost to the top, as this of course would have all fallen off when tipped upside down.

I also plant deep. I.E, I bury the stem a couple of inches below the soil line.

Hope this helps...

[ancee]

My lot had to have an impromptu shower the other day as they had so many greenfly they were all along the Venetian blinds! Ew! I showered them all thoroughly then bug sprayed them. They are now back on the windowsill. Since I've brought them in They have put on an awful lot of new growth. Some of them have flowers! I watched a video in September on youtube. The guy on there said to cut them back, pot them in fresh compost and add some slow release fertiliser and put them on a windowsill. Which is what I've done. First time overwintering for me too. They look ok so far......

[spamvindaloo]

I would personally re pot now, in to a 10 litre pot/flower bucket.

My theory behind this, is that the plant has no doubt been sat in the same compost for a good few months now, and it would probably appreciate some fresh nutrients, despite the fact it is winter.

I'd disagree (but I may be wrong). I'd try to let my plants slow down at this time of year. Then gives them a trim and a new nutrient boost around March and they should burst into life. Everybody has their own opinion on what works best though....

[bario1]

I'm still still waiting for this year's chillis to ripen!!

[bario1]

Here's what it looks like now - I think it's a 'Jamaican Hot', so the peppers are supposed to turn red...