water Help! Underwatering, Overwatering, Heat Stress?!?

Poiethis

Poiethis

Hi All!
 
I am a lifetime pepper lover, first time grower (of anything). I've been told I have 2 "black thumbs" when it comes to gardening, and I'm starting to see why...
 
I am attempting to grow a few Big Thai Hybrid plants from Walmart seeds since they caught my eye and I've never tried to grow anything before. For the first 2 weeks I thought things were going well, but then yesterday I found almost all of the little seedlings were curling their leaves upwards and one started browning on the edges. From what I've read it seems to be either too much water, not enough water, or low humidity...? This happened a week after I stupidly left them outside all day when it was 86° because I wanted them to have more sun than a windowsill and I killed all but about 5 (but managed to bring 1.5 back from the dead).... The only thing that changed is I probably didn't water them quite enough on Monday since I was busy bbqing and drinking all day lol, plus it was about 95° here which may have raised the temp in the room to about 80.  Any help would be appreciated!
 
Pertinent Info
Jiffy Seed Starter Tray
Jiffy Seed Starting Mix (extremely light and airy)
"Watering" twice a day since the starter mix dries out very quickly (watering means a few sprays with a mister in each cell, maybe not enough?)
Keeping them inside a small room with temps between about 68-78 (not sure about humidity levels) and as of last night when I freaked out I put a fan on them.
Just started using a cheapo 40W 6500k light to help them grow a little more before sending outside since I didn't start sowing them until May and I live in Zone 6....
 
This is a few days ago, shortly after I nearly killed them all.
Plant 1.JPG

 
This is what they look like now under the light (only been under the light for a few hours). The soil is wet in this picture because I freaked out and "deeply watered" them.
Plant 2.JPG

 
Another shot of the poor babies.
Plant 3.JPG

 
 
I'm hoping I just missed a watering cycle and they will bounce back, but I'm not very good at keeping things alive....
 
Thanks in advance for any help, I'm loving this site already!
 
They look ok to me, if not late. How long have they been indoors now? I know they're new sprouts, but to be safe, I wouldn't put them in direct sun. Let them get sun- and wind-hardened in a sheltered spot before moving them out in the open.
 
I used the paper towel method to germinate about 3-4 weeks ago. After about a week I put them in the starter trays and maybe 4 or 5 days later I started bringing them outside during the day. That only lasted 3 days though since they all almost died lol. They've been back inside for about a week now. I am definitely not planning to bring them back outside until I repot and harden off the right way (maybe a month from now?).
 
I'm just late getting to the party lol so I'll be harvesting (hopefully) just before it starts snowing I'm sure...
 
they look great. directly sunny window sill will be good for them. maybe even crack the window if the AC isn't on. get a couple true leaves and introduce them to the outdoors. they'll be fine.
 
So maybe I'm just freaking out for nothing...? Guess I will see how they look in a few more days lol
 
Thanks for the quick replies!
 
Poiethis said:
So maybe I'm just freaking out for nothing...? Guess I will see how they look in a few more days lol
 
Thanks for the quick replies!
Click to expand...
 
The ones that survived should be fine - just be sure if placing them near a window for some sun that they will not be getting directly hit with the light coming through the window - as the window can act like a magnifying glass and if the sun is at the right angle can fry the little guys in a pretty short amount of time - which is what it sounds like happened here.
 
they look normal to me.  Those are just the "seed leaves", the first ones that grow; "true leaves" will appear shortly after.  The seed leaves do curl up like that so they look ok :)
 
Awesome! I will just continue as normal for now lol and wait for my walmart brand Habanero seeds (I couldn't help myself) and seeds taken from store bought jalapenos germinate....
 
I guess I should start planning and saving for a real indoor grow light since I'm about 4 months behind already....
 
Poiethis said:
Awesome! I will just continue as normal for now lol and wait for my walmart brand Habanero seeds (I couldn't help myself) and seeds taken from store bought jalapenos germinate....
 
