nip, crop, clip for purpose of branching

[Fatalii]

It does produce bushier plants in anyy case.

Pruning doesn't necessarily mean larger yields, it can cause the plants produce less than without pruning, it's mostly up to circumstances, for example, when you are growing indoors under a lamp, a bushier plant is definitely better for that to get more yield.

So when growing with limited space, pruning is a good idea, even up to bonchi level where you will contantly prune the plants to keep them as a nice little bushes.

[sali]

OK. I am growing indoors under a compact fluorescent lamp with limited space and don't need to have huge yields but would like to have nice bushy plants.
Seems like I fulfill all the criteria for pruning my plants    But as I'm a newbie, I don't know when to start pruning my chillies. The one picture in this thread has a plant that has already several branches, but mine don't have any branches yet. I attach two pictures here. I put 2 plants in each pot twisting them around each other, as I saw somewhere on your page that you did that as well, producing one thicker stem and thus a nicer bonchi.
But back to my question: When and where should I start pruning? Thanks for any advice you can give me!

[ylläpito on poistanut liitteen]

[ylläpito on poistanut liitteen]

[Fatalii]

OK, first of all... the idea to get a nice thick stem is to grow the plant HUGE (or large bush) at first and then to cut it down.

But in your case I assume it's out of question so you can do the following:
Cut down the plant as low as you dare, leaving at least some leaves for photosynthesis.

Just make sure your plants have plenty of light after drastically cutting them down.

One way is to bend the stems, for example with bonsai wire to make the plants bushier.
I think you should experiment both ways to see and compare the results.

Don't worry, the plants will eventually grow more dense foliage when they get older. It's all about the light!
With low light conditions you get spindly and sad looking plants and with plenty of light your plants will be happy looking robust bushes!

Keep on experimenting and feel free to shoot any questions about your experiments.

Pictures are always helpful!

[sali]

OK, I cut the plants now on the top (see pictures), leaving ~7 leaves for photosynthesis. I hope they'll do fine... I transfered them to the hydroponics only on Tuesday, but already I can see the new roots forming... So I'll keep my fingers crossed 

Let's see how they'll do now. Actually, now as the tip of the stem is cut, should two branches develop now at the place of the fresh cut?

[ylläpito on poistanut liitteen]

[ylläpito on poistanut liitteen]

[Fatalii]

If you want them as bushy plants, I'd cut way lower....

[sali]

lower still?!  how low should I cut them then? and how many leaves does the plant need for the photosynthesis? In the ned I would like to create some bonchis and for that I'm not sure, if it would be good to cut too low... I wouldn't have any stems for the bonchis then, or is my idea wrong?

How low would you cut them?

[Fatalii]

I would cut them just above the first pair of true leaves.

There's still plenty of stem left for a nice bonchi!
Keep in mind that the plant will continue growing.. .the growth will just be bushier...

Also, keep in mind that you will dig the some roots up which will expose more stem also.

Try this first with some plant and see how it goes.

[sali]

uff, you're asking me to cut 70% of my little chilis  away 
well, i guess I can try it with 2 plants and see how it goes    You now better than me how to handle chilis, so i trust your advise! I'll report later how it goes. Thanks for the advice in the meantime!

[Fatalii]

Well, personally I wouldn't do that for plant of that age, but you wanted to have compact plants without growing them huge at first...

Don't worry, it works just fine if there's enought light for them to enjoy.

[sali]

well, could I actually grow them huge if I grow them indoors with only a compact fluorescent lamp for light and the bucket hydroponic system with airpump and airstones? I don't have much space and cannot invest much more money in these chilis...
Under these circumstances I probably wont manage to grow them huge, or? So I guess I'll just follow your advice and cut them down.

[CyberDog]

I would cut them now. And I usually cut heavily my chiles anyway because I also have limited space. And they still grow nicely and produce yields.