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Finally some success with a Red Bhut, in spite of other failures

(Pic 1) This was my Red Bhut Jolokia about a month ago.  Just starting to retain blooms and convert to pods.
 
Had to learn about the over-watering the hard way.  explains why many peppers didn't do well before, as we have heat, heavy, persistent rains, and then me.  Habanero of the same age is still less than a foot tall, but still alive.
 
(Pic 2)  where we are now, 8 to 10 pods, 1-12 to 2 inches long, with several more smaller ones coming on, and tons of flower buds at the top and extremities of the plant.  1st pods have a slight purple tinge on the green, I am thinking either due to sun or nutrients, but I have not been feeding them heavily, just a mild Miracle Grow solution once a month.  Watering from the bottom up through a controlled level, double-bucket approach.  Ironically, the habanero of the same age was in a double-bucket setup, but just stayed too wet.  I pulled it out and replaced the soil, and we'll see if it comes back.
 

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There are about 8 pods that are stabilizing in their length and girth, so I anticipate a color change coming next.  About a half-dozen smaller pods, and a whole bunch of flower buds on the extremities.  Tempting to pick one, but I will wait until the thing turns bright red. Hopefully before first freeze.
 

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Chorizo857_62J said:
There are about 8 pods that are stabilizing in their length and girth, so I anticipate a color change coming next.  About a half-dozen smaller pods, and a whole bunch of flower buds on the extremities.  Tempting to pick one, but I will wait until the thing turns bright red. Hopefully before first freeze.
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Looks great. If you need to pull them before the frost, put them in a brown paper bag with a banana or ripe tomato. They should ripen in a couple days.
 
IdahoPepper said:
 
Looks great. If you need to pull them before the frost, put them in a brown paper bag with a banana or ripe tomato. They should ripen in a couple days.
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You'd be better off ripping up the plants and hanging them upside down. c. chinense doesn't have the same ethylene gas (the gas from ripe nanners and maters) hormone pathways like c. annums, so the ghost peppers won't ripen or mature seedwise. They MAY change color in the bag, but this is not a reflection of maturation or even ripening, it's more of a start of rotting and the colors degrading.  The bag trick will work with most c. annum cultivars, and some have a higher sensitivity, but not with ghosts. 
 
Whereas the upsidedown plant will know it's dying, and pump it's last bit of energy into making sure the pods mature as well as releasing the necessary hormones for maturation, ripening, and optimal seed survivability. You can also spray the roots or cover them in a wet paper towel in case it wilts really hard before they start to ripen. 
 
Well, hoping since this is Florida we will not get serious freezes until January, if at all.  Some years we get 10+ days in the 20's, some years, maybe 1 if that.  I'm planning to cart the thing into the garage and see if we can make it to spring of 2018.  There are literally 100+ flower buds on this thing, so once the initial pods get picked, that may kick us into hyperspace.  Will probably need a transplant, or maybe a trim, but i don't want to mess up a good thing.
 
Thanks!
 
Things appear to be maintained with the Red Bhut, although the plant wants to bud out billions of new flowers.  I have cut back a few just to keep the plant from not taking over the neighborhood.  Peppers are a good 2 inches in length, 1+ in girth, but still green with a slight purple tinge (sun or feeding?).  We will be getting wet and/or cold weather over the weekend, so I am trying not to let the plants get too much water, at the expense of being cooped up in the garage with me.  Haven't gone to artificial lighting, as this is just not doable right now.  Open windows for sunlight will have to do for now.  Sprouts seem to like it.
 
Other than that, I have a ray of Habaneros (red) up and running, and Jamaican Scotch Bonnets also sprouting, plus the pimentos are looking good and healthy.  Red Chili Peppers are the next, still to yet sprout.  Got some non-lethal sauces teed up for Thanksgiving....
 
Everyone have a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving!  Turkey tastes better with a variety of (hot and not so) sauces.
 
J
 
Finally getting color change in the red Bhuts.  Even more red today that these pics from yesterday.  Cold weather finally on the way.  Lots more small pods now too.
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Sorry for the sideways pic.  Haven't nailed that down yet.
 
As we're supposed to go into freeze mode here this weekend, I picked the two and a half men (two full size and one runt), and combined them with some milder red bell peppers and onions on the smoker.  Processed and gave a preliminary cook on the stove top with ample apple cider vinegar, mandarin orange, and a into of lemon and salt, and jarred them up in a hot bath.  Will let them site for a week or so, and them process in a blender and bottle up.  This one's not making it for Christmas, unless locally.  I have to say, those Red Buts are HOT!!.  I try to make my sauces at least edible by the 20% of people I know that are capable of tolerating it.  Thus, experimenting with family and friends is always fun.  Going full tilt with these would be crazy-hot.
 
Just got back in town from a work trip, and yes, they did turn red.  The ones I picked when orange were hot as crapunzle.  I suspect that may have increased with further ripening....
 
All's well that ends well, Chorizo!
The last pods pic is awesome - every pod a victory!
 
Weather getting colder and nasty with rain, and temps going into the low 30's and upper 20's (I know, but it is Florida).  My Red Bhut showed a little leaf burn from a few mornings in the upper 30's, so we're moving everything into the garage.  We'll sit outside for a sunbathe when appropriate (the plants, that is).  I am keeping sproutlings and smaller plants inside the garage on the same basis, as I do not have an artificial light or heater setup currently. 
 
Hang in there.  I thought Florida was
supposed to be warm and sunny?
 
Yeah. gloomy and going into the low 20's tonight.  Still, it's worse north of here, and this only lasts a month or so at the most down here.  Everything is indoors for the next week.  Good luck to those in the mid-Atlantic and northward.  Nasty-bomb on the way later this week off the east coast.
 
Last of the pods.  Trimmed the growth back and waiting for Spring.  Warm, wet weather is back.  New growth is already appearing!  Several other varieties started indoors/garage, some with flowers, but still early.  On with 2018!
 

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Lovely red color on that pod....Nice new growth on that over winter.

Should really be a stunner once your weather in ready.
 
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