I guess I should start planning and saving for a real indoor grow light since I'm about 4 months behind already....
Click to expand...
I have 22 different varieties/colors of peppers growing this year and almost 1/2 are from peppers someone gave me or from the store that I dried and saved :)
 
The first year I grew my own tomatoes (4 years ago) I just started them on the dining room table, only to have them topple over from getting too leggy in a few days.  I Googled and realized I needed a grow light.  I got this one from Gardener's Supply https://www.gardeners.com/buy/stack-n-grow-led-light-starter-kit/8595866RS.html#q=growlight&simplesearch=submit&start=18 and have since bought a 2nd plant light from Amazon as well: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006856EQ/ref=asc_df_B0006856EQ5493167/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=394997&creativeASIN=B0006856EQ&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167151490548&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7449496570209291055&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9021498&hvtargid=pla-272264641107
 
the joke is that I originally started growing my own to 'save' the $70 or so I spent at the garden center every year.  I've spent about $500 so far on all my growing stuff -- so much for saving the $70  :P
 
Ha! Yeah I'll have to come up with a good excuse for "saving" money too. Although I do go through about 20 bottles of different types of hot sauces a year, that should count for something, right? :rofl:
 
I really hate to be the barer of bad news...but you started your peppers really late.  You might get a few peppers at the very end of your season but it won't be many.  Don't bother with the seeds you have now unless you intend to grow them indoors, it's too late for them.
 
The only choices you have now are to either go out and buy transplants from the store, buy some grow lights and grow them indoors, or go with what you have with the expectation of having a very small harvest, or potentially none.  If I were you, I would buy at least a couple transplants so even if you end up getting nothing from the ones you started, at least you'll get some from the other plants.
 
 
 
Yeah I know :tear:
 
I never had an interest in gardens before but love all things spicy, and about 3 weeks ago I saw some hot pepper seeds on sale, and next thing you know I have about 8 seedlings and another 50 seeds waiting to germinate! lol
 
I will probably invest in a decent grow light before the fall or if absolutely nothing else just take the early harvest (if any) and try to overwinter whatever plants I don't kill and start with a few already grown plants and get a super awesome mega harvest next year!!! :onfire:  :fireball:  :dance:  :onfire:
 
Doelman said:
I really hate to be the barer of bad news...but you started your peppers really late.  You might get a few peppers at the very end of your season but it won't be many.  Don't bother with the seeds you have now unless you intend to grow them indoors, it's too late for them.
 
The only choices you have now are to either go out and buy transplants from the store, buy some grow lights and grow them indoors, or go with what you have with the expectation of having a very small harvest, or potentially none.  If I were you, I would buy at least a couple transplants so even if you end up getting nothing from the ones you started, at least you'll get some from the other plants.
 
 
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Poiethis said:
Yeah I know :tear:
 
I never had an interest in gardens before but love all things spicy, and about 3 weeks ago I saw some hot pepper seeds on sale, and next thing you know I have about 8 seedlings and another 50 seeds waiting to germinate! lol
 
I will probably invest in a decent grow light before the fall or if absolutely nothing else just take the early harvest (if any) and try to overwinter whatever plants I don't kill and start with a few already grown plants and get a super awesome mega harvest next year!!! :onfire:  :fireball:  :dance:  :onfire:
Click to expand...
 

follow this advice and get them planted ASAP. 
 
i`m new to growing too. i`ve been growing tomatoes for years but started with peppers last year with 5 store bought plants. i did well with peppers all summer long and shared with friends and when the frost hit i had enough peppers to make up 3 1 quart jars of pickled pepper rings which i am just finishing up now. this year i have 10 plants. i`m limited on space so all are in containers. again all were store bought and bought small(4 or 5 inches tall) and i bought early, as soon as the stores had them. they are now between 12 and 24 inches tall and doing great. next year i will start some from seed early indoors. i`m hooked :dance:
 
 
edit: i meant to quote Doelman`s advice.
 
Greyhound_Gourmet said:
I have 22 different varieties/colors of peppers growing this year and almost 1/2 are from peppers someone gave me or from the store that I dried and saved :)
 
The first year I grew my own tomatoes (4 years ago) I just started them on the dining room table, only to have them topple over from getting too leggy in a few days.  I Googled and realized I needed a grow light.  I got this one from Gardener's Supply https://www.gardeners.com/buy/stack-n-grow-led-light-starter-kit/8595866RS.html#q=growlight&simplesearch=submit&start=18 and have since bought a 2nd plant light from Amazon as well: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006856EQ/ref=asc_df_B0006856EQ5493167/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=394997&creativeASIN=B0006856EQ&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167151490548&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7449496570209291055&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9021498&hvtargid=pla-272264641107
 
the joke is that I originally started growing my own to 'save' the $70 or so I spent at the garden center every year.  I've spent about $500 so far on all my growing stuff -- so much for saving the $70  :P
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I hear ya on that point.. Started with $50 in it to make my own pods, and I'm in deep now with over 90 plants and well over $500 in between my bitchin grow room construction with 390 watts of led and quantum boards; not to mention my outdoor plot I scraped up that is 30'x20'-with trench drain system and all because it's on a grade! It becomes an addiction/passion/way of life-beware! Lol

