Hey guys - I've been reading these forums for a long time and I finally got around to ordering seeds and planting them, so I made an account cause I was bound to have questions. And I do.
So, I ordered Bhut Jolokia's from NMSU. 20, I think. I really wanted to plant other peppers, but I read they cross pollinate too easily. I didn't want to end up with hot jalapeno's and mild bhut's... Upon finding a couple threads on this forum, it sounds like that wouldn't have happened, only the seeds of those plants would have had a chance to be hybrids... *shrug* Maybe next year I'll do more.
Since this is my first time growing ANYTHING, I have no idea what I'm doing. NMSU suggested the soil PH be 6.5. I tested mine and it's 7. I tried to find out how to adjust it, but everything I found was for farmers, not little tiny seedling pots. So they stayed at 7. I've been watering them every day, because the soil at the top just gets bone dry, even though I read some people water them every 3 days (or even less!). I don't know if this is the right thing to do, but the soil just seems totally dried out by the end of the day.
Anyway, here's my set up. I know it's not ideal, but it's what I got. I have a seedling warming mat (the paperwork with the Bhut's said the soil should be at 80-90 degrees!!). Right now there is very little light hitting the soil, but no plants have sprouted yet (its been less than 1 week and paperwork says up to 6, so I'm not fretting yet). I'm assuming they won't need light until they sprout. If that's not accurate, I'll have to figure something out.
Here's the problem: once they do sprout, my growing light (just a cheap flourescent jobby from Home Depot) is in the basement. There is no heat in my basement. I'd say its typically around 50-55 this time of year, and isn't likely to heat up much in the next 5-6 weeks.
Right now, the seeds are in my study with a space heater cranked to 68-70, and the warming mat. So I'm assuming the soil should be hovering around 80-90. But when these start to sprout, they'll need light, and that means moving them into a 50-60 degree basement. I can't take the space heater down there, it wouldn't throw enough heat. The basement isn't insulated well (it's an old house). The only south facing windows in my house are in the living room, and they're too small for real light to come in (like basement windows).
I can't hang a 4' flourescent light in my study, and I shouldn't bring these guys into the basement being that cold. I was thinking about building an insulated enclosure that could fit a space heater, the seedlings, and have a glass top so the light could come in - then keep that in the basement.
Anyone know of anything like that that's pre-fab? I dont think I could realistically spend over like 100 bucks. Or have any suggestions?
Thanks guys. I know my first post was really long, but I appreciate any replies!
So, I ordered Bhut Jolokia's from NMSU. 20, I think. I really wanted to plant other peppers, but I read they cross pollinate too easily. I didn't want to end up with hot jalapeno's and mild bhut's... Upon finding a couple threads on this forum, it sounds like that wouldn't have happened, only the seeds of those plants would have had a chance to be hybrids... *shrug* Maybe next year I'll do more.
Since this is my first time growing ANYTHING, I have no idea what I'm doing. NMSU suggested the soil PH be 6.5. I tested mine and it's 7. I tried to find out how to adjust it, but everything I found was for farmers, not little tiny seedling pots. So they stayed at 7. I've been watering them every day, because the soil at the top just gets bone dry, even though I read some people water them every 3 days (or even less!). I don't know if this is the right thing to do, but the soil just seems totally dried out by the end of the day.
Anyway, here's my set up. I know it's not ideal, but it's what I got. I have a seedling warming mat (the paperwork with the Bhut's said the soil should be at 80-90 degrees!!). Right now there is very little light hitting the soil, but no plants have sprouted yet (its been less than 1 week and paperwork says up to 6, so I'm not fretting yet). I'm assuming they won't need light until they sprout. If that's not accurate, I'll have to figure something out.
Here's the problem: once they do sprout, my growing light (just a cheap flourescent jobby from Home Depot) is in the basement. There is no heat in my basement. I'd say its typically around 50-55 this time of year, and isn't likely to heat up much in the next 5-6 weeks.
Right now, the seeds are in my study with a space heater cranked to 68-70, and the warming mat. So I'm assuming the soil should be hovering around 80-90. But when these start to sprout, they'll need light, and that means moving them into a 50-60 degree basement. I can't take the space heater down there, it wouldn't throw enough heat. The basement isn't insulated well (it's an old house). The only south facing windows in my house are in the living room, and they're too small for real light to come in (like basement windows).
I can't hang a 4' flourescent light in my study, and I shouldn't bring these guys into the basement being that cold. I was thinking about building an insulated enclosure that could fit a space heater, the seedlings, and have a glass top so the light could come in - then keep that in the basement.
Anyone know of anything like that that's pre-fab? I dont think I could realistically spend over like 100 bucks. Or have any suggestions?
Thanks guys. I know my first post was really long, but I appreciate any replies!
