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pruning plant size, flowering and pruning

simon

simon

Hi there.

I am a newbie located in Perth, Western Australia. I planted my first lot of Bhut Jolokia seeds in Oct/Nov 2010. Those plants matured to production status by the end of that summer (March11) and produced a small number of chillies. I put them in a hothouse over winter and did not prune them. I brought them back outside in late winter early spring ~July/August 11. They have continued to grow and some of the branches have grown to a couple of meters. So, they look really healthy. However, they have hardly produced anything - maybe a couple of dozen full sized pods between 7 plants.

Should I have pruned these plants back at some stage? Would that have helped? If so, should I get onto the job now and hopefully get something happening before the end of this season?

In comparison, I have about 11 Habanero plants that I seeded in ~March 11. They matured at just about the right time (early spring) and they have produced a ton of pods.

thanks in anticipation
simon


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Hi Prehensile - thanks for the feedback. These guys don't appear to be too keen on budding - so maybe I might be able to sneak a "mild" pruning in.

When do you recommend doing the major prune - as you enter winter or as you are leaving it?

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Your problem is more than likely due to low humidity and high temps. I had a long summer of 105F+ and zero humidity and my Bhuts didn't put out at all till temps fell a bit and humidity rose.

If you are growing and budding I'd wait on pruning. Do that when the season comes to an end.
 
Pruning always helps produce more pods if the season permits. But you'll sacrifice the size of the peppers. I just pruned a few indoor "African Bird's" those plants produce enough on their own, but I want to shape them before they get big. I know by doing that early I'll end up with hundreds of chili's off one plant. On a bigger scale, last year I trimmed a "Bhut Carbon" down to 1/2 metre outdoors. It ended up a bush at least twice as tall with many more pods per node compared to the same plant next to it that I didn't touch.
So being said, I would at least shape the plant (as I always do with mine towards the end of the season). Every time you cut a growing tip you'll end up with two new growth shoots.

good luck

Greg
 
simon said:
Hi Prehensile - thanks for the feedback. These guys don't appear to be too keen on budding - so maybe I might be able to sneak a "mild" pruning in.

When do you recommend doing the major prune - as you enter winter or as you are leaving it?

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Click to expand...
Tough tah say being in Florida I prune year round, if I was in temperate climate pruning would be done just before the winter season or just as you notice the first tiny buds starting to show up.
 
i pruned my low pod production orange hab plant couple months ago before winter, it has grown dramatically since and is now producing lots and lots of pods!
 
Interesting stuff. Do you guys with short over-winter periods pot them up, down, change dirt each year? If it becomes rootbound would it still look healthy and not produce?

Also, need pix!
 
OK - I think I have a plan...maybe...

Thanks everyone for your help. I have definitely learnt something. :halo:

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