Sent from my XT1565 using Tapatalk
 
YAMracer754 said:
I hear ya on that point.. Started with $50 in it to make my own pods, and I'm in deep now with over 90 plants and well over $500 in between my bitchin grow room construction with 390 watts of led and quantum boards; not to mention my outdoor plot I scraped up that is 30'x20'-with trench drain system and all because it's on a grade! It becomes an addiction/passion/way of life-beware! Lol

Sent from my XT1565 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
 
Yeah I'm noticing it's VERY addicting. I went ahead and bought 2 transplants from a local nursery yesterday :shh:  (don't tell my wife). I was surprised at the stock they had! Carolina Reaper, Trinidad Scorpion (I got one of each of these), Hot Hungarian, Habanero, and a few others that I can't remember off the top of my head. Very surprising for the middle of nowhere in the Midwest where spice is all but non-existent LOL.
 
I just hope Wifey doesn't make me choose between her and the chiles because.... :rofl:  :rofl: :rofl:  
 
Click for pics!
My baby Carolina Reaper and Trinidad Scorpion that I'm hoping to not kill before I get a pod or 2!!
Plant 4.JPG
 
Poiethis said:
 
Yeah I'm noticing it's VERY addicting. I went ahead and bought 2 transplants from a local nursery yesterday :shh:  (don't tell my wife). I was surprised at the stock they had! Carolina Reaper, Trinidad Scorpion (I got one of each of these), Hot Hungarian, Habanero, and a few others that I can't remember off the top of my head. Very surprising for the middle of nowhere in the Midwest where spice is all but non-existent LOL.
 
I just hope Wifey doesn't make me choose between her and the chiles because.... :rofl:  :rofl: :rofl:  
 
Click for pics!
My baby Carolina Reaper and Trinidad Scorpion that I'm hoping to not kill before I get a pod or 2!!
attachicon.gif
Plant 4.JPG
Click to expand...
Awesome, good luck!  Make sure you don't over water them, that's the biggest mistake most new growers make.  The peppers will tell you when they need water.
 
Thanks! I'm planning on waiting until "the container FEELS light" before watering lol, although when I transplanted them from the itty bitty containers they were in I added 1/2 strength Miracle Gro "all purpose" fertilizer (I think 12-8-2 or something similar) and then watered until I saw some runoff from the bottom, guess we'll see how they look in a few days!
 
Thanks again for all the help/info!
 
Poiethis said:
 
Yeah I'm noticing it's VERY addicting. I went ahead and bought 2 transplants from a local nursery yesterday :shh:  (don't tell my wife). I was surprised at the stock they had! Carolina Reaper, Trinidad Scorpion (I got one of each of these), Hot Hungarian, Habanero, and a few others that I can't remember off the top of my head. Very surprising for the middle of nowhere in the Midwest where spice is all but non-existent LOL.
 
I just hope Wifey doesn't make me choose between her and the chiles because.... :rofl:  :rofl: :rofl:  
 
Click for pics!
My baby Carolina Reaper and Trinidad Scorpion that I'm hoping to not kill before I get a pod or 2!!
attachicon.gif
Plant 4.JPG
Click to expand...
wow, you are lucky your GC carried those!  I can never find ones that good around here...which is one of the main reasons I started growing my own :)  Would love a couple seeds if you have any left after you harvest!
 
PS. if you plan on growing the really hot stuff, you might want to get some salt peter to soak the seeds in for 24-48 hours before planting -- it really, really helps with germination and it's uber cheap.  I get mine here (WARNING you will probably end up buying some seed too, the place is awesome :) )  : http://www.chileplants.com/
 
That is an awesome site, I just need to stay away from the internet so I won't buy anything else garden on pepper related until the Fall lol...
 
And if I can manage to not kill these off AND get a harvest I'll be happy to share! :party:
 
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