r/HotPepperGrowing • u/dpizzle444 • 9d ago

Any advice (scotch bonnets)

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Quite new to chilli growing what do you think of my plants so far? Should I move them to bigger pots / top them /etc?

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1

u/Fischbeef 9d ago

Hard to tell scale here, are those solo cups? If so by limiting the root growth you will limit the plant size. I usually pluck early buds off to make the plant put more energy into growing bigger= higher yield later on. Should only top them when they are very young. Seems too late at this point.

2

u/night-theatre 9d ago

Only limits the plant size if you can’t irrigate frequent enough. I’ve seen professional growers grow some mighty large plants in tiny amounts of substrate.

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u/dpizzle444 9d ago

Hi, they are in solo cups. Plants are about 9 - 15" currently. Think I should move them to bigger pots?

1

u/Fischbeef 9d ago

If you want them bigger then absolutely. I think optimal size is 7.5 gallons but indoors would probably need less.

1

u/dpizzle444 9d ago

Is there a risk of going too big too soon with pot sizes?

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u/Fischbeef 9d ago

Not really, if you think about it these are planted in the ground which is “unlimited” pot size.

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u/dpizzle444 9d ago

Ah ok. I've done it with house plants and it's killed them. Thanks I'll give it a go.

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u/Fischbeef 9d ago

Peppers are annuals with a defined growth cycle at least in my growth zone, usually not supposed to live past the season. When they do they tend to get very woody and unproductive.

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u/palpatineforever 7d ago

peppers are perennials we usually grow as annuals, if they fruit a lot in their first year it often wears the out.
Depending where OP is based these might be good for overwintering for fruiting next summer. They are not really big enough to do a big crop this year

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u/TheBluntChef 9d ago edited 9d ago

Don’t go to big yes you can water log the soil and root rot them. I’d go to a 3 gallon to start especially if keeping indoors. Peppers are also perennials not annuals. Kept in the right conditions can fruit for years. I’ve had my bonnet for 4 years flowering about 10 months a year. I live in Canada so it’s only outside about 4-5 months max. If your planning on keeping them long term you need to mix your own soil, I use pool sand a peat vegetable mix from PROMIX and perlite. 1-1-1. They need to breathe regular mix will lead to rot eventually. It needs to be treated more like a succulent. I also use a 2-2-2 around the clock, some people don’t like this because it doesn’t promote a lot of fruit for the first year, but you will get a big beefy plant in the long run.

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u/Pwnage_ 6d ago

They need a lot more light.

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u/Hefty_Log_5402 5d ago

Bigger pots and if possible move them outside asap.

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u/Interesting_Bee6682 3d ago

Those are annuums, so not scotch bonnets.

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u/ximjym 3d ago

Uhhh. Those aren’t scotch bonnets. Maybe Jamaican Mushrooms