Anyone have advice?

sam.wilkinson · Jan 12, 2016

Hey guys, I live in Sydney Australia, and my reaper plants are only 2 months old at the moment. It's clear that by the time they are expected to start bearing fruit, it will be mid-winter for me. The temperatures in Sydney range from an average high of 15–20 °C (59–68 °F), to an average low of 6–14 °C (43–57 °F). I know without doubt the plants have to be kept inside, where it's warmer. My concern is, the air circulation and temperature conditions are not ideal indoors, especially in my house. I understand this will lead to a lack of pods/flowers, and hence a lack of fruit. I'd like to ask anyone with knowledge or experience;

1. Despite no flowers being produced and most likely little growth, can the plants still survive temperatures of 10-12°C (50-54°F)? (Assuming no frost forms)

2. Will the flowering be affected after the winter?

3. Should I overwinter? Get a heat lamp? etc.

Any other advice would be greatly appreciated, I have no prior experience of dealing with a winter season.
Cheers, Sam

NeedsWork · Jan 12, 2016

I vote dig them and slowly transition them indoors.

My reaper spent October, November and December in a 'sunroom' that was 4-10C / 40-50F, maybe even cooler some nights. It certainly wasn't happy, but it's still alive. I'm still waiting to see if/how it springs back. Bottom left. That said, I hope your indoor situation is better than my cold, dark, damp 'sunroom'.

moruga welder · Jan 12, 2016

how many months before plant out did you start them ?

CAPCOM · Jan 12, 2016

I am assuming that once brought indoors, you will not be providing the plants with anything except shelter from the cold?

sam.wilkinson · Jan 12, 2016

CAPCOM said:
I am assuming that once brought indoors, you will not be providing the plants with anything except shelter from the cold?

I can put them under the light that I have, but yes that's the main aim, cold protection. I'll do my best to maximise air flow too.

moruga welder said:
how many months before plant out did you start them ?

Not fully sure what you're asking, but unfortunately I started them a month or so after the last frost (November 7th). They sprouted November 15-23, and I placed them outside only 3 weeks ago after just over a month inside under a grow light.
The winter is unavoidable now so I need a solution for it.

NeedsWork said:
I vote dig them and slowly transition them indoors.

My reaper spent October, November and December in a 'sunroom' that was 4-10C / 40-50F, maybe even cooler some nights. It certainly wasn't happy, but it's still alive. I'm still waiting to see if/how it springs back. Bottom left. That said, I hope your indoor situation is better than my cold, dark, damp 'sunroom'.

Thanks for the advice, what do you mean by 'dig' them? I'm assuming you mean prune or cut back?

CAPCOM · Jan 12, 2016

Providing the light is optimum for plant support they should do fine. I would not expect flowering and or podding at 50 - 54 and feeding will have to be reduced accordingly. Heat, Light and nutrients are essential for proper growth. Subtract any of these requirements and the plant will diminish in some respect.

moruga welder · Jan 12, 2016

Reapers are slower growing , take longer to pod , need to start indoors about 8 to 10 weeks before last frost .

NeedsWork · Jan 12, 2016

sam.wilkinson said:
Thanks for the advice, what do you mean by 'dig' them? I'm assuming you mean prune or cut back?

I meant dig them up and put them in pots to bring inside. I mostly followed advice from the overwintering thread.

I did significantly prune the plants back. I left the roots in-tact, rinsed them clean and stuffed them in a relatively small pot with fresh potting soil. They were either going to die outside (low of 9F tonight) or be pissed in small pots.