Stetto's First Winter Grow ('16-'17)

Well, here we gro, October 14 and the setup has begun.
 

 
My heat mat is unregulated, no thermostat, but measures (without sunlight) @ 87.5F. As can be seen, the 20+ inch deep mat is folded up at the window sill, which should help in deflecting any winter chill getting through the glass. This window will one day be a garden window extending around 9 inches out from the house, to facilitate all manner of horticultural misdeeds...But that's another story...
 
The lil' ziplock box in the photo is the start of my winter experiment, some Trinidad Moruga Scorpion seed obtained through the good graces of Jeff Contonio. My other seed is in transit from Australia:
 
Aji Amarillo
 
Jalapeno Tormenta
 
Bert the Chilli
 
I've been trying to grow Aji Amarillo for some years but have never been able to get seed to germinate. I've blamed the seed (innocuous Amazon purchases) up till now, but I have a lot more faith this time around since finding a reputable vendor. Note that only one superhot is being planted----For now.
 
After germination I intend on sowing into Solo cups (I've heard a wive's tale that you use the red ones for more than just the song), and eventually into 1.5 gallon pots. Even though I brag about the growing strength of the local soil (primordial ooze), I think I'll either hybrid it with non-soil potting mix or not use dirt from the garden at all.
 
I expect to do quite a bit of pruning, hopefully to encourage bushyness and to promote production in smaller accomodations. I'm sure I can find plety of input on that subject in these pages...
 
This is my first inside grow, let's see what happens. Any advice/pointers/warnings/pokes/prods/words of encouragement are welcome....But ya doesn't has to call me Johnson....

 

[stettoman]

AHHHH, You got the O.C.D. THING !   Love it ,  Good the with your grow my friend !     

Dude, it's got to where the Darlin' Bride suspects something when I go to the grow room.....every 45 minutes or so.....for a half hour at a time....

 

[moruga welder]

my ol' lady loves the fact i'm in there half the night , she's got the living room t.v. and her shows to herself . thats cool with me tho 

Dude, it's got to where the Darlin' Bride suspects something when I go to the grow room.....every 45 minutes or so.....for a half hour at a time....

 

 

[Devv]

 
How do you know? (I got curious)

 

Because I grow stuff she likes   Peppers she can eat, and use to cook in everyday meals. LB (the wife) cooks from scratch, and that's everything. Just call me spoiled, but I spoil right back

 

[stettoman]

 
Because I grow stuff she likes   Peppers she can eat, and use to cook in everyday meals. LB (the wife) cooks from scratch, and that's everything. Just call me spoiled, but I spoil right back

Yep.

 

[Masher]

When I first assembled the room I spent several hrs every day the first yr....lol
 
6 yrs later...meh.  5 mins, look around, check hygrometer...check bulbs, check power, check out. 

 

[stettoman]

Well, it was inevitable, just wasn't sure how far into the grow it would occur: I got the ol' yella leaf goin' on...Kind of hard to see in this light, but it's there. I've got to get on board with a better watering program. The soil is bagged seedling mixes from Schultz and Burpee, the usual "3-month" dose of standard nutes, I doubt it's a fert issue. I had some discoloration issues, purple/reddish mottling on a moruga scorpion (which continues) and some light burn on the aji's from over-misting, but I'm not paying attention to irrigation, so I'm going with BOTH too much and not enough water.
 

 

[Masher]

I see everything double cupped....remove bottom cup...let soil drain into those trays when watering.

Idealy no water should be venting after applying water.

Pic up each plant before watering....it should be light and near dry...those big girls dont need constant moist soil now.

A little cal/mag may help.....but i would address watering first.

On aanother note....i dont like foil as a reflector...it acts more like a mirror and can burn the plants.....if you want a mild reflector use that mylar coated bubble wrap insulation or some cardboard and paint it with two/coat of FLAT white paint.

My preference is flat white.


One more note.....i think its time to up pot into 1 gal pots....you should gently look at those root systems. Could be getting tight in those cups by now.

Looking great though

 

[stettoman]

Thanks for the input! I happen to have a couple 16 inch x 25 foot rolls of that mylar bubble wrap, got it two days ago to line the grow room under construction...
 
The gallon pots are ready to go, available space is in question. But ya gotta do what ya gotta do, yeah?

 

[Masher]

Check roots first...another week or two wont be a big deal.

But the watering needs attention asap....you got this bud.

I like your progress so far...we all just need the weather to cooperate now.

