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overwintering Overzealous Overwinter - advice needed

Hello all you pepper heads, 
 
I'm here in So Cal and the plants did pretty good this season, my first season back growing. I've never overwintered before so I decided to go for it this year. Our season isn't done yet by a long shot but I decided to practice on some SRP's and sweet pepper plants that were done for the year. Leaves were turning yellow and no more flowers so I thought it was be a good trial run. 
 
So I have about 6 of them and they were cut way down like a rose bush and now some of them are starting to get new leaves and shoots. They are currently in sized down pots, in the total shade. Yes I know i started too early but I had to clean up the area there was just too many pots and plants lying around. Should I be stripping off the new shoots until it gets full winter here ? 
 
Any suggestions are greatly appreciated 
 
 
 
When you trim/strip down the plant down it becomes fully dependent on the energy stores in its roots.  If you continue to let it grow, using that energy, and then strip the new growth so it can't achieve photosynthesis from the new growth, the plant will exhaust its reserves and weaken/become sick/die.  Similarly, to if you cut it back once and then as soon as it gets growing again you cut it back a second time for OW, you'll reduce the plants reserves and reduce the chances for it surviving OW. 
 
As long as the plant is in warm surroundings it will try to grow, even to its own detriment.  To slow the growth, it would need to be moved somewhere cool, like < 55F cool.  Then lighting can be reduced significantly and the plant will essentially hibernate. 
 
If you leave the plant in warm surroundings you'll need to let it grow and reestablish foliage and photosynthesis.
 
Thanks for the detailed explanation, I understand now. I'll just leave the rest of my plants until in gets much cooler and less daily light and then cut them back. I'll let these guys grow as needed and just see how they do. I can't wait until next season LOL. 
 
Thanks  again 
 
10.2019_Stuff
Laheat said:
Should I be stripping off the new shoots until it gets full winter here ? 
 
Any suggestions are greatly appreciated
CaneDog said:
If you leave the plant in warm surroundings you'll need to let it grow and reestablish foliage and photosynthesis.
Below is pic of new growth that needs to remain.
 
pmVEvnF.jpg


A month later.......
 
HoQA6F9.jpg

 
Another few weeks...Note buds & flowers.
 
UclBQHs.jpg

 
Then fruit!
 
oyNG5dd.jpg
 
@canedog I am a fig grower and keep my plants in the garage over winter for dormancy, would this be a good strategy?  How often would you water? 
 
DomGardens said:
@canedog I am a fig grower and keep my plants in the garage over winter for dormancy, would this be a good strategy?  How often would you water? 
 
Cool.  It can be a good strategy.  Often it's easiest and as productive to just start new plants for Spring.  I mostly OW pubescens and wild varieties, though I'll often OW chinense or Bhuts too.  Rarely do I OW an annuum.  Very generally, if you're keeping the temps low, perhaps in the 45F - 55F range, with some, but limited light, say 5-6 hours and not too intense, they can OW nicely without a lot of growth and without insect issues. 
 
Doing it like this they don't need much water - and I prefer to keep them on the drier side when they're in colder temperatures - but they can also dry out too much without it being obvious sometimes.  Hard to say how often I'd water because of multiple variables, e.g., container size, amount of foliage, ambient humidity, and light heat/intensity, but it could be a couple weeks between at times.  If you try to just set it and forget it though, your survival rates could be hit and miss.  Even with periodic attention they won't all always make it through and rebound healthy and strong.
 
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