Overwintering Experiment

[JohnF]

This are the first six-I want to do about four more. As you can see from the pictures they have been radically pruned ( I've done this before) and then potted up in fresh potting mix. Put in the garage in a small east window they will get minimal light and since the garage isn't heated, minimal heat ( if it gets to freezing in the garage I will bring them inside temporarily). I want to see if I can keep them alive with minimal growth this way. It would save a lot of space and allow me to overwinter more plants.

The plants so far  are:
CGN 22208-C. galapagoense
Cobincho-BR-C. chacoense/exile
Rocoto,Riesen-C. pubescens
Trinidad Scorpion-FG-C. chinense
CGN 19198-C. praetermissum
C. lanceolatum

First five on the list



C. lanceolatum-I thought it was interesting that this plant spread beneath the soil and put up new shoots. The two smaller plants were broken off from the main mass



All potted up



Their new home

[luca]

Very interesting experiment, John! I'm looking forward to seeing your results.  This would definitely help me (and many others) as well, since here my space for overwintering plants is very limited too.

I also think it was really interesting that the lance started producing new shoots from the roots! I think that's a previously unseen trait in Capsicum.

[Jogi]

Hi John,

I mean the C. pubescens the best chancen have.
A plant was almost dead. she had got too much frost.Later in January she caught again to fresh ones would float to agree.

in 01.2006




in 08.2006



A lot of greetings Jogi

[JohnF]

Nice plant you ended up with!

[Grifo]

John excellent experiment
You cut the roots?

[JohnF]

Yes, the top plants were planted as pictured--the lanceolatum were cut back just a little more.

[JohnF]

Update

The plants in the garage show no new growth at this point. Night time temps have been in the 40's F in the garage. The smaller of the lanceolatum above was brought in and 3 others: CAP 503, Rocoto Giant Red, and Bih Jolokia were brought inside ( 10/29) and pruned but not the roots and they were not re-potted. They are in a south facing window. All show regrowth

[JohnF]

Update

Well. I have run into a temperature problem. It became below freezing nights and I was forced to bring the plants from the garage and into the back bedroom ( kept at low 60's F). While they were in the garage there was no new growth but since I brought them in !2/1 they are putting forth new growth. I think at this point I will just leave them inside as there will be much more very cold weather and I don't think in and out of the garage will be helpful.

Rocoto, Giant Red 1-cut back 10/29 but roots not pruned and left inside




Rocoto, Giant Red 2-had radical prune 10/17 and then left in garage until 12/1

[JohnF]

Update

All of the plants that were radically pruned and left inside are doing well ( some of them have been pruned further to keep them small). Of the 10 that were in the garage and brought inside 6 have good new growth, two are just starting one looks like it will grow, and one ( Trinidad Scorpion-FG) looks dead.

Here is the Rocoto Giant Red #2 that above had one tiny leaf




And CGN 19198 that is just starting to regrow

[JohnF]

Update

Out of 16 plants, 3 are showing no signs of regrowth. Here are a few pictures:

Su 16 piante, 3 sono mostrando segni di ricrescita. Ecco alcuni immagini:

Rocoto Giant Red 12-12-07


Rocoto Giant Red 1-2-08


Rocoto Giant Red 2-17-08


Trinidad Scorpion 2-16-08


Chicanna Purple 2-17-08

[JohnF]

Some of the overwintered plants are starting to bloom
Alcune delle piante overwintered stanno cominciando a fiorire

Tree of Paital


Rocoto Riesen


C. lanceolatum

[Herra 47]

nice pics john  

and you are sooo much ahead for season than me... and greetings here U.S.A florida...  :wink:

came here to little holiday and now tomorrow must go back to cold finland...

[JohnF]

Thank you. Not really ahead - those are last years plants and  I haven't even started my seeds for this year yet.

[JohnF]

Update

Here are a few taken today-3-13-08

CAP 500


Rocoto,Riesen


Trinidad Scorpion--note flowers and buds

[cmpman1974]

Very nice.  That CAP 500 C. Eximium looks extremely healhy...well they all do.  Do you ever get pods indoors on your C. Chinense plants?

Chris

[JohnF]

Chris

Yes, but usually not ripened indoors. Willsee how the TS above does this year

[Nuwanda]

Hi, John

When you had that rocoto inside Nov onwards, how much light was it getting?

[JohnF]

The plant was under 40 watt fluorescents.

[yun126]

Cactus, just inside the heart gentle. At the beginning of the creation, cacti is one of the world's most weak, she and delicate, slightly as ugg boots a touch and lost his life. God cannot bear in her heart, with a set of armor, like iron, steel with wound.