Diablo's Green Thumb

[Diablo]

5/26/09 Update

Since moving the plants to the red cups, with the Ocean Forest soil the plants are growing exponentially. They have started to fork and I have had to move some of the plants into their final homes, 5 gal pots.

A couple of the forks

Big Loner
This is the largest of all the plants, one of the two loners about to be transplanted into it's new home. I noticed some of the leaves emerging with a kind of krinkle, I'm thinking that that's the roots starting to hit bottom.

Group Shot
On the back left, the Fresno Trinity. The Fresno's sharing the same pot. This should be interesting. On the back right, the lone Tequila Sunrise to make through the hatching and brooding period. Now on it's own to bring forth bounty. In the front is the largest of all the plants, one of the two loners. This soil is really making them spring up and grow.

 

[imaguitargod]

They're getting biiiiiiiggger

 

[Josh]

I noticed some of the leaves emerging with a kind of krinkle,

Inspect the plant. You may have aphids attacking your new growth. Plants are looking good though.

 

[bigt]

It's always fun to up-pot, really makes you feel like you're making progress. That soil looks great. Plants not too shabby either.

 

[Diablo]

Thanks guys.

@Josh yes, I have been suspecting that as well but I have not found any. I'll go inspect thoroughly though. I've only been able to give quick once overs.

 

[Josh]

Thanks guys.

@Josh yes, I have been suspecting that as well but I have not found any. I'll go inspect thoroughly though. I've only been able to give quick once overs.

Be sure to focus on the underside of the leaves. They blend in pretty easy.

 

[Diablo]

First Buds

Here come the flowers.

This is the large one of the two loners. Macro time.

 

[Diablo]

Forked growth

I up potted a lot of plants today. I'll be pinching the buds on the plants that are showing as well. I want them to be a bit bigger before they start going into pod cycle. I have 3 plants remaining that need to be up potted.

Couple weeks ago when I got the last batch of soil they had very few chili's to pick from as seedlings/plants to take home. Today I had to buy a couple more bags of Fox Farm and lucky me they had a few Habanero plants. I picked the runt. Guess I'm an underdog kind of person. Plus I wanted to kind of match the new plant to roughly the same maturity that my plants are at. I inspected the plant thoroughly for pests before I brought it home. So far, I have only found a fee aphids at the very beginning of my grow. I'm nervous of getting them.

 

[Diablo]

Update 6/05/09

Large Loner

The Habanero

This plant has already grown quite a bit since I got it.

The Fresno

My pops brought me this container, I'd guess it's around 7 gallons. It's red too so I planted the Fresno in it for the Fresno State Bulldogs.

Tequila Sunrise

 

[Diablo]

Update 6/05/09

Little Loner

Fresno Trinity

Remaining Plants needing up-potting

Family Picture

 

[patrick]

Looking good Diablo!

 

[Silver_Surfer]

Very healthy plants you have. Keep up the good work.

 

[Diablo]

Thanks dudes, the aphids are starting to find them. Anyone know if neem oil keeps them off? Or is neem more of a seek and destroy mission on a day to day basis?

 

[boutros]

Not sure on the keepin them off, but it seems to be an effective control. I alternate neem and pyretherins as needed, but also gently wash them off/ smash em with my fingers as well.

Your plants are lookin good up there.

 

[Diablo]

Thanks boutros. I think I'll pick some up. I find a few each day so far. They aren't infested and that's what I'm trying to avoid. I guess with daily attention I should be able to stay on top of the situation. Only thing is if one gets a chance to lay eggs, then I'm boned. So I think a daily spritz of neem should be pretty good for keeping a grip on the situation.

 

[boutros]

Here's a link about Neem oil for you Diablo. A post by Hinky w/ some tips for me. Some hydro guys I know also PH the water to get below 7.0 before they mix the concentrate. Don't know what Fresno's tap water is, but ours is around a 8.2 down here. Home Despot doesn't carry Neem down here, but I'm sure you have a ton of other nurseries or hydro stores up there. Hope it gets em off your plants.

Sorry to clog ya up, but I dorfed the link- Get some BioNEEM and follow the directions- specifically about spraying UNDER the leaves. Also, use very cold water in the mix. Spray Spray SPRAY. Spray again. Then spray it again tomorrow, then again the next day. Then in about another week (even if you don't see signs of the bastards) do it again about three days in a row- that will kill off the hatchlings when they come out, if there are any. The trick is to do it more than once- if you just do it one time it will not work. You have to repeatedly harass the bastards until they realize it ain't worth the trouble.

I recently recovered from a full on attack by spider mites and neem oil did the trick. If the plant is in a planter you can also wrap the planter up in a trash bag and fill a five gallon bucket full of COLD water with the proper neem oil mix and dunk the plant in it. Then the next day do it again. Regardless of what bug is macking on the plant a solid neem oil bath will cure them right up. I did this to two plants that would fit in a bucket and it worked great and the plants were no worse for wear- definitely no worse than being the friggin' daily dinner for the little bastards.

 

[bigt]

Thanks boutros. I think I'll pick some up. I find a few each day so far. They aren't infested and that's what I'm trying to avoid. I guess with daily attention I should be able to stay on top of the situation. Only thing is if one gets a chance to lay eggs, then I'm boned. So I think a daily spritz of neem should be pretty good for keeping a grip on the situation.

I don't think daily applications of Neem are good. I lost a few seedlings doing that. Better to get some Safer Soap, effective and you can use it more often without harm. Mix Neem in every now & then.

 

[scoville]

Plants are looking great!I was using Ocean Forrest to get mine up and running,but found it a little Moist for full sized plants.Started blending with Pro-mix and they are much better off.

 

[POTAWIE]

I too have problems when using too much neem and it doesn't seem to work at all as a preventative measure. I rotate between soap sprays(Fatty acids), neem and other horticultural oils, and pyrethrum sprays(Now banned here), and I've been using sweetened diatomaceous earth in my soil, but I find the best treatment is to blast them off repeatedly with a garden hose when possible

 

[Diablo]

@boutros thanks man, I'll check that out.

@bigt thanks. I'll keep that in mind and that sounds like a great method to keep things under control.

@scoville thanks, I'll try and keep an eye on that. My climate might be a bit more arid than what you have in Florida. I see the soil pull away from the sides in a day or two. What would be the first signs of too moist for too long?

@POTAWIE thanks. My experience with other things aligns with your experience. I like to rotate stuffs like that. I'll read up on sweetened diatomaceous earth as well.