Why is this Scotch bonnet taking forever to take off? Temps been high 80s low 90s almost 2 weeks now.
Why is this Scotch bonnet taking forever to take off? Temps been high 80s low 90s almost 2 weeks now.
by Resident3781
21 Comments
Asleep_Philosophy37
Back when I used to grow outside in Vegas, this would happen. Soil heating up may play a role. I would get some good mulch on that soil if I were you. Straw or wood chips work well. Shade cloth goes a long way too if temps are that high. Once temps get over mid 80s, I’ve found that they are just trying to survive rather than grow.
zigaliciousone
That’s a decent sized pot, plant looks healthy so it is probably doing all its growing underground in the root system. They are notoriously slow growers but usually produce pretty big in the late season. If you are not already, add some 5-1-1 fish fertilizer to the soil when they are in shade.
onethousandpasswords
Since you are container gardening with potting soil, are you using a liquid fertilizer regimen?
LockNo2943
What’s your fertilizer schedule look like?
RibertarianVoter
It fills out its root system first, and then starts to grow. It feels painfully slow, but it will explode soon.
iamthegh05t
When I grew Scotch Bonnets it seemed like it took forever for anything to happen, then I had more peppers than I knew what to do with by the end of the summer.
raining_sheep
If they get really cold stunted early they do this it takes forever or never progresses
CallMeBuffaloBill
That pot will take a while to fill up with roots, so give it time. Water deeply and infrequently, to force roots to spread. Don’t get hooked in by the fish fertiliser comment, find something in a 3:1:2 ratio for vegetative growth. 5:1:1 is way too heavy in nitrogen and despite the common misconception that you need more nitrogen to get more foliage, until the root system develops – foliage will be slow to develop regardless of how much N you give it.
Vinny_1010
I’m in about the same exact boat with the carolina reaper I’m working on. Seems like it’s getting ready to go. In my experience once these plants start to really gain some traction they rally take off. So as long as it looks healthy and is progressing you should be on the right track.
IWasSayingBoourner
Make sure the soil is wet below the surface, but you might just need to be patient. A lot of my superhots do this and then by late August I have more peppers than I know what to do with.
Odd-Gur-1076
Mine all took forever at that size. They’ve been in the ground for about six weeks and they’ve quadrupled in size in the last two weeks. Seems like they just take a while.
Egbezi
Nothing to worry about. Just mulch around the base of the plant with wood chips or straw. Make sure you’re watering and fertilizing effectively
VanishedHound
Hot peppers can be tricky sometimes with growing just be patient looks healthy
Vegetable-Two2173
My scotch always moved at their own pace. Give it time.
EndlessMike78
I feel all the Caribbean peppers take forever. Bonnets, Scorpions, etc. they start super slow then start popping late
mudbaycottage
You can’t rush nature. Patience.
Emily_Porn_6969
It will take off soon
idrawinmargins
Pepper plants for me start to fruit in early/mid July and then go from there. Depends on how early they can get outside too.
Hayden575757
I’m finding it difficult this year due to extended cold followed by a heat wave. Even in the heat wave I allowed them to dry a bit. Over watering can cause them to not seek out water further away from the stem with roots. Big roots, big plant.
Pretend_Order1217
Scotch Bonnets are chinense, so of curse they take a long time. It looks good. Give it some liquid nitrogen fertilizer.
ilikeautosdaily
Mine are doing the same. My jalapeño have already got peppers but the bonnet haven’t even bloomed yet.
21 Comments
Back when I used to grow outside in Vegas, this would happen. Soil heating up may play a role. I would get some good mulch on that soil if I were you. Straw or wood chips work well. Shade cloth goes a long way too if temps are that high. Once temps get over mid 80s, I’ve found that they are just trying to survive rather than grow.
That’s a decent sized pot, plant looks healthy so it is probably doing all its growing underground in the root system. They are notoriously slow growers but usually produce pretty big in the late season. If you are not already, add some 5-1-1 fish fertilizer to the soil when they are in shade.
Since you are container gardening with potting soil, are you using a liquid fertilizer regimen?
What’s your fertilizer schedule look like?
It fills out its root system first, and then starts to grow. It feels painfully slow, but it will explode soon.
When I grew Scotch Bonnets it seemed like it took forever for anything to happen, then I had more peppers than I knew what to do with by the end of the summer.
If they get really cold stunted early they do this it takes forever or never progresses
That pot will take a while to fill up with roots, so give it time. Water deeply and infrequently, to force roots to spread. Don’t get hooked in by the fish fertiliser comment, find something in a 3:1:2 ratio for vegetative growth. 5:1:1 is way too heavy in nitrogen and despite the common misconception that you need more nitrogen to get more foliage, until the root system develops – foliage will be slow to develop regardless of how much N you give it.
I’m in about the same exact boat with the carolina reaper I’m working on. Seems like it’s getting ready to go. In my experience once these plants start to really gain some traction they rally take off. So as long as it looks healthy and is progressing you should be on the right track.
Make sure the soil is wet below the surface, but you might just need to be patient. A lot of my superhots do this and then by late August I have more peppers than I know what to do with.
Mine all took forever at that size. They’ve been in the ground for about six weeks and they’ve quadrupled in size in the last two weeks. Seems like they just take a while.
Nothing to worry about. Just mulch around the base of the plant with wood chips or straw. Make sure you’re watering and fertilizing effectively
Hot peppers can be tricky sometimes with growing just be patient looks healthy
My scotch always moved at their own pace. Give it time.
I feel all the Caribbean peppers take forever. Bonnets, Scorpions, etc. they start super slow then start popping late
You can’t rush nature. Patience.
It will take off soon
Pepper plants for me start to fruit in early/mid July and then go from there. Depends on how early they can get outside too.
I’m finding it difficult this year due to extended cold followed by a heat wave. Even in the heat wave I allowed them to dry a bit. Over watering can cause them to not seek out water further away from the stem with roots. Big roots, big plant.
Scotch Bonnets are chinense, so of curse they take a long time. It looks good. Give it some liquid nitrogen fertilizer.
Mine are doing the same. My jalapeño have already got peppers but the bonnet haven’t even bloomed yet.