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Cappy's 2015 Chocolate BS

It has been several year since I have started a grow log like a newb but I enjoy this time of year starting plants.  My name is Cappy and I first discovered the Seven Pod in a seed trade from Sara R. in Trinidad in 2008.  That year I had a grow log and documented my grow of an extra brainy seven pod and the Brain Strain 7 Pod was born.  Since that time I have shared seeds with anybody and everybody who asked for little more than the cost of shipping.  I did not try to profit or chase the world hottest title, that goes to CARDI and the creator of the seven pod.  I am just a grower of limited means with a closet with a grow light and a backyard in a residential neighborhood.  What I am is proud of my contribution to the pepper community and the opportunity to shared this pepper with the rest of the world.
 
Last year I received some seeds from a very generous Trinidadian friend here in the states by the name of Judy.  I have dreams on making a chocolate version of my yearly hot sauce BrAiN sTrAiN.  There have been both red and yellow versions in the past so 2015 will be the year of the chocolate BS.  First round of seeds were sown last weekend January 4 and today I have my first seedling so here we go!
 
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Some pictures from last weekend showing how I prepare my cell trays and germinate my seeds. 
 

 

 

 

 
I use a toothpick to make a small hole 1/4" deep to plant 2 or 3 seed in, cover with a humidity dome and place in a warm grow room.  In this case the heat is being supplied from the heat of a HID lamp.
 

 

 
Now today a week later I have my first seedling and the temperature of my grow room 78F.  Here's to a great 2015!
 

 
 
Thank you all for your continued support of the Brain Strain pepper.  I have learned a few thing about growing peppers in all my years of doing this and really hope to help others get their grow on.  The most important thing I can stress is check your water pH especially for young seedlings to adjust to pH 6.0 before watering.  As the plant gets older and moves outside hose water is fine if you have the proper buffer in your soil.  The products I use are General Hydroponics pH Test kit and pH down as my tap water is alkaline to protect the copper pipes in my house.  Just do it your young plants will thank you.
 
 
Note to self: 7 Pot Brain Strain Red seeds.
 
Are you running hydro all year long with recirculation, or one way trip through drips?
 
gnslngr said:
Are you running hydro all year long with recirculation, or one way trip through drips?
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Hey Dave, any soil-less mix like pro-mix or the Fafard's like I'm using is Hydroponics.  There are no fertilizers added in the mix so I will have to feed hydro nutes until they go outside and get compost and other goodies gets mixed in.  Hydroponic plants won't grow unless you hit the correct pH, so why not help our seedlings and give them exactly what they want.  I think the correct term to what I'm doing is drain to waste hydroponics in a peat based mix.
 
Good luck! That year i'm growing Brain Strain Red for the first time... So thank you for this opportunity! :D
 
Pepper Ridge Farm said:
Thank you all for your continued support of the Brain Strain pepper.  I have learned a few thing about growing peppers in all my years of doing this and really hope to help others get their grow on.  The most important thing I can stress is check your water pH especially for young seedlings to adjust to pH 6.0 before watering.  As the plant gets older and moves outside hose water is fine if you have the proper buffer in your soil.  The products I use are General Hydroponics pH Test kit and pH down as my tap water is alkaline to protect the copper pipes in my house.  Just do it your young plants will thank you.
 
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I really need to get a ph tester... I believe my water is a tad basic, so sometimes i correct with lemon juice but of course i can't be much accurate.
 
Germination explosion happen on a large scale and trays are now under a two bulb T5 HO fixture lights on 24/7.  I have about a 75% success rate with more hooks popping all the time so the humidity dome came off and lights went on nonstop temperature around 74F.  Last count was around 90 seedlings out of these two trays which should keep me busy potting up really soon.  Nothing but pH 6.0 balanced water so far but I like to use fish emulsion and seaweed extract at this stage for the plants first feeding.  I have been using a spray bottle and top watering with a plastic ketchup/mustard condiment bottle.  Not much to see but adding a few pictures of the newborn with just their cotyledon showing.  Only one plant will be allowed per cell, just chop runts below cotyledon before potting up.  Turned off my HID until plants get bigger.  Thanks for following.
 

 
 
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