• If you need help identifying a pepper, disease, or plant issue, please post in Identification.

container planting peppers in bins? best way to repot from ground

i have to move in for the winter.... whats the best way to repot them? and can i plant 5 or 6 plants in a large rubbermaid bin if i drill holes in the bottom? also is 5 gallon pails big enough for scorpions and ghosts and 7 pots? i have an hps setup inside and i would love to transfer them in and out over the seasons if possible
 
Yes just try to keep as much of the roots intact as possible.  It helps to use two full sized shovels to cut the shape you want down into the soil and lift with both.  A 2nd person helps too.
 
Yes 5 gallons is a practical size.  If the plants lose too much root by fitting them in that volume then some leaves and pods may be aborted as it adjusts to its new lesser root system and grows more roots within the available space.   It helps that it will be in a climate controlled area inside where it doesn't get as hot in fall through spring.
 
Some people trim the plants back for various reasons and others just wait to see what the plant does and trim back any stems that had the tips die at the beginning of the dead area, but that is not essential to do unless it's very humid and rot sets in.
 
Yes you can put more than one in a big container with drainage holes at the bottom, but it may be more difficult to get them back out once the roots become entangled.  It's better to give each it's own pot so when you remove them you have better odds of retaining all the roots.
 
Beware of insect management.  You may find you end up with white fly or aphid infestation and no natural predators to eat them.  Treatment with soap solution or neem oil can help, ideally done right before bringing the plants inside at the very least.
 
fantastic info dave thank you very much! should i spray them all down with dish soap and water and let them sit a day in the basement before bringing them in the tent? also regular high grade potting soild with a peat mix will work well?
 
I overwinter every year, but grow in pots. IMO the best thing to do is to dig them up but then wash off as much soil as possible before potting them. This will help eliminate many (but not necessarily all) eggs that may be hiding in the soil. Be sure to use potting soil and not garden soil when potting them. Will the plants go into shock from this? Possibly. Every time I repot I give plants a shot of starter fertilizer, as this helps minimize or even eliminate the shock. Will spraying them down with dish soap and water help? It will eliminate any adult and larval-stage aphids, but it won't do anything to eggs. Your best bet is to have a resource handy for ordering ladybugs if you find aphids once you bring them inside. However, if ladybugs won't be available to you, keep a constant eye out for them. The minute you notice any aphids, start an all-out war. You can use dishsoap and water or insecticidal soap, but Neem seems to be more effective (though you may not want to spray that inside.) If you use a soap solution, be sure to spray every day and keep spraying every day even after you think the aphids are gone. You need to get the newly-hatched larvae before they can start to reproduce - and they do reproduce at an incredible rate. I recommend continuing to spray for at least 2 weeks after you think they're all gone - ideally twice a day, though that's not practical for some.
 
Back
Top