I have a small ghost pepper plant that I started growing about 3 months ago. The stalk is about 6" to 7" tall and has a large number of large leaves as well as a few small ones. However, recently, the plant seems to have stopped growing. No new leaves have formed and the plant itself isn't getting any taller. The larger leaves are starting to crowd some of the smaller ones.
Should I repot the plant in a larger container? Which leaves should be trimmed- big ones or small ones, top or bottom? 'd really like to see this plant survive the winter.
?2012-12-06T21:03:09Z
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Depending on your area/climate, it could just be going dormant, which is totally normal! When the weather gets cold the growth will start to slow and the leaves may start to drop. In some cases you'll be left with just the stem and branches. But once the warmer weather returns in Spring, it will start developing new leaves again.
If you want to increase the chances of success overwintering the pepper, you can do a simple Google search on how to prune pepper plants. You may be hesitant at first to cut so much of your beautiful plant, but once the spring comes around you will start to see even more growth than before and at an even faster rate. If you don't want to prune, move the plant in a warmer location that gets more Winter sunlight...preferably an area close to your home's wall (which will give off a lot more heat during the nights). You can also move your plant indoors if you have a sunny window!
Here in California, we don't usually see cold weather until late December...but what I've done to protect my peppers is built a small greenhouse out of firing strips and plastic paint tarps...cost me a total of $10 for a 5ftx5ftx5ft greenhouse! If you keep it warm enough in there and provide enough fertilizer/water and air circulation, you can get peppers producing year round. But in much colder climates with hard freezes, it can be tougher to do so.
Don't trim anything! Those large leaves will fall off when the plant is finished with them. If the plant is already in a pot, leave it alone.
Peppers go into a state of near dormancy with the winter, and the short days. You could maybe get the plant to grow if you placed some grow lights on it, but as long as it is in a sunny window, it should be fine.
Be careful about not over-watering. Once every coupla weeks is probably enough.
That you would be able to begin peppers in pots.... However you typically don't want to go away them in pots when you've got a option. You will get a much better yield if they're planted in the floor and the vegetation have a lot of room to unfold their roots. In any other case.... I'd put them every in a 5 gallon (minimal) pot. Begin them in seedling trays... And transplant the most important seedlings to pots when there is not any threat of frost. Soak the seeds for a couple of hours before planting them.... And in 8 weeks or so they will be significant ample to transplant outdoors. The great i can provide you with as far as developing them is: 1. As a lot full solar as feasible. 2. Mulch around the vegetation so their soil stays evenly moist. 3. Don't use excessive N (nitrogen) fertilizers or you're going to turn out to be with extra leaves than peppers. The heat.... A completely satisfied pepper plant will care for that phase on its own.
What are you using for a light source? How much sunlight is it getting each day? What size of container is it in now? How often are you watering? What are you feeding?