The Reapers have been growing for 6-7 weeks after germination. The tallest one is about 6" tall. They all look healthy with big wide leaves. How big do they have to be before I can 'top' them?
I also have some Chocolate Habernero plants (in the red cups). Same question for them
Do I need to start sharpening the shears
Cheers,
- rainbowgardener
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- Super Green Thumb
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if you are growing them outdoors there is no reason to keep them short and bushy. now if you are going to be growing them indoors vertical space might be limited. if you do over winter them, you cut them way back when you dig them up to bring in.
but yes if you just want to experiment you can top them anytime after they have about 3 sets of true leaves.
but yes if you just want to experiment you can top them anytime after they have about 3 sets of true leaves.
They are growing in 16 ounce (480mL) cups. Thought I might leave them in those for a little bit longer. They appear to be doing good. Similar to a Kratky setup, but using soil etc in the top cup. The bottom cup has about 1" of nutrient that consists of rainwater (spiked with ground egg shells). I alternate that water with rainwater mixed with a splash of worm wee and a splash of Seasol.pepperhead212 wrote:I have never topped my peppers. I would transplant those to larger pots, however, given the size of the larger ones.
They sure love a drink
Cheers,
They have been growing in a small grow tent with a grow light since April (mid autumn here in Australia).applestar wrote:When will you be planting them outside?
I hope to transplant them into 5 gallon (20 litre) grow bags in September (spring here). I hope they don't outgrow the grow tent
Hence the need to trim them and keep them compact for the next 3+ months.
Cheers,
I have not done much research about over wintering. We do not get snow here in Sydney, Australia. Although some winter nights are cold. I will have the plants outdoors from spring to the end of summer and beyondjeff84 wrote:unless you have a short growing season I wouldn't top them. with super hots I like to over winter them. they are more productive in their 2nd and 3rd year than they are the first.
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I will be growing them indoors for the next 3+ months. Hope they survivejeff84 wrote:if you are growing them outdoors there is no reason to keep them short and bushy. now if you are going to be growing them indoors vertical space might be limited. if you do over winter them, you cut them way back when you dig them up to bring in.
but yes if you just want to experiment you can top them anytime after they have about 3 sets of true leaves.
Cheers,
I live at the 38 degrees north. and I planted seed indoors at the end ov November and planted outdoors mid april. I up potted from 16 oz cups to cut off 2 liter bottles when they were about the same size as yours are now. so long as you provide intense light they will stay fairly compact even without topping. I just used basic screw in 11 watt led lights with the plastic diffuser removed, about 6 inches above the tops of the plants.
Hi "jeff84",jeff84 wrote:I live at the 38 degrees north. and I planted seed indoors at the end ov November and planted outdoors mid april. I up potted from 16 oz cups to cut off 2 liter bottles when they were about the same size as yours are now. so long as you provide intense light they will stay fairly compact even without topping. I just used basic screw in 11 watt led lights with the plastic diffuser removed, about 6 inches above the tops of the plants.
Thanks for the info. I will try the 2 litre bottles.
Currently they are under a 300 watt LED light. Power draw is 88 watts. So, technically it's a 90 watt light. But doing a great job....so far
Cheers,
- rainbowgardener
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It's what happens when you don't specify your location. Most of what we, including me, have been saying to you was not relevant, because we didn't understand that you are in the southern hemisphere and in autumn preparing for winter.
If you had said that upfront you would have gotten different responses. Please change your profile so that your location shows under your screen name as mine does.
If you had said that upfront you would have gotten different responses. Please change your profile so that your location shows under your screen name as mine does.
Oops....I forgot that steprainbowgardener wrote:It's what happens when you don't specify your location. Most of what we, including me, have been saying to you was not relevant, because we didn't understand that you are in the southern hemisphere and in autumn preparing for winter.
If you had said that upfront you would have gotten different responses. Please change your profile so that your location shows under your screen name as mine does.
Now rectified. Thanks for letting me know.
Cheers,