 

[stettoman]

One more note.....i think its time to up pot into 1 gal pots....you should gently look at those root systems. Could be getting tight in those cups by now.

Looking great though

 
Oh man, I really wasn't thinking of repotting yet, but yeah, you're right, time to get off my ass and git 'er done...
 
I read your post and decided to give one of the aji amarillos a peek--
 

 
 
OK, not as rootbound as I've seen with potted trees, but YIKES!! So I decided to repot this one, anyway. The rest will have to wait a little while, anyhow...
 

 
The rootball being so tight, I thought it would help more than hurt to give it a gentle rake with a plastic fork.
 

 
It never ceases to amaze me how a plant can generate so much root system in an enclosed space without displacing a molecule of grow medium.
 
But it looks happy, I'm sure shock will set in for a bit, but it didn't go limp like the two I separated shortly after birth. I believe, in fact, that this was one of those two...
 

 
 
Thanks for the nudge, Masher. You get a cookie!

 

[stettoman]

Our water is brought to us via a Culligan system without a bypass, and I'm a fervent believer in rain water being a superior hydrator for flora, so I go the extra step...Only takes a few hours to melt...
 

 

[Masher]

Oh ya!!!! Up up and away. Root system looked perfect and all lovely white as well.

 

[Geonerd]

 
 
 
It never ceases to amaze me how a plant can generate so much root system in an enclosed space without displacing a molecule of grow medium.
 
 

 
 

 
The crazy things often do that - develop a Godzilla root system before entering a period of explosive foliar growth.
 
Bottom picture - "MUCH better, thank you!"
 
IMO, you did the right thing in gently uncurling as much of the root ball as possible.  Even a bit of root damage is better than leaving the poor things "Circling the Drain" in a futile search for space.

 

[stettoman]

Geo, you and me will one day marry off offspring....

 

[stettoman]

Leaf issues. The first one looks a little different in every kind of light, so this will have to do. It's that mottled yellowing, spreading a bit. After the root ball I saw yesterday I'm thinking it's time to get the nutrient train running...
 

 
...So my CNS17 3-1-2 finally showed up this morning. Put about a tablespoon in a gallon of rain water.
 

 
But somebody please tell me this is normal; almost all of the aji amarillos are developing this eggshell/matte surface shortly after unfurling. There is little to no reflective quality to them, almost like they've been dusted with something. The moruga scorpions show no sign of this at all.
 

 
 
Gad, what a mother hen I'm becoming....

 

[Masher]

Cant help with what you see....but keep in mind, changes won't show for a week or more.

Conditions didn't happen overnight...nor will the fixes. Less is best until you get it dialed in.

 

[Devv]

Good advise from Masher!
 
I would apply nutes in low doses, like 1/3 what the product states. And incorporate that into the bottom watering program. And that's with the larger plants. I don't fertilize until they get out of the smaller pots and into the 1# pots. No more misting. In fact I never mist, unless It's to apply Epsom salt. If you use really low dose of nutes you can apply them more often. Too much can't be taken back
 
I also water depending on the weight of the pot, you'll get the hang of that quick enough. All of a sudden they weigh almost nothing. I quickly check that on a daily basis.
 
So far, from what I see you're kicking ass, and I'm loving it. Go team

 

[stettoman]

Yup, diluted by 3 to 1. All the inside cups are outside. At this rate, the quart of CNS17 will last me approx. 27 years. Once these guys see dirt I let the primordial fish shit feed 'em.
 
I also raised the lighting. You almost don't notice the canopy slowly creep upwards. I was at 9 inches, am now a full foot. The next move will be to remove the table from the equation.

 

[moruga welder]

 
Because I grow stuff she likes   Peppers she can eat, and use to cook in everyday meals. LB (the wife) cooks from scratch, and that's everything. Just call me spoiled, but I spoil right back

I wish that was the case !  lol

 

[stettoman]

I do believe I will be dipped in shit.
 

 
What manner of deformation/mutation can this be? My first blood-rushing-to-my-brain assumption was flower node. Now, after a healthy breath or two, I think confirmation from one who has grown the aji amarillos might be in order. The plant isn't more than 7 inches tall, I haven't even thought about topping yet....
 
From a few inches farther back...
 

 
Being as I've never paid this close attention to peppers growing, I give y'all, especially geonerd, who obviously takes much glee in such things, permission to give me all manner of shit for what may simply be Capsicum Wartus Genitalium....
